The Independence Day of India. Back in 1947, the partition of India lead to the birth of two new states - India and Pakistan. India has come a long way since then, with her own share of ups and downs. A few of her dreams have been realized and a few shattered to pieces. Yet, she goes on dreaming with the hope that people begin to realize and act.
The middle class youth and the educated would be disenchanted with the politics. Politics, my dear reader, is the same everywhere. Every country has its own share of turmoils and politically motivated masterplans. People, the very educated ones, once they settle down towards a decent living, begin to criticize at India. It is like dishonouring her. She is what we make her to be. This is more so among the Indians out here in the US (the NRI's or as Geeta from the movie Swades puts it - "The Non-returning Indians"). This is not to mean that all the Indians in India are proactive and working towards her development. This is not to mean that the Indians in India don't criticize.
There are a few organizations like AID, ASHA, etc. out here in the US which do significant work towards the development of India. It all depends on the attitude of the people. These organizations have a limited yet dedicated volunteer base. It doesn't really matter as to where one is.
It is time we did something rather than just sit laid back, talking and criticising. I urge everyone of you to be a lighthouse, spreading light in whatever significant/ insignificant manner. This is the only solution thanks to which the concept of "India Shining" would become more of a reality rather than remain a virtuality or an impossible dream.
Jai Hind.
PS: Coverage of July 04.
4 comments:
A few days back i was talking to a friend of mine and in his words "Not everyone ahs time like u do,i have my own set of problems in life and i have no time ot think of others"Unfortunate but the truth is more than half of the population of this country live with the above sentence:)
The point is there is nothing called social service,when u are lending a hand to others in need all you are doing is helping self,Life is not all abt comforts earned,how successful u r on the corporate ladder and how much is the bank balance..There are peopl who understand it,there are people who work towards a better future of this country but we need more,Wish we had more,and i know there will be more,i always trust the word "Akele chalpadethe,log miltegaye aur karvaan bantha gaya"
Akruti:
That would be one of the easiest ways of getting over the feeling of guilt. People complain of no time, and yet waste a lot of time. They would have no qualms going to a disco and spending the entire night there or going for some flop movie. This doesnt mean that one shouldnt do all these. This is my rebuttal for those who complain of lack of time.
There is no true thing as social service. People do it more to help themselves out than the others. But nevertheless, something is being done. We must learn to accept people and situations as they are. It must be from within that we try to do something for the sake of others, not because, others would think that here is an evolved soul who does help others. It is more a token of gratitude to the mother nature for making us come this far.
As Ayn Rand puts it.. "Selfishness is a virtue". I feel it is a virtue as long as it is NOT at the cost of an another soul. It is all right to do service to others more to help your own self. Here, we are being selfish, but it is not at the cost of any soul.
" It is all right to do service to others more to help your own self. Here, we are being selfish, but it is not at the cost of any soul." so true..I have thisfirm belief that selfish we all are....I help someone because deep down whether I realize it consciously or not I have that peace of mind that it gives me....and Vivekanada says the same in one of his lectures that - Our duty to others means helping others; doing good to the world. Why should we do good to the world? Apparently to help the world, but really to help ourselves. We should always try to help the world, that should be the highest motive in us; but if we consider well, we find that the world does not require our help at all. This world was not made that you or I should come and help it. I once read a sermon in which it was said, "All this beautiful world is very good, because it gives us time and opportunity to help others." Apparently, this is a very beautiful sentiment, but is it not a blasphemy to say that the world needs our help? We cannot deny that there is much misery in it; to go out and help others is, therefore, the best thing we can do, although in the long run, we shall find that helping others is only helping ourselves.
Phippogriff: Your comment provided a valuable insight. What you say is very very true.
The only thing that comes to my mind immediately is this saying by Gandhi -
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
It helps you look at things in a broader perspective; makes you feel that your worries are so so small; makes you motivated; and what not. The "servant" gains more anyways.
The world needs us too. It has nourished us. Its beauties are for us to embrace and spread. Imagine if the beauties get extinct - say some form of classical music or literature or poetry or whatever. Everything in the world needs sustenance and rejuvenation. We are but a small part of the higher energy - some call it the divine, some God, some nature, some the earth, some cosmos; well, whatever be it.This is definitely not blasphemy.
However, opinions and beliefs may differ.
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