We are the republic

( Old post from Archives, dated  Thu, Jan 1, 2012 from Viewpoints;  http://chronicler-abhi.blogspot.in/2012_01_01_archive.html)

India completes 62 years of being a republic. I saw the spectacular Republic Day parade today in its entirety, probably after ages. What struck me was the enthusiasm, the spirit, the constant endeavour to excel in the face of all odds. That is what defines the Indian nation. The ability to move ahead despite all odds.

It was almost as if for a moment, one could forget about poverty, corruption, Maoist violence, terrorism, infant deaths, and the formidable challenges that we face or confront as Indian citizens, more than six decades after we became free and declared ourselves as a republic that is sovereign, democratic, socialist (the last a bit counterfeit, thanks to some pretty mixed ideas in the heads of our powers-that-be). But, undoubtedly, tomorrow as the sun rises, it will be life as usual in Mera Bharat Mahan.

Indeed, the night of 26^th Jan itself will no doubt be spent by some homeless man on a bitterly cold Delhi street, or by some stricken parent in rural Bengal desperately trying to salvage the life of her newborn infant. All this, while spectacular parties are being organized in Lutyens’ Delhi to toast the 63^rd anniversary of being the largest democracy in the world. Therein lies the contradiction of our great nation.

Statistics only say so much. So, without delving into the details of the daily casualties of poverty, disease or violence, seemingly the largest killers in our nation today, let us just acknowledge the fact that 62 years of being a republic has given us a lot but equally left a lot to be done. We launch satellites into space, but our rural countryside depends on bullock-carts . We talk of “Medical Tourism” while our own countrymen suffer from preventable and curable death and disease. We have a booming aviation industry, but a fairly underdeveloped rural and urban transport infrastructure. In the shadows of the high-rises in metros, languish the jhuggi-jhopris of the people who built them.

Am I being idealistic? No, I believe, only practical. Without inclusive growth, we might as well as have no growth at all. Disproportionate growth, imbalances and inequity lead to societal strife and violence. While condemning the methods of the Maoists, whose writ is running large in a large part of the country today, and is ruining the countryside, we must acknowledge the situations that led to their growth in the first place. It is for our own sake and our childrens’ sake that we must address the fact that we are yet to grow equitably as a nation.

What can we do as citizens? At least be aware. We are all immersed in our daily race of Roti, Kapda aur Makan, but let us at least open our eyes issues that engulf our country. In that respect, it is heartening to note the growth of the civil society movement in the last decade. While condemning the idiosyncrasies and condescending attitude of the “Anna” brigade, let us at least be thankful to them for bringing this issue into public domain. If we can contribute in some small or big way to the growth of society, let us do so. If we can’t, let us as least be aware of issues, and considerate of others. Kindness and consideration cost you nothing. Knowledge is free for all to share. Raising your voice against wrong-doings and travesties might expose you to risk, but does considerably benefit your self-esteem.

In his seminal book, “Ignited Minds”, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam describes a fictional moment that came in his dreams one night, in which he saw five great people from history- Emperor Ashoka, Abraham Lincoln, Caliph Omar, Albert Einstein and Mahatma Gandhi, engage in a conversation amongst themselves in the middle of a huge expanse of desert landscape bathed in moonlight. After considerable deliberations, they came around to the same conclusion, namely that “Everything that we do, any doctrine that we espouse, should be for the good of humankind.”

Mahatma Gandhi had said once, “Be the change that you wish to see.”

Let us remember these as guiding principles for our lives.

Coming back to the Republic Day parade, the one moment that was especially poignant was the award of the posthumous Ashok Chakra to a young army officer who lost his life valiantly while tackling militants and saving the lives of his comrades. But all the accolades earned would not be enough to console his mother, who was shedding her tears very publicly, unable to hold back her grief. Ditto for his father, who received the award, stony-faced and grim, from the President. Try explaining “valour” and “line of duty” to parents who have lost a son, and one understands the importance of peace.

Peace, progress, justice, development and equity run on parallel tracks. These may seem like lofty ideals, but as citizens of the largest democracy in the world, we need to be aware of the need for these in our own lives. So that we find the time and courage to address the vital issues that concern our country. So that we think of poverty and disease not in terms of statistics but in terms of people whose lives are affected. So that when terrorist attacks lacerate our cities, we hit back with resilience and at least try to force our lethargic government to act. So that when callousness and greed leads people to their death in a totally preventable hospital fire, we find the strength and the means to protest. So that we find time to raise our voices in protest when writers and artists are being intimidated due to vote-bank politics (a.k.a the recent Salman Rushdie fiasco). So that, while running our daily existential race, we still find time for others and their needs. So that we talk of right as right and wrong as wrong, and separate the two clearly.

To quote Martin Luther King, Jr., "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."

We are the republic. Long live the republic. Jai Hind.