India's is going through a turmoil presently . From the 2G Scam to CoalGate, the price rise to the Olympics debacle ( post written before the T20 World Cup with the hope that it will not make it to this list ) , this country has seen it all in the past 3 years . I am not sure what to call this period - "the age of the inexperienced corrupts" or "the age of the active snooping media" !! Whatever it may be called , shouldn't we be protesting against this ?
If No , then you can sit back in your chairs and let the country go down the path it has chosen for itself. If YES , what and how should the protest be ?
I have the utmost respect for Civil Society lead by Team Anna . After all, they have been trying to keep this fight going for the "modern educated" Indians who want everything handed to them on a platter. But then, is this form of protest right . To quote a friend, without the sweet talk : " I am a staunch believer that what Anna and his team is doing is right but corruption is essential for our living." Which brings us to the main point of this post. Is revolution successful when the policies change or is it successful when the people of the country change their mentality?
We Indians tend to blame anything and everything on the Government . Be it water shortage ( do I hear the tap on in the nearby kitchen !! ) , Saving the Environment ( when was the last time you stopped yourself from throwing / spitting on the path ) , Food Shortage ( the last time you threw away food saying it was pathetic !! ) or anything else for that matter . No one really sits down to wonder what can he/she could do for the situation . Some people do and believe me , they are more interested in finding a solution or at least a temporary one rather than bickering over one.
Corruption today has become a part and parcel of everyday life . Do we think for a moment that just agitating against the government would bring down corruption . In a country where Moral Science as a subject is laughed at , where "moral lectures" are mocked , corruption thrives right under a picture frame of Gandhi , one of the greatest advocators of honesty . Aren't we hypocrites that we respectfully call him Mahatma but don't follow his teachings. For true change to take place , it has to come from the heart . From the hearts of the common man, not from those of the few persons who are a part of the Civil Society . Revolution of this magnitude starts from the common man . Using people in position for favors or bribing to get your work done has to be made morally wrong . Note the importance of it being morally wrong versus legally wrong .
This post came out of a stupid dream that i had a few days back and its been nagging me ever since . We don't think twice before breaking the law just to suit our convenience , then they should have equal right to break the law . Yes their "faults" will be greater because they are in a position of power . The possibility of being caught is equally high . So how are we any different from them ? In short , our mentality should change . As Indians, known all over the world as corrupt , its our duty to change that image and that can only be done by a determined mind .
Let the mind win over the greedy or lazy heart .
If No , then you can sit back in your chairs and let the country go down the path it has chosen for itself. If YES , what and how should the protest be ?
I have the utmost respect for Civil Society lead by Team Anna . After all, they have been trying to keep this fight going for the "modern educated" Indians who want everything handed to them on a platter. But then, is this form of protest right . To quote a friend, without the sweet talk : " I am a staunch believer that what Anna and his team is doing is right but corruption is essential for our living." Which brings us to the main point of this post. Is revolution successful when the policies change or is it successful when the people of the country change their mentality?
We Indians tend to blame anything and everything on the Government . Be it water shortage ( do I hear the tap on in the nearby kitchen !! ) , Saving the Environment ( when was the last time you stopped yourself from throwing / spitting on the path ) , Food Shortage ( the last time you threw away food saying it was pathetic !! ) or anything else for that matter . No one really sits down to wonder what can he/she could do for the situation . Some people do and believe me , they are more interested in finding a solution or at least a temporary one rather than bickering over one.
Corruption today has become a part and parcel of everyday life . Do we think for a moment that just agitating against the government would bring down corruption . In a country where Moral Science as a subject is laughed at , where "moral lectures" are mocked , corruption thrives right under a picture frame of Gandhi , one of the greatest advocators of honesty . Aren't we hypocrites that we respectfully call him Mahatma but don't follow his teachings. For true change to take place , it has to come from the heart . From the hearts of the common man, not from those of the few persons who are a part of the Civil Society . Revolution of this magnitude starts from the common man . Using people in position for favors or bribing to get your work done has to be made morally wrong . Note the importance of it being morally wrong versus legally wrong .
This post came out of a stupid dream that i had a few days back and its been nagging me ever since . We don't think twice before breaking the law just to suit our convenience , then they should have equal right to break the law . Yes their "faults" will be greater because they are in a position of power . The possibility of being caught is equally high . So how are we any different from them ? In short , our mentality should change . As Indians, known all over the world as corrupt , its our duty to change that image and that can only be done by a determined mind .
Let the mind win over the greedy or lazy heart .
Keep writing :) Article was good. Though, could have written down your thoughts more clearly..
ReplyDeleteThanks !!
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