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Articles: My Thoughts | Be a Better Indian
- Mr. Ratnakar Sadasyula
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This year we would be completing 60 years as a country, and as a republic we are already 50 years old. As an Indian, I belong to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations and to one of the largest democracies of the world. On the occasion of Republic Day, I wanted to share a few thoughts of mine on how we can really be a better Indian. Please keep in mind, that these are not tips and suggestions. I am only expressing my views and ideas. If my views appear passionate, it because as a person I am quite passionate in what I believe. And yes please, I am very much a resident Indian, born, brought up and staying in India, and I have no intention of becoming a citizen of any other country.
One person can never make a difference. Many of us keep hoping for a messiah or a Mr.Clean who would some how come up, clean the system and make India a better place. Never happens in real life. Whether it’s your own family, your workplace, your city or your country, only a concerted team effort can make things better. Sitting in the hope that some one will come and clean things up, is sheer escapism. When you see a highly rated CEO being felicitated for his work, that success is not his alone. It’s the success of the ordinary faceless employee in his company, every one of whom put in their effort. Independence was won not by a handful of leaders, it was because of thousands of ordinary Indians braved police lathis, sacrificed their lives, gave up their comfortable jobs, that we ultimately won it. Each one of us has a role to play for our country. We don’t need a Superman to solve our problems, we need every ordinary person in the country, to put in their effort to help the nation go ahead.
What can I do for my country? You need not fight wars or win a cricket match or win the Nobel/Booker prize to feel that you have done something for your country. Take pride in your surroundings for a start. You are an Indian, you belong to this country, this is your home. The place you stay is a part of the city, which in turn belongs to the state, which in turn belongs to the country. When you treat your surroundings with care, in effect you are showing it for your country. Stop treating your surroundings as a giant dustbin, where you can litter and spit. You would not do such things in your home, why should you do it in your surroundings. We often blame people in slums for dirtying and littering, they have no option. What about supposedly educated, progressive people like us, who have the option, but still prefer to dump the rubbish on the road or in our neighbor’s backyard?
Recently in Bangalore, the Government, came up with a rule that all 2-wheelers should wear helmets. Predictably there were howls of protest from people, giving all sorts of weird reasons, why they would not wear the helmets? Now the same person had he been in China or Japan or Singapore or US or Europe, would have accepted the rule with minimum fuss. We often crib that rule of law is not observed here, but other countries are so law abiding. Well who breaks those rules, certainly not aliens, its we Indians who do it in India. Yes the very same Indian who thinks it’s his/her birthright to flout the rules in India, would follow the rules abroad without any fuss. Rules and regulations are necessary for any nation or society, and before you accuse others of breaking the law, please ask yourself, whether you are following it. Its ironical right, abroad we follow every law, even if it’s discriminatory to the core, but right back here, we crib about every law.
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