Exactly eighteen minutes after the sixtieth republic day of The Republic of India, I decided to write something to honour my nation. Yes, I’m late as usual. But then they say better late than never…
A while back, I read through a post put up by my professor on violence. Its a bit out dated. But the ideas discussed in the post got me going.
Today, I saw countless posts going up, countless articles written, countless messages sent, on how we as a nation should stand together, against violence, against war, for peace, and be a superpower.
All good. Yup. But before we do all that, are we forgetting something teeny weeny smally called ourselves? Need we not improve ourselves, before we steadfastedly advocate all these values to all and sundry? Or are our words equivalent to all the sleaze that pour out of a politician’s mouth just before an election?
Today afternoon, three people were brutally tortured and assaulted right in front of my house, because they tried to steal vehicles. Indeed, stealing is very much against my principles, but I believe that what was done to those three today was also quite unfair. A crowd of more than a hundred ruthlessly beat them, without even a thought of whether they were actually guilty.
This crowd is part of us, people! Thats people like you and me! And we talk of non-violence? Of peace? Of tolerance?
Today, a famous mall near my place caught fire. Hundreds of people trooped to the place. Not to help the victims, or to volunteer in fire fighting. But to witness the destruction and devastation. And when they found out that not much had gone wrong, they heaved a sigh of disappointment, and left the scene. But for quite a while, they disrupted the evacuation of the mall, traffic, and the firefighters.
We talk of lending a hand to help our nation. What about lending a thought before we do certain many things?
This is the thought I leave you with, thirty three minutes after the sixtieth Republic Day of my nation. Of my Mother India. Change as an individual. Internalise the change. And then advocate it. But if all one point one billion of us internalise the change, we really don’t have to advocate. Its not easy. Its perhaps the toughest thing to do. But, also the most worthwile.
We need not lend a hand for change. Rather, lets change together, and we can change our nation. For peace, for equality, for love, for devotion, for happiness and joy, for families, for parents, children, brothers, sisters, Jai Hind.
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