FACE OF INDIA

Happy Independence Day.

On this eve of 61st anniversary of our nation’s freedom, I wanted to share A Thought / A Message / A Request / A Resolution with you. When I had been in school, learning history of our freedom struggle, I used to think that had I been born in those days, I would have also participated in the national movement. I also used to think that the nation has attained its glory and what all to be done is only enjoy it. Poverty had not bothered me as much as the corrupt politicians. Illiteracy had not bothered me as much as the philosophical arguments. Above all, our inability to raise and win as a society was not even in vicinity.

Now, two decades after passing from the school, life had exposed me to so many experiences, my perspectives are ever changing. It had become thing of past that I thought of a certain sect of people who are responsible for the everlasting misery of our society. I look at myself on each and every activity how I am contributing to the misery. When I realize that there are strong influential causes from who has the money and power in the society for our social debacle, also are present equally influential – the ridiculous nature of our society. A society can only be as ridicule as its members.

On the walk of everyday life, I see/feel/reckon/realize/visualize how life can be better for each one of us. Starting from looking at the “pan stain” in the lift (as a matter of fact, I live in a well-maintained private city where every day the lifts are cleaned inside-out in each building) to indifferent attitude of people in public places. Who is to be blamed ? Can we put all the chaos of the society on the shoulders on “administration” and “politicians” ? And we can sit cool and say “in my country that is how it is”.

While this country is emerging as a economical power in the global market, while this country is making its presence in supremacy of science and technology, while this country is generating more than sporadic entrepreneurs, management professionals, medicos, artists , writers etc, while this country is suddenly becoming the focus of the world, would things happen to eradicate the regress state of the society ? Partly yes. But a very small part. Not more than a million. Were the current economic growth to remove all the problems of society, it could have very well happened at the early years of independence as well.

I realize that unless the individual will not relate himself/herself to the society, the society can never progress. Society can be led by a few individuals but can never be a reflection of those few leaders. Each and every unit of the society has to go through the transformation to take its next generation forward. As responsible citizens of this nation, many of us realize what India has to do to bring a new face to its society. Seldom we realize that it is us "Who are India".

On this, I initiate the movement “Face of India”. The movement is a self-initiation point by every individual of this country. To participate in this movement, one need to vow to himself an oath. An oath, that may be big or small. But an oath he/she will keep for life. A sample oath is as follows
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will never spit in a public place”.
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will not horn in a school neighborhood (of course I will go slow as well!!).”
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will respect government servant.”
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will keep my house surrounding clean.”
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will cast my vote in all elections.”
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will drive abiding by traffic rules by letter and sprit"
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will wait for my turn honestly wherever required"
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will conduct myself socially responsible in all public places"
- “I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will help to spread literacy.”
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will pay all taxes as they are due."
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will buy things only with bill."
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will not take bribe."
- "I am the FACE OF INDIA. I will not bribe for my favour"

The oath is according to individual’s priority, will and relevance. The sprit behind the oath is not correcting others/system. It is more into what I can do within my control to make the situation better. There are a billion faces. I am sure, even one simple oath is good enough for person to set the right direction for the society he/she is part of.

If you want to express your oath, feel free to do so as a comment to this BLOG.