Tuesday, August 14, 2007

To better India I

In my previous articles which total more than 100 by now, I have criticized India and its people. I believe that criticism is only an important step towards maturity. What we really need is concrete action to translate that maturity into something tangible for one’s betterment.

I believe that action and action alone can help this country. Each of us may have thought about hundred and one things to improve this nation. But unless we act nothing will happen. And to start that action is now- today.

A slogan that I like a lot is: ‘Just Do It’ (from Nike). Yes, it’s a powerful slogan; and when applied to this nation it can create wonders.

Where does one begin? I want to bring out top three things India has to work on to better the system- and this responsibility lies with the entire system- with the people in power and also with the people who vote such people into power. That includes all of us- the adult population of India. According to me, the following three are the most important issues:

1. Primary Education
2. Roads
3.
Water Canals

You may find many items missing in here. Where is poverty, population, corruption, untouchability, casteism, employment, regionalism, communalism, terrorism, economy, energy, defense, communications, etc? I don’t think those issue are as important as the above three.

Why did I choose only three? I believe that for any person to rectify himself, he has to work on at the most three weaknesses or less. If you have more than three issues to deal with at a time, nothing gets done. You are too defocused. I am applying the same concept to this nation. Take three issues at a time- the top three, go after them aggressively with unrelenting passion and hunger, putting all your resources behind it to make it happen, and then after some period of time, make another assessment as to what the top three issues are and then act on them.

[To be continued]

3 comments:

  1. This is the single most important article you have written ever. Period.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I too have pondered on this.. and I think your first point is the most important (Primary education). That, however, I find vague.

    I want science to be encouraged like never before. Government should fund TV programs that debunk the dozens of superstitions that persist in rural India (urban isn't that far behind, come to think of it). I wouldn't be surprised if this is statistically the biggest reason for the poor rural India remaining poor.

    Isnt the country in a deplorable state if one of its chief scientists and role model is a woo-woo believer..

    Isn't the country in a deplorable state when its favorite superhero Shaktimaan goes on TV talking about increasing memory and mind power, curing diseases and illnesses, all by wearing Rudraksh around the neck.

    The astrologers professing divine knowledge. The bloody swamijis feeding on the vaastu-seekers and marriage-date-schedulers. College going girls religiously following the horoscope section (is there any paper that carries a daily science section?).

    Ban these frauds. Pseudo science is _big_ in India. And freedom of speech exist only as far as the outset of the popular opinion.

    America has its share of heavy fundamentalism. But it's nothing compared to the levels India could sink to. The chemical reaction in America has been well underway, and maybe close to the end. In India it is still in the initial stages. Waiting for catalysts like MIM and Shiv Sena.

    What this country need is for science to stand up and say enough is enough. What this country needs is for reason to say enough is enough. And it finally needs the powers that be (judiciary and the executive) to stand up for these values.

    -Anil

    PS: (what started off as a "hey great essay" turned to this! _God_ can only guess what would happen if I really got into this blogging thing :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sujai,

    Bingo. It's actually very simple. But our politicians derive their rewards from complicating it.

    ReplyDelete

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