India is at war on multiple fronts. Lives are being lost at the border on a daily basis. Normal life has eluded the valley for months. If these don’t suffice for the situation to be termed a ‘war’, let it be. As to me, merely the absence of peace, is war. And at this critical time it is highly important that we understand what patriotism really is.
A lot has been going on in the valley in the past year and all we’ve been doing is debating the actions of the Kashmiri youth and of course mocking Pakistanis. Some even claimed to take the moral high ground by voicing in support of the separatist protesters. To be fair there is very little, we - the common people of this country can do about the issue. But in our quest for raw ardent patriotism, a very large number of us have forgotten the existence of a something called National Responsibility. A something that is less emotional and more perennial.
The greatest assistance that any citizen could do to his country is to do his duty to his fullest capacity with utmost honesty and sincerity. A teacher who doesn’t necessitate tuition, a doctor who sticks to his oath, an auditor who is transparent, a judge who is ready to convict an actor and even an ordinary salesman or a peon or a labourer who is ready to give his job a 100% is doing a task as important as the man standing guard at the border or the man who brings food to our plates. We look, or to more precise, wait for opportunities to serve our country ignorant of the less sensational ones right around us. Wars may be fought outside a nation’s border, but more often than not, they are won inside it.
We Indians have one unique common attribute. We don’t take blame (Old 500 and 1000 rupees notes – No, we don’t take that either). After 4 long years, my mother still blames our dosa kal for her bad dosas. We, the inexplicably powerful common men, are so damn preoccupied with the very little the few (you know who) have done, disregard of the lot we could have done. Yes, we have a terrible political system. Those in power and those who power ‘those in power’ have exploited this country in every imaginable way. But to pin the blame of the failure of a national of billion on just a few thousands is just something that I would never buy.
A nation’s biggest sell out happens not in its parliament, but in its voting booths. Among various factors like caste, religion and blind ideology, freebies and cash for vote are the two key parasites that deprive our democracy of its essence. ‘People believe that their employer, their company and their government owes them. They expect their employer to take care of them’ quotes Robert Kiyosaki. And this simple outlook is so flawed and fatal than it seemingly sounds. These days it is becoming excessively difficult to spot the difference between an election manifesto and a Vasanth & Co Diwali Bonanza Offer. As Chandler Bing would put it, we want the (substandard) free stuff. And we’ve made that very clear in our recent elections.
While growing up I’ve always felt bad with India being years behind the western world in terms of technology, infrastructure and standard of living. And in more recent days, I used to sulk around the question ‘Why India isn’t like Norway or Canada?’ But then with a little more insight I realized that I had to rephrase the question as ‘Why Indians aren’t anything like Norwegians or Canadians?’ I often overhear the elders in my home speaking of the long overdue development that has eluded the Indian societies. And from the innumerous other conversations that I happen to encounter on the topic, the clear picture is that we view development as a bunch of schemes/policies that has to be ushered in the government. On the contrary, development is as much of thought and soul as it is of mud and brick. And truly speaking we ourselves have been the biggest obstacle to our own development.
Let us take the case of the newly launched Tejas express – The train which was molested on its maiden journey. The Tejas Express - the luxury train connecting Mumbai and Goa, was left in a pathetic state with missing headphones, damaged touchscreens and garbage strewn all over. And all this in just a few trips. And I’m sure some jackass would have scribbled somewhere Karthic loves Preethi or Salman Khan rocks, just minutes after the train had been flagged off. One doesn’t need to look hard to showcase our level of civility. When I visited Singapore I happened to witness a Keralite tourist who attempted to throw a polythene bag full of puke into the trash can and failed miserably. He could have dropped it in the bin. It was just one small step for a man. But then it would have been one giant leap for us Indians.
Let’s take a look around us. Sri Lanka – A country that has been shattered by Civil war. China – An oppressive country that is getting hungrier every day for global power. Pakistan – A country with too many problems to put in one line. After almost 70 years of independence, we are at a better place than most of our peers. Yes, I admit we Indians do exhibit a great deal of responsibility and humanity in adverse times like the Kargil war, the 2004 tsunami, or last year’s floods. But to grow into a nation of the likes of Japan or Singapore, a week or a month of dedication, sincerity and sacrifice won’t suffice. So in this hour of need I ask you, my fellow mates, to stop asking what our country has done for us and begin thinking what we have done for our country?
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