SERVING THY NATION

LET'S PLAY OUR PART

We are Indians and we are proud to be so. This is what we all say and even believe. But what do we do to actually feel good about the nation we live in? Watch patriotic movies, sing Desh Bhakti songs, paint our faces in tricolour when India is winning against Australia, cheer when Bharat goes to Olympics, buy tickets for Rang De Basanti, clap when some one hums ‘Ye Desh hai Veer Jawano Ka’ and ..and … what else do we do?
Well let’s see; we throw mungfali shells and orange peels on the street from the bus window, spit on the road as we walk past, feel proud that our jeans is a foreign brand, wish to celebrate our honeymoons abroad, flaunt our English pronunciation, put Kundis on our electricity meters, search for a jack if we are appearing for an interview, evade taxes, show wrong incomes, get fake birth certificates made, and never miss a chance to utter in a derogatory manner: ‘ye India hai’.
Whenever I hear my peers say ‘Is Desh ka kuchh nahi ho sakta’ I get a feeling to ask, what have you done to make things happen. And at times I do ask and the responses I get have more or less been the same always. People have arguments like what can I do. I can’t change the whole system. It is all a nexus. Everyone is corrupt etc etc. I have often wondered and sifted out the mettle in such opinions. If I can’t fight the system is it best to be a part of it? If I can’t see any one getting a fair selection is it justified to offer bribes for my work as well? If three people are corrupt is it fine to make the count to four? If the road is dirty do I get all rights to add to that pile of crap? If some one in the exam is cheating will I get the satisfaction by following the example?
All this makes me wonder what happened to the moral science lessons we were taught in Class IV! What went wrong with the ideologies that our parents tried to instill in their kids! It seems that somewhere while trying to fend for ourselves, while attempting to earn a living, lead a life, make a name, get our due in the society, we have left our nation behind. We criticize our government, the authorities and our nation and even feel proud of the process. We put the blame on others and feel glad that ah I am not a part of it. It’s time we question ourselves and ask do I actually not share the blame for all this?
When I sat back and enjoyed the Chhuti that meant me to go out and vote, did I not become a part in election of the bad government? When I carelessly dropped my toffee wrapper on the ground did I not add to the garbage?
If we all ponder over and refrain from these little day today natural behaviors we may actually be serving our country without even joining the defense forces. This New Year let our resolution be for our nation. And my Hindustan does not ask of any great sacrifices from you. Vote, use the dustbin, no bribes, no ingenuine favors, sincerity in work, fair payment of bills - Just good thoughts and nice behaviors would make our nation proud of us