India for Freedom- An Approach to
Solution… that Starts with Self.
Make an honest reflection on how
we can cure ourselves to further our motive to free India of its constraints that impede
its excellence in all spheres of human association.
By: Himanshu K. Gandhi
Ignoring
a festering problem or wishing it away... does not always make it go away. More
likely then not, like a seething open wound, it will occupy our attention, even
when we choose to turn our eyes away from it.
Many great societal
challenges of our current times are such... Leaving us with only one choice...
but, to boldly confront it and call attention to resources when and where
possible to help address it.
Cry as
we may all, against the tyranny of justice, or slaughter of truth, or senseless
violence, or corrupt system… any demons without can only be humbled when shout
to action to the other side... is preceded by call to action for principled
self, within. Until the principled 1% of the society rise up to walk the
talk... and commit themselves to be in the mix to engage a change... masses at
large will never gain any currency in this doctored and deliberately fractured
setups we still call democracy… anywhere where the greed resides.
First Leg of Our Response:
Imbibe Virtues
Honest
and truthful conduct that we expect of others, need to be imbibed solemnly by
us.
The germ of incessant
corruption-of-character and diminutive conduct is wide spread... into the very
fabric of our current day common activities, across anywhere where greed resides.
To give it a meaningful resistance, first and foremost we have to come to terms
with ourselves… howsoever reluctant we may be... as soiled broom cannot clean
the room.
We cannot hope to curtail
or tame corrosive influence of underground economy and underworld, from
infrastructure projects, to housing development, to rigged markets, to halls of
education, to religious charities… unless our own business or daily transactions
are devoid of black money, or deceitful means, or are not helped by seeking or
giving undue underhand favors.
We cannot rise in respect
for women and break the back of ghastly treatment of women from forced female
feticides, to rape and molestation, to far more common groping and harassment…
unless we have completely grounded our own undercurrents of salacious conduct
and refuse to be entertained by sounds and images stocking carnal thoughts and
insidious behavior.
Let us humbly submit to
introspect, practice true humility, promise to be selfless, truthful (without
deceit) and inspire everyone in our circle of influence to do the same.
Second Leg of Our Response:
Engender Selfless Motive in Our Self
Solutions
are much easy to come about, implement and stick... when selfless motive flows
in the veins of fellow men and women; motive sans greed, glory or any gain,
including sensuous pleasure, for personal ends. Selfless motive is the only
antidote to susceptibility to corrupt thoughts, which are harbingers to corrupt
practices.
An old fable of 'Stone on
the Road' can only teach us if we are inclined to put our virtuous principles
into practice... with every thought, word and action. Only way out, and
forward, is to heed our own call to make better and take ownership, for common
good.
Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma
Gandhi, M.L. King and Frederick Douglas won the plurality of bitter struggles
based on singularity of the strength of their character. There is no
alternative.
Third Leg of our Response:
Saving what Remains Good
To get
to work in identifying and isolating, to protect, nurture and nourish what
remains good. Start at local community level; spread the deliberate message, to
wider circles to amass support of local NGOs, charitable faith institutions,
and any and everyone who is an honest believer in this effort.
First and foremost there
in, is to protect and support, in any which way we can, people and institutions
that run on selfless motive. It is much easier to spot them… once we adorn the
very same colors.
Fourth leg of our
response: Rebuild
We would have already identified problem areas when we work diligently to
support and protect that which remains good. Let us be more involved in public
policy making institutions, processes and be willing to cross to the other side
to face the music. What democracies need is leaders primed by the
power of principles and not by the power of money. If elections at all levels of
government are commissioned by this yardstick, we can truly turn around this
parody in action.
Bring forth as many fellow
well-wishers in the common good process, to break corrupt practices, rebuild
tarnished instistutions, and effect acute resistence against forces that are at
work, to break us apart.
The key is to stay
selfless… humble, truthful and not to do for glory.
Remember,
a spark at the end of a cigarette butt at a remote camp in Arizona had no idea that it had
power to ignite 350,000 acres of forest. Constructive forces take much longer
time to work through… but they do work… when aligned with selfless motive.
About the
author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA
and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘India
for Freedom’, where his effort is to support thoughts that leads us to better
state of responsibility for our nation, which starts with self. To join the
group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.
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