MY HEART IN INDIA, SOUL IN BHARAT

  

BY APURVA RAI

THE dust refuses to settle down as the opinion that people have formed over India or the Bharat. Why not India and Bharat, may I say. Seeds of division have been sowed and the germination process has begun. Can’t say how big the tree will grow. But I am sure this tree will never give rest or peace.

The month of September 2023 will go down in Indian history when President Droupadi Murmu was described as President of Bharat instead of President of India at an official dinner organised at the international summit of G-20 nations in New Delhi. Even Prime Minister Narendra Mode sat behind a placard reading “Bharat” and not India as has been the practice hitherto. Many were shocked, dismayed and confused. Has the Narendra Modi government done what was least expected— changing the name of the nation from India to Bharat. An intense debate took place. History was dug. Arguments were given; and articles were written. Likes and dislikes started pouring in from all quarters. A new debate was taking place in India for a new Bharat.

In the new atmosphere if you don’t use Bharat for your beloved country you are not patriotic by any means; a true Indian can’t be a true Bharatiya! Those who still had some liking for India were branded as having a colonial mentality and being slaves to the foreign culture. I understood it like that.

Logic, fact and mind said there is nothing bad or nothing wrong in accepting Bharat and dumping India. But somewhere there existed a void. Emotions were attached to India and heart lived in India. Logic is not needed always. Facts are fine but still…

By now almost every one of us has mugged up what is stated in our Constitution. On September 18, 1949, the chief architect of the Constitution B R Ambedkar moved to amend Article 1, which states: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of States”.  Let us also know what the initial draft of Article 1 read: India shall be a Union of States. There was a strong debate about replacing Bharat with India. The final version that we have before us is what Ambedkar had moved. At the same time, Ambedkar also said that the word Bharat was accepted and that we should move on to bigger issues.

Things were settled. A calm prevailed. Bonhomie spread. While the nation moved on suddenly reverse gear was applied and the debate sparked off to replace India with Bharat. No bill was presented in Parliament, no debate, no plebiscite, no discussion, and no idea to the people of the country when everyone witnesses a new change. Whose idea was it anyway? Was it the ruling BJP government? Was the BJP behind it? Was Prime Minister Narendra Modi behind it? Suspense continues. 

Several quarters echoed their voice that ‘India’ indicates the colonial mindset. An opinion was formed to reject what was prevalent during the British Raj and to adopt what is our own. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had said in Guwahati sometime ago to stop using the name ‘India’ and switch to ‘Bharat’, our own desi word. Better late than never, you know.

Many of those protesting against the English forgot how proudly do we announce when our children get Rhodes or Chevening scholarships. How much pride they take in getting British Council membership! How can one deny the fact that Oxford still commands more respect in our hearts than any other of our own university? Our own children put in more efforts in learning English, the colonial language, and qualifying IELTS to gain admission to their university. One should not forget that the Allahabad University is also called the ‘Oxford of the East’. Hamara seena 56 inch ka ho jata hai (our chest blows to 56 inches) when it comes to anything that is English.

There is nothing wrong in Bharat either. Those who stand in support are seen as deeply connected to their culture, the history, the roots and having faith in traditions. Historians have yet to find convincing evidence to support the change. The house is divided. 

It is not that names have not been changed. Who can forget Calcutta becoming Kolkata, Bangalore becoming Bengaluru, Madras becoming Chennai, Cawnpore becoming Kanpur, Allahabad becoming Prayagraj, Gauhati becoming Guwahati and Bombay becoming Mumbai. But nobody had the slightest inkling that the name Bharat will be officially replaced by India at an international event! The whole world saw it. The whole world experienced it. A mahabharat was triggered over nomenclature.

What is wrong with having two names? Several other countries, too, have it. Turkey is known as Turkiye, the German name of Germany is Deutschland and Japan is the English name Nippon. So why should India which is Bharat affect so much? How can one forget Ceylon becoming Sri Lanka, though Ceylon is etched in our memories for its radio and Ameen Sayani giving his inimitable voice. Burma is now Myanmar though many of us still call it by its older name.

By any standards hybrid use of the name sounds strange. “President of the Republic of Bharat” does not go as good as the “President of the Republic of India”. Well, it could read, “Bharat ke Rashtrapati” and nobody would have found anything odd. Afterall, we all know Japan as a leading country in automobile manufacturing and understand that Nippon is merely a brand that manufactures several electric goods. We all talk of going to Germany to see the Berlin Wall and are familiar with Deutsche Bank as a bank.

FEAR OF UNITED OPPOSITION

What, then, led to this so-called new namkaran (a ritual when we give a name to a newborn in the family) controversy? Was it cultural, historical, mythological or followed the lost traditions? None. It was purely political.

When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power with a whopping majority there was no debate over Bharat or India. When the Modi government was re-elected in 2019 there was, again, no issue like Bharat or India. Then what happened so suddenly? Was there any threat? Was there any scare? Was there any debate? Was there any answerability to someone? If not, then why so much brouhaha and that too when the country is preparing for the next big elections next year, i.e. 2024.

The root cause of the whole debate lies in the fact that prime opposition parties of the country have rechristened their alliance as the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance or I.N.D.I.A., in short. So far, it was known as the United Progressive Alliance or the UPA formed after the 2004 general elections and was led by the Indian National Congress, the party that we call as Congress. Rahul Gandhi was the face and continues to be so. He continues to lead the newly-named alliance.

The acronym I.N.D.I.A. has done ‘wonders’ for the freshly united opposition. They were sinking and needed it badly. The target, Modi government, was hit. The dart was sharp on the dot. To quote Rahul Gandhi “that got them all heated up”. The Modi government is hunting for the Sanjeevni Booti (the remedial herbal treatment plant described in ‘Ramayana’). Does it have a Hanuman to rush and bring a whole lot of relief? Alas, not! Ironically, in the BJP Modi is Ram, Modi is Laxman and he is Hanuman. Modi is the face, Modi is the savior.

The biggest failure of Narendra Modi, in the past 10 years, is that he never encouraged talent. It is not that there is any dearth of it. But Modi is the face. He is the ruler. He is the government. He is the party. He is the ringmaster. He is the striker and he is the goalkeeper. Modi is the pilot. He is the co-pilot and the navigator.

The opposition had the pulse. It knows how BJP and RSS project themselves as the guardians of nationalism, Hindi, Hindu and Hindutva, Bharat and Bharatiyata and the guardians of pracheen Bharatiya Sanskriti. And if you disagree, they lose no time branding you anti-national.

The I.N.D.I.A. acronym was the answer to this narrative. However, it is debatable how correct it is to use the country’s name as an acronym.

For the united opposition, Congress, in particular, half the battle is won.

Short of any other idea to counter the opposition move Modi government decided to use Bharat, instead of India, at a major international event. A unilateral decision, indeed.

An undeterred Rahul says, “The Constitution actually uses both names, right? The line in the Constitution, which I began with, is ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States’. So, I don’t really see a problem… both are perfectly acceptable.” He further added, “But, I think, maybe we irritated the government a little because we named our coalition I.N.D.I.A. and that got them all heated up. And now they have decided to change the name of the country.”

POLL PLANK?

The BJP seems to be losing the battle; though nobody can predict whether the party will win the war since the elections are still several months away. The BJP, as a party and the ruling government, never looked so shaken. They were confident of returning to a third term in 2024. Now the scenario has changed. The party has revived an old debate on nomenclature and played the nationalist card with it. Emotions run high and opinions swirl around it. 

For every Indian, both Bharat and India have been the most loved ones. Both the names have been interchangeably used on every platform. India remains as much in the hearts of its people as Bharat. So far no problem. The problem will crop if the BJP comes with its unilateral decision and removes India to pave the way for Bharat. What will, then, happen to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)? Will it be known as the All Bharat Institute of Medical Sciences (ABIMS)? What will happen to the prestigious IAS? Will it be known as Bharat Administrative Services (BAS)?  What will be the Indian Air Force known as, Bharat Air Force? And Indian Navy, Bharat Navy?

The nation knows Bharat is as good as India. Perfect and full of patriotism. We say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ with as much pride as ‘Chak de India’.

There is always a second opinion. Think before making the change. Think before the topsy-turvy.

RAHUL, THE CHATTERBOX !

 

 

BY APURVA RAI

NO, it is not Amitabh Bachchan, not Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan not Ratan Tata or Mukesh Ambani or Gautam Adani, not Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli or M S Dhoni, not Sadhguru or Sri Sri Ravishankar or Baba Ramdev, not Sunder Pichai or Satya Nadela or Narayan Murthy, not Amit Shah or Shashi Tharoor or Arvind Kejriwal or Asaduddin Owaisi, not Raghuram Rajan or Ajit Doval, not Arnab Goswami or Ravish Kumar, not Sanjeev Kapoor, not A R Rahman or Sonu Nigam who have been in news continuously years after year, for decades.

This is the one man who has stolen headlines day in and day out. One Indian who is most talked about for various reasons. One man most ridiculed and made fun of in Indian politics. One of the most eligible bachelors in the country. He is projected as the next prime minister of India. He is seen as the youth icon though he is in his early 50s and half of his beard turning grey. One man who pulls a huge crowd, yet, has not been able to steer clear majority for his political party. One man who is most sought after for one byte or a full-length interview. He is the one whom every Indian of every age group knows yet wants to know more, one man who is loved and hated equally. One man who has been tirelessly working for his party without bothering the election outcome. One man who has unfailingly kept his opponents on their toes. 

He is the one man to reckon with in Indian politics. He is Rahul Gandhi, often known as RaGa. He is the one who is vocal, outspoken and vociferous. He speaks on and on and on. He can be best described as the chatterbox!

Rahul’s critics call him Pappu; a name commonly used to address small boys. Pappu has slowly emerged as a derogatory term synonymous with failure or dumbness. But this Pappu, the prince of Indian politics, is undeterred by the salvo fired by his opponents. Thousands of people see a ray of hope in him while a thousand others see failure in him. Whatever is said, whether ridiculed or praised, Rahul Gandhi has been in the news every day and manages to steal some space on the front page of every newspaper; everywhere or somewhere. No bulletin, in some or the other news channel, goes without running a clip of Rahul Gandhi. He has been ubiquitous for decades, non-stop. This is not a joke, for sure.

SUCCESS AND SETBACK

What is the biggest success of Rahul Gandhi? His popularity. Whether right or wrong, whether good or bad Rahul compels his rivals to talk about him, His style makes him the cynosure of all eyes, his fearlessness that takes him anywhere and everywhere and his adrenaline that makes him unstoppable. No doubt, Rahul is the most recognisable face of Indian politics.

What is the biggest setback, then? Well, this is his speech. Whatever Rahul speaks, wherever he speaks, whenever he speaks comes into the limelight in no time. His utterances draw headlines for all wrong reasons. He is often ridiculed by the opposition or the people. Nobody knows whether he does it intentionally or is his slip of the tongue; whatever it is, Rahul has etched an impression that is a mix of anger, fun and criticism. Rahul is in the middle of a controversy. He is disparaged by his opponents time and again. One cannot deny that the Congress Party, which he is spearheading, has suffered a setback due to “Rahul Speak”. No doubt, Rahul Gandhi is a chatterbox!

MAKING WAVES IN 2023

Now that the parliamentary elections are due in 2024 almost all political parties have rolled up their sleeves for the upcoming battle. Undoubtedly, this is the biggest political mela to take place after five years and no politician can take it lightly. Rahul, too, is in full form.

The former Congress president shot into the news in August 2023 during a no-confidence motion debate against the ruling BJP government. Initiating the debate Rahul referred to the violence that took place in Manipur. He sounded furious in the Lok Sabha and blamed the prime minister that he is not treating Manipur as part of India. He said, “till you do not stop violence in Manipur, you are murdering my mother.” What Rahul meant was that Bharat Mata was being murdered. The Speaker of the House asked Mr Gandhi to exercise restraint in his speech, but he was unstoppable. Ignoring the Speaker, Rahul went ahead and said, “One mother is sitting here”. He pointed to his mother, an MP and former president of the Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, who was seated on the front row. Added Rahul, “The other one, Manipur, has been ‘finished’ by the BJP. “Till you do not stop violence in Manipur, you are murdering my mother”, he said. 

In the course of his speech on no-confidence motion, Rahul compared Modi to Ravana. He said, “Just like Ravan used to listen only to Meghnaad and Kumbahkaran, Mr. Modi listens to Amit Shah and Gautam Adani.” 

Bharat Jodo Yatra: To give a boost to the party campaign and to feel the pulse of the people Rahul Gandhi embarked on a Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7, 2022, and continued till January 30, 2023. During the course of his Yatra, he covered approximately 4,000 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The second phase of the Yatra will take place from Gujarat to Meghalaya for which the dates are yet to be announced.

No doubt the Yatra added to the popularity of Rahul Gandhi as he managed to pull huge crowds everywhere he went. The unsaid purpose, to restore the fading image of the Congress party, too seemed to be fulfilled to a great extent. Whether it will get converted to votes is a million-dollar question. Answers will be out in March 2024 or around this time. 

Making a reference to the yatra experience Rahul, in his speech during the no-confidence motion, said he had a lot of learning during this p eriod. He said that he had the opportunity to realise the difficulties faced by a common person and get a peek into their lifestyle. Let us not forget that Rahul Gandhi has been in active politics for over 20 years. His father, Rajiv Gandhi, was the prime minister of India, his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was the prime minister of India and his maternal great-grandfather, Jawahar Lal Nehru, was the first prime of the country. It is ironic that a leader with politics running in his blood for several generations needs to understand the people of his country, needs to understand the geography of the length and breadth of his country, needs to understand the diversity of his country, needs to understand the mood of the masses, needs to find the needs of the commonest of the common person, needs to unlearn what he has learned through articles or cooked-up fiction and much more.

Utterances lead to Suspension: In March this year, Rahul was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by a court in Surat, Gujarat for a 2019 speech made against PM Modi on a defamation allegation related to his surname. This resulted in his disqualification from Parliament. Rahul had said, “Why do all these thieves have the name Modi?” during a campaign speech comparing Narendra Modi with economic offenders such as Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi.

In August this year, the SC stayed conviction, thus, allowing him to contest the next elections and reinstate him as MP for Wayanad, Kerala. It is not to be forgotten that Rahul had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from two constituencies, Amethi and Wayanad. He lost his traditional Amethi seat to Smriti Irani who is now a minister in the Modi cabinet. The saving grace was his victory over Wayanad which he won with over 60 percent votes. Amethi is the family constituency of the Gandhi family. Rahul contested from here in 2004 and retained it for the longest period till 2019. His father Rajiv Gandhi, mother Sonia Gandhi and uncle Sanjay Gandhi had contested and won from Amethi. 

Says senior SC advocate and former Solicitor General of India that Rahul Gandhi’s comments were not expected of a public figure in position. “The highly disrespectful manner of talking… You are making false accusations and then you say I am in public life…  Everyone knows, however much denies it, he dreams of becoming prime minister. Is this his stature to use this sort of language?”, questions Salve.   

TUMULTUOUS PAST

Many utterances made by Rahul Gandhi have angered different political parties as well as the public. One such incident is that of WikiLeaks which happened in August 2009. During a lunch with the US Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, Rahul said that he believes Hindu extremists pose a greater threat to the country than Muslim militants. His words were revealed in one of 4,000 leaked US diplomatic cables. What the Congress leader meant was that saffron terror was a bigger threat than the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The emerging Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted sharply and demanded an apology from Rahul for ‘defaming Hindus globally’. The WikiLeaks reports surfaced in December 2010.

Things do not stop here. After the WikiLeaks episode the BJP gains power at the Centre and Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister of the country. After his election, Modi called himself the chowkidar (watchman on duty) of the nation. In reference to the same Rahul used the slogan Chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is a thief) in 2019. A bold statement indeed. He was targeting Modi about the alleged irregularities and favouritism in awarding the contract for the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. Once again, the Congress party leader earned the wrath of the ruling BJP government and a defamation case was filed against him. Rahul later told the Supreme Court that this was just a political slogan. 

In 2017 during a visit to Tamil Nadu, he described Amma Canteen as Indira Canteen. Amma Canteen in Tamil Nadu provided cheap food to the people. The Indira Canteen was started in Karnataka. The former Congress party president and the prime ministerial candidate forgot it. Perhaps he hadn’t done his preparations well. The same year Rahul also came into the limelight for churning out gold out of potatoes. Addressing a rally, he said such machines will be installed which will roll out gold from one end when potatoes are inserted from another. His statement earned him the reputation of being a non-serious politician who has little understanding of the practical world.

As if it was not enough, during a Halla Bol rally in 2022, Rahul quoted the price of wheat flour in litres. Once again, the Congress top shot was ridiculed. How can somebody make such a silly mistake? But Rahul did.  

Despite all this Rahul, the chatterbox, is seen as the de facto leader of the I.N.D.I.A. coalition. Perceived as an ineffectual and inexperienced politician Rahul remains undaunted in his political mission.

OTHER SIDE OF PERSONALITY

Let us be reminded that Rahul Gandhi was born on June 19, 1970. His father was Rajiv Gandhi, former minister of India and his mother is Sonia Gandhi, former president of Congress Party (INC). Sonia is of Italian origin. Rahul’s schooling took place in India. For higher education, he went to Rollins College in Florida (USA) to obtain his B.A. and did M.Phil. from Trinity College, Cambridge. 

Likes & dislikes: Rahul doesn’t like jackfruit and peas. Has an interest in scuba diving, cycling, backpacking and martial arts. “I used to go with my friends for long-distance cycling. Back in Europe, I cycled across Italy”, says Rahul. He has a Black Belt in Japanese martial arts ‘Aikido’. He used to box in college as well. He earned his first paycheck of about £ 3,000 for working at a strategy consulting company in London when he was 24 or 25 years old.

The SECOND OPINION feels you don’t have to always become a politician, you can also become a changemaker. You can also become the change. So, if you really want to become a nayak (leader) in real life start with your constituency. Winning back your traditional bastion, Amethi, would not only restore Rahul Gandhi’s image but also give him the advantage of being a brute force who is capable of bringing a change for the better. Rahul still needs to evolve.  

According to American best-selling author John C. Maxwell, “a leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”. But then this is Rahul Gandhi. The man is on a roll!

 

 

 

Looking Ahead After 75 Years

 

By APURVA RAI

WHAT a glorious moment for a country that struggled hard for almost two centuries to gain its Independence from British colonial rule. August 15, 1947, was the most magical moment of Indian history and will always hold the highest place of pride in the heart of every Indian. The independence didn’t come easy; almost every Indian made his or her contribution, several of them making supreme sacrifices, to see the dawn of a new era. India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru summed it up aptly: "At the stroke of the midnight when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” 

Like the story of the Indian freedom struggle, the story of India’s development and rise to its universal presence in the world today is no less significant. During these 75 years of its independence, India has made development leaps and bounds enabling it to stand tall, strong, rich, and resourceful. Today nobody can dare to even look at its borders, today India has a voice of its own, today India has its own identity, today Indian products are exported to almost every country in the world, today Indian people are respected everywhere for their knowledge and skills. No doubt, India has achieved so much and so fast in the last 75 years that today it can compete with the best.

The Indian government is celebrating 75 years of Independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ which is described as the elixir of energy of independence. It means elixir of inspiration of the warriors of the freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges and nectar of Aatmnirbharta (self-dependence).  The Mahotsav (celebration) commemorates 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievement. The official journey of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commenced on 12^th March 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75^th anniversary of independence and ends on 15^th August 2023.

‘HAR GHAR TIRANGA’ and MY PATRIOTISM

The government has appealed to the people of India to hoist the tricolour in their homes to show their feeling of patriotism. The campaign comes as part of the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’.

It is fine to ask people to display Indian tricolour in their homes. To what extent does it prove my feelings for my motherland? Some people have objections as to why there should be a public display of their loyalties.

For decades I am in the habit of hoisting the tricolour in my home; sometimes on the railing of my roof or sometimes on the boundary wall. Believe me, I have never spoken a word about it to anyone so far; nor have I ever posted a picture of it on social media. It’s a practice that I love from my heart. Every year I purchase the flag from a small child selling them at road crossings. These little children, holding a bunch of tiny paper flags will come running and plead to buy one, at least. I have seen people misbehaving with them, yelling and mistreating, or bargaining hard. This hurts me. I have never bargained and will never do so. These are the street urchins who help their parents at that age when other children are enjoying a burger at McDonald's. Today when elders complain about their children not supporting them these little poor children teach us a great lesson in life— they have stood by their parents who are feeble and not able to meet family needs independently. 

My act is a reflection of my sentiments which are the result of my inner voice. I never waited for an appeal from somebody. There is so much of excitement, so much of happiness and what a joy of buying that tiny flag, bringing it home, tying it to the railing, making sure it doesn't fall and making sure the knot remains tight. Your emotions, the feeling of pride for your motherland cannot be described when you see the tiny tricolour flying in your home. 

All my family members will walk the whole day to the verandah, keeping an eye on the tiny flag. What a feeling watching Tiranga flying hundreds of times in a day! Every time we see we will talk about the freedom struggle, the current socio-political situation, the prime minister’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and so on. One can’t think of anything but the nation, at least on this day. Isn’t it enough proof of my or my family’s patriotism?

It gives me goosebumps when I see the tricolour being unfurled followed by the national anthem on TV. We will stand in respect of the national anthem without fail. Moreover, we will not talk about it to anyone outside. And this does not happen with me only; it’s the story of millions of Indians hoisting a small Tiranga in their homes and standing to the tune of Jana Gana Mana. Millions of Indians, like me, do not discuss patriotism in society. They prove it to themselves not once or twice but thousands of times, year after year. The ‘silent’ feeling of patriotism is neither for public display nor needs any certification. ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ certainly infuses a feeling of pride; it cannot be a compulsory statement of patriotism. And that’s the second opinion! 

PAST Vs PRESENT

What kind of society prevailed when India attained independence? And, what kind of society prevails today when India is independent for 75 years?

Today’s India is a well-developed India, today’s society is a progressive society, people are better educated, more professional, more efficient, and modern in their outlook. There are big industries, improved agriculture, technology, sophisticated laboratories, long highways and much more. True. This means today’s society should be a close-knit society! People should have stronger bonding, they should be closer to each other and more helpful! False.

Modernization, westernization, and urbanization have impacted our lives beyond imagination. Ethics, moral values, mutual respect, tolerance, contentment, and happiness seem to have lost ground and today almost every one of us is living in a world of rivalry, jealousy, distancing, ego and selfishness.

Our forefathers didn’t have too many clothes, didn’t have a car, didn’t take the family to the cinema, didn’t have a plush drawing room, didn’t sleep on a mattress, didn’t have enough to give as pocket money, didn’t have enough to go for a family outing, didn’t eat fancy food and what not. Contrary to this, what they certainly did have was the happiness of the family which made them happier, the joy of sharing and caring even if it meant making personal sacrifices, a simple dal-chawal would suffice, and new clothes for the family, preferably the younger ones, once or twice in a year wouldn’t come without much of planning and some sacrifice, they will have enough time in the evening to sit with compatriots, gossip and the veranda which will be filled with bouts of laughter, they might not show it but did care for every member of the family, which was not small in any way, their neighbours and well-wishers, wouldn’t mind getting their footwear repaired again and again because they wanted to save a penny to pay for children’s fee, nobody would hesitate to knock the doors even at odd hours, marriages or social events would see everyone coming forward and sharing the responsibilities without complaints, and much more.

Those were the days when a good scolding by a father or uncle for any wrongdoings would not be looked down on, elders wouldn’t complain to the teacher if the child was punished in school for not completing the task, wouldn’t sleep if the children were in difficulty, wouldn’t even think of life without their parents in the home, wouldn’t forget to consult their siblings on any occasion. Those were the days when parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts would all live under one roof, wear what was provided, eat what was cooked, play in the open fields, study with old books and yet be happy. Joys and sorrows of life will be shared by every member of the family. This does not mean, however, mean that all sorts of goodness and noble thoughts prevailed; slyness was handled in a way that the dignity of the person was not compromised. Family values meant big.

Gradually time changed. Modern-day India has come a long way. The ways of life have changed. People have individual houses, they have individual cars, they go for parties and family outings, they send their children to the best schools and buy expensive clothes, take no time in filing a complaint against the teacher for punishing children, and maintain a standard of living, have all modern gadgets in their homes, meet only those who matter, give gifts to prove their status, etc, etc. 

After 75 years of independence, the life of an Indian is completely transformed. Ethics and moral values are forgotten, selfish thoughts rule the minds, social responsibilities have taken a back seat, and greed and avarice make them corrupt and selfish. Running after personal wealth, materialism, and purchasing several properties, even if not required, collection of precious jewellery defines prosperity. Ego, ill- temperament, ill- feelings, show-off, jealousy, and ‘I don’t care' attitude is what define modern Indian society. Lots of elderly are spending days in old-age homes, young ones make families but keep their children in crèches because career and earning are more important than the family.

You call somebody but they will respond saying, ‘busy in a meeting, will talk later'. And that ‘later’ would never come if you don’t have value for them. You fix a date for having lunch with your brother and his family. You arrange a get-together with friends. Be thankful even if this happens because there are others who won’t hesitate to ‘detox’ their relationship with you if you don’t meet their expectations. Your profile becomes the criteria of relationship. Don't be surprised if the same people return shamelessly to you when your fortunes change someday.  

Somewhere in the process, we have lost the fun of life, the joy of togetherness, the happiness that comes with sharing, the feeling of making sacrifices to respect relations, or the contentment that comes with simplicity. We don’t look at the sky anymore, don’t count the stars, do not enjoy the full moon, do not sit on the riverside, don’t stroll in the market, the concept of window shopping has diminished, evenings with uninvited friends or neighbours are not in the list anymore. The value of 'sitting idle' for some time, not doing anything today is not even in our remotest thoughts. Barging into a cousin's home or a friend's home is bad etiquette. We don't laugh anymore! instead, we smile.  Of course, loud laughing has become a morning exercise in a club or with a group of people. 

It would be appropriate to quote here a poem by William Wordsworth:

THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;--

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;

The winds that will be howling at all hours,

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be

A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,

Have glimpse that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising in the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

 

MANY MORE ISSUES TO HANDLE

Seventy-five years of independence and lots of progress in technology, prosperity, modernisation, strengthening of the economy, development of society, better roads,  improved mobility, bigger industries, modern education system, vast media, stronger democracy, cultural growth, better health services, awareness for rights, fashion and fast life. Today’s India is different. The story, however, does not end here. It has its side effects too! Today’s family is more isolated, an individual is alone because there is no company, there are growing instances of depression, physical inactivity, avoidance has become a habit and an apathetic attitude defines the personality. We have become selfish and hesitate to think of others, 'me first, you afterwards' is the way of thinking, 'owner's pride, neighbours' envy' is what defines us; materialism rules.  

RESTORE THE LOST GLORY BEFORE 100^th INDEPENDENCE DAY

Besides several social disorders, modern-day society grapples with many serious issues. One such issue is the growing communal divide. Our forefathers who lived in perfect harmony with people of all faiths are nothing but a dream in modern-day social structure.

Those were the days when brotherhood among different communities existed. Today things have become from bad to worse, trust is lost, goodwill is replaced by ill-will, love is on the wane, and respect for each other vanishes. Adding fire to the fuel are politicians who spare no opportunity in inciting people for the sake of votes and to win an election. Communal divide and enmity in the society are like fodder for their success in political life. How can they douse the fire if they have to see a bright political career?

Once again the seeds of bitterness among people of different faiths are taking roots. India has already lost Pakistan as well as East Bengal in the form of Bangladesh. Mistrust has taken its toll. The result is that geographically India stands reduced in size. Size matters, indeed.  Imagine our world presence if the two were with us, intact! We cannot afford more division based on religion.  

We have to open our eyes and settle down on the matter if we want to see a glorious India on 100^th Independence Day. Vote bank politics, the declining level of politics, poor political leadership, and politicians with zero credibility are doing more harm to society than any good. It is time we look at politics of sacrifices and politicians with credibility.

Growing pollution, environmental issues, women's safety, education for all, health services for every person, curbing corruption, etc are some factors that need immediate attention.

India has awoken to its freedom; needs to awaken further to make life happier. One can anticipate a wonderful 100^th Independence Day twenty-five years from now. Second Opinion feels a strong, honest, dedicated, and determined political will, and an efficient, honest and more professional workforce will make India stronger, better, and more beautiful. The countdown begins now!

Listen to a fantastic, memorable patriotic song by A R Rahman