Arun Kumar Wesley
The time has come now to gird up our loins, as it were to get to the brass tacks of reality, assess them, address the issues and challenges they pose in action – in proactive measures, thus moving from theory to praxis; from homilies to active involvement; from mere sloganeering to building up trust; from mann ki baat to concerned reaction to resolve problems. This is possible only if we prioritise our responsibility to the people – in distress; environment – in degradation; problems – in-volving the like minded to bring about change and transformation.\
Sloganeering
Atmanirbhar is a grand and profound statement though to be self- reliant or self- sufficient if only we have addresed the issue of building up confidence in ourselves by rising above petty bickering, politics of hate and fear, and by addressing the issue of poverty, unemployment, communalism, caste etc., which needed addressing and resolving long time ago. In that vein, Arogya Setu for example would also find credibiity if it tracks the Covid 19 affected or its suspects for providing necessary health care, and not to outsource the data collected and misuse it to demean the person and his or her dignity for political reasons. So would have been the other projections of the powers that be like Demonetisation, CAA, NRC, the 20 Lakh crore aid, the Vande Flights and Shramik Trains etc., to enable nation building, to control the spread of Covid 19 and contain it by providing healthcare facilities, and not to harass the migrant labourers and others with an ulterior motive that seems obvious. Thus would be clear the ‘anti-national’ protesters’ arrest, the tweaking of Courts and judges to ones own end, the destractive efforts in bringing up and revoking article 370, coercing dissent, diversionary tactics in terms of temple construction or China’s aggressive stand or Pakistan bashing, attacking opposition parties specially the Congress and so on. It would thus mean, mere slogan mongering and rhetoric homilies from time to time are of no consequence to any one to build up confidence in one or in nation building.
Loyalty
Indians have been loyal to the nation, and the nation’s interests are close to their hearts wherever they are. This is evident from even Indians abroad who long for their motherland. If only they are inveigled and involved in nation building along with the native Indians the government that be can resolve many of the issues of the day. That means building up trust – the self confidence and the efforts that match that resolve that powers that be listen and is free to accept constructive criticism to address the issues.
May be there is a bad egg here and there but because of that declaring en masse and hating a community or tribe, a religion or tradition is not correct without impartially testing it and finding the cause or the reason for it. By muzzling free speech and expression, the powers would be merely suppresslng the dreams and the aspirations of the people. to the detriment of the government and nation building in the long run. Thus instead of testing the loyalty of the people at large, the powers that be need to build up an environment where people can trust the leaders and elected members of legislature/ parliament, the judiciary and the executive such that the powers that be is transparent and impartial in its policies and the appointments of its adminstrators or ministers. So the onus is on the government to leave behind hate politics and the monolithic attitude and projection, fear of arrest and the punishment under the anti-national provision for voices of opinion and dissent, rather build up trust and confidence in one self and the government.
Dialogue
The powers that be then has to be open, and open up itself to listen to the people at large – whether they toe the line of the government or not – in politics, religion, language or region, more so as the nation boasts of multicultural society following the democratic intent.
Democracy is built on the wishes of the people as in ideal conditions - they elect their representative to the government at every level and expect the Elect to represent the voice and wishes of the people in nation building efforts – whether it is in terms of development, economy, industrialisation, agricultural concerns, education, justice and so on.
Democracy provides space for dissent and opnions of the people at large – the minorities, those at the margins, the poor and so on. Along with them one has to include the inteligentia – the learned and the intellectual, the rational and the logical. While this is democracy, it has a built in default as it braces itself on mere numbers – if you have got the numbers one can get elected; and the numbers can be got easily in the poverty-stricken and divided India by mere coercion, muscle power and money and so on. One can imagine the calibre and concern of those elected thus towards nation building or the people if they get elected this way and not on principle of truth and justice.
Merging of the Horizons
The efforts at Indian Independence began with the unity of India out of innumerable independent Kingdoms, multicultural divisions of people at large of differnet languages, regions, religions and so on, with only the caveat to bridge the people across towards the goal of a united efort at gaining its avowed goal. For this, the horizons of difference were merged across caste, creed and colour but not compromising on accountability, truth and justice. Thus the efforts were geared to uphold sacrifice, ahimsa, transparency in action and accountability in involvement. Their efforts – of the people and leaders reached across to encourage and inspire to further the cause of Independence. However, these principle were lost in time after Independence and the efforts thus made tended to remain on the edges – the margins of certain freedom fighters and others.
The time has come to merge the horizons of difference – the centre and the margins, the centre and the states, the leaders and the people in terms of principle, attitude, efforts etc. The sacrifices of certain people need to be inculcated across the people at large such that there is a merging of the horizons in term of building up and upholding the nation in terms of truth, justice, peace and concern.
Nation Building
As India got its Independence in 1947, the then leaders of the nation resolved to build up the nation on a sound footing – socialistic republic with a Constitution that would provide the basic freedom and rights for life, free speech etc., maintaining a secular outlook to protect all especially the minorities and their interests strenthening the pluralistic culture of India. The leaders then were intent on building up the confidence of the powers that be with the people for progress, for development and so on.
The leaders then were endowed with wisdom to weather the issues of the day and attempted to resolve them in various ways. The problems were innumerable but the powers that be resolved to invite suggestions and opinions by the people at large and together resolved to address them. Thus were the establishment of industries, educational, technical and technological institutions and so on, on a scientific and a rational basis, on par with the nations around, in turn providing employment to millions and opportunities for others to educate themselves on a rational and scientific basis..
In a way the destiny of India was in the hands of modern day leaders who overturned the rigidity of Karma samsara and the fate of the people towards change and transformation for the better. Thus education and policies of the powers that be were based on rationality and scientific principles reversing the Karma theory in pracice. Institutions of learning were now open to all people despite their background.
But then there were trends as of now to counteract and retract scientific learning and outlook dragging the nation back to caste and creed discrimination. This is probably the reason for the indifference to the miseries of the people as though it is their Karma to suffer and get over it in the reincarnation. Compassion and empathy are thus lost on the track of concern at times now in the reality of Covid 19 and the migrant crisis.
Nation building as of now is at the cross roads of manitaining a balance between scientific temper and tradition weathering the technological advance and caste and class rigidity on the other; being religious and secular, enough to move forward and progressive in intent and action – to alleviate hunger, poverty, unemployment and discrimination among other issues in its nationbuilding efforts.
Would our leaders and the elected representatives progress to have statesmanship qualities to lead the nation and build the same on sound principles of truth, justice and peace? That means learning and being open to voices of reason – dissent and suggestions, thus building up confidence all around – in the people and in the government. Only then propbably sloganeering for the sake of doing it will have credibility as it has to match with proactive measures, transparency in action, accountability for action etc.
Desiderata
We have so far detailed the need of the hour – to bring about harmony, peace and justice to the people at large especially to the suffering humanity – the migrants, the unemployed and the poor, the sick – the Covid 19 infected and the medical personnel in the government’s efforts to build up the nation on sound principles of compassion, concern, unity, truth, love and justice.'
Desiderata reminds me of the evolutionary poem written long ago listing the needs of the hour for a sound and peaceful living by Max Ehrmann in 1927.It is simple yet profound and attempts to give clues to building up Atmanirbhar in one and in the powers that be. I give below the original text:
Desiderata
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Although written in another context and age, to help his daughter to build up confidence in oneself, the poem written by Ehrmann ( poet, activist etc) speaks to us today – the people at large and to all leaders of the powers that be – to build up confidence in one self. That we as the united people of India of all colours and creeds, leaders and statesmen, ministers and adminstrators resolve to build the nation on love and trust, concern and compassion and not on hate and fear – bridging the divide in terms of opinions, stance and ideas for a harmonious living in peace in the situation of Covid 19, cyclone, border skirmishes, locust invasion etc., and thus move toward progress and transformation of the society.
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