INDIA--Present Challenges and Future Strategies
India is synonymous with
diversity and this diversity is not new in Indian perspective. Todays modern
India is blend of many ideas and ideals which were the legacy of great dreamers
of the country like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai patel and Mahatma
Gandhi. They dreamed an extraordinary Dream and steered clear of all
impediments to accomplish it. Although notwithstanding post independent big
feats India has punched below its weight. Pious intentions with which they
fight to death to free India from the clinch of Britons is still unfinished,
their ideas have been fading as few are there to take care of. A nexus of
unscrupulous leaders, mediators and traitors is dragging India to abysmal. For
me this scene is nightmare as my Dream of India is very contradictory.
What all of us can do in our
Individual capacity, in solidarity can do miracles. So my dream of India is
easy to perceive but hard to decipher how to instill soul in that intangible
DREAM and make it a reality. I dream for a utopia that India will be in the
very 21st century. I see India as a ‘School’ from where the whole world can
learn something and this is the reason for which India has been regarded as the
‘World Guru’. I am waiting for that day when India will be a super power not in
perspective of armament but for its lenient nature and self-reliant. India
should be so competent to alleviate destitution. Redistribution of resources
should be done with full probity and egalitarianism of indian society is sine
qua non to realize the power of democracy. World’s largest democracy is going
through various trial and tribulation, it is fighting hard for its existence as
it is encountering many undemocratic rivalries.
Women and Girl should be
treated on par with men or boy. Male-chauvinism must be eradicated from the
grassroot level. Domestic violence is calamitous in Indian household it
jeopardize the life of many girls. They often set ablazed in trivial matters.
Even in high educated society women are not getting a level playing field, they
are paid less for the same work as compared to men. The Image of India in my
psyche is very different from this, Indian society should be the precedent of
uniformity and everyone must be the exorcist of social evils.
Destitution is like an epidemic
in Indian perspective, it has plagued the people by degrading their living
style. Poverty is a vicious circle, coming out of it for a common man is not a
cakewalk. They are caught in a quandary where emancipation for them is still an
enigma. Post Independent India has seen miserable conditions of people,
although people have rehabilitated from it, Inequality has augmented. Poor are
getting poorer and rich are getting staggeringly rich. In my India of dream
there would be “No affluent No indigents”. No one will sleep with an appetite
belly, there would be an arrangement for at least three square meal a day for
all and sundry.
India is a home of almost every
religion in the world, this diverse multi-religious blend is uniqueness of
Indian culture. This cultural heritage must be protected from the religious
fanatics. My view of India should be a Nation where people live under one
umbrella and religion must not be the entity of Identity. Cogent secular state
will ensure no wretchedness in the society, serenity and harmony will flourish
all over the country. Egalitarianism should be the doctrine of Indian society.
Discrimination on the basis of cast, creed, sect, and religion would be
declared as faux-pas. It will enhance amiability, fraternity and will connect
every Indian citizen in a single thread.
M.K. Gandhi had said “Religion
can never be separated from politics”. He was dead right at that time, but in
21st century even mere juxtaposition of both religion and Politics can prove
pernicious for national harmony. I see India as a place where Government and
governance can never be intrude on by religious institutions and organizations
which is mandatory for smooth functioning of government machinery.
Citizens are more
pessimist than optimist, they always see the dark facet of any thing by discarding
huge bright side. In this regard Steinbeck’s statement compel me to zero in on
… ..“It has always seemed strange to
me...The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty,
understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And
those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism
and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality
of the first they love the produce of the second.”” Then what is wrong with the system? Why there is contrast between belief and
practice? One possible answer to this question is We do so to get the things
done in more easy way than following the legitimate way. People often regard an
honest person as moron, cunning peoples are adored everywhere. I am dreaming
for a Volte-face system where all things would be rectified. Probity will be
adored and meanness will be detested. People in India have some kind of
pre-conceived notion and frivolous mindset which I regard the major impediment
in the development. Somewhere scarcity of cognizance is making them incompetent
in every arena of life. Social and economic development is not in tandem which
is the major cause of downgraded lifestyle especially in rural areas. APJ Abdul
kalam Sir’s provision of PURA(Provision of urban amenities in rural areas) can bridge the gap between light and dark
side of India.
Justice must reach the poor in stipulated time. In this
dog-eat-dog and commercial world Justice is bought and sold by the rich and
famous. Truth is gagged by delinquents and for poor in course of justice
inordinate delay means justice denied. ‘Rule of law’ must be established. Theft
for a bottle of water should not be criminalized if one is doing so for
quenching their thirst and real criminals who siphon off public treasury should
be put behind the bar. Money and muscle strength should not be the parameter of
enforcement of law. Law and its implementation should be uniform regardless of
region, post , money power, muscle power and Influence.My dream of India is a
place where money should not be the hurdle in seeking justice. Rule of law
becomes meaningless when Advocates in high court and supreme court charge
exorbitant fee.
It is my Cri de coeur to see ‘corruption free India’.
Burgeoning corruption is really mindboggling and it is rampant due to system
fiasco. Governance has always seen with doubts, due to lack of proper
accountability and transparency ambiguity prevails in the system. Things are
being done only on papers. These illegitimacy must be redress through cogent
machinery. I am cent percent sure India would be a place of worth living when
the aforesaid things which i described earlier will be a reality and India will
emerge as a superpower.
By:- Tanveer Ashraf
