National Resources For Constructive Use

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We have been regularly reading in the newspapers or watching on TV of news informing us of the demolition drive against illegal constructions or news regarding how influential persons have made constructions beyond the allowed coverage area. I am not a statistician or I would have said that so many schools or so many hospitals could have been built from the so many demolitions done in Delhi alone in the last one year. This goes on not only in Delhi but blatantly throughout the country. The basic issue is that this is not some black money which has been kept hidden or parked abroad. This is something which is visible. We have just overlooked it. We should wake up to this. The persons supposed to look after all this have been seeing the construction going on and in fact allowing it, though illegally. We must realize that it is our labour, our cement and steel which has been turned into rubbles. The country has lost so much. And, yes, we could have constructed a number of schools and hospitals for the needy from this cement and steel and labour.

India Has Done It

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Yes, we have done it. The opening of the Commonwealth Games last evening was just spectacular. The dazzling ceremony must have left the viewers around the globe spell bound as it did to me. As an Indian I am even more proud today.
Till the last moment many had apprehensions but things went smoothly. Even the media reporting weeks before the opening played its role. We may say that a very negative image of the country was created but then the media acted as a watch dog and may be this triggered the organisers to act on its toes. The opening made a point that small skirmishes can not tarnish the image of the greatest democracy on the world.
The national capital is looking all decked up. Very few instances of the common man using the exclusive games lane on road are being noticed. Delhites must be complimented for this.
It is now the turn of each one of us to see that we keep the city clean, stay disciplined on the road and show it to the world that India is great.

Games - Image India

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Now it is the turn of each one of us to showcase our own contribution to the success of the Commonwealth Games starting in just one week. Special lanes have been created on the roads of Delhi exclusively for the participants in these Games. And when they will travel on these roads these visitors from abroad are eagerly going to watch us. They will watch us as to how we drive, how we keep our city clean. Let us not worry as to what the authorities should do on this count. Let us ensure that we will drive properly. It will help in better traffic management. There will be less number of accidents reported next day in the newspapers. And, yes, when these foreigners will pass by they will witness a disciplined, educated citizen driving the way it should be done. On the pavements we should ensure that at least we will not litter around. Not that they will see us in the act itself but also to ensure that they see clean footpaths. In the market place many of these visitors will come to see the Indian handicrafts and enjoy the traditional food that we have to offer. Let us make their visits memorable. Yes, we will do it.

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

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Now that the Commonwealth Games are just a few days away we Indian should see to it how best the image of our country is projected. We have heard a lot about what has not happened, how we have bungled on the preparations etc. However, is it not the way we do everything at home. Even in marriages at home or the inauguration of a mall our finishing work goes on till the last minute, till the time the groom has come on the gates or till the time the chief guest is about to cut the ribbon.
Recently we were witness to photos of the games village with dirty sinks, toilets etc. Do we expect the high officials to visit each of these places to see if everything is spic and span. I am not justifying their lack of responsibility or the action that these high ups should have taken, but then what we, as a common citizen are doing.
We will have to introspect as to where have we failed in teaching ourselves the virtues of healthy living in clean conditions. We come across slogans saying ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’ at so many places. Still we do not want to realize that cleanliness can alone give each one of us good health.
Today in cities like Mumbai and Delhi we hear of thousands effected by Dengue or Malaria – all because of lack of cleanliness. And for this we just keep on blaming the authorities. What are we doing about this? Are we adding to the problem or are we helping in solving the problem?
It must be realized that the mosquito which will bite will not distinguish between rich and poor, between castes or creed. Let us vow that we will help in keeping our surroundings clean.

Education With Values

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Early in the morning today I had to go for a meeting. It was time for the children to go to schools. I could see a number of students waiting at several stops for their bus to come. There were a few who were going to schools in their own vehicle being dropped by their parents or drivers. At a crossing while I was waiting for the traffic signal light to turn green I saw a young mother jump the red light to drive her child to the school. The child was big enough to understand that her mother should have stopped instead of jumping the red light. When this child grows will s/he have regards for law, will s/he listen to parents when they tell this is right and this is wrong? Give this a thought. What are we teaching our child to do? It is not only the books which gives education to the children. It is the deeds that we do all the time which is also being observed by the child.
It is rightly said that giving education only will not be enough. This education should be with ‘sanskar’ or with values. Today, most of the laws are broken by literate people and not by the illiterates.

Bottled Water

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A friend of mine sent me a link to a video clip showing how indiscriminately we use bottled water. And how this effects the environment. I was really touched and started wondering aren’t we adding to this problem. We go to theatres, malls, exhibitions etc. and always carry a bottle. We even ask for bottled water in the best of restaurants. Similarly when we travel we carry bottles. Now a days even in public functions one is offered smaller packed bottles instead of the glasses used earlier. No doubt we would always like to drink good quality water to avoid getting sick. But then can an alternative be found. Yes, it can be done. We should ask the authorities to ensure that good quality filtered water is made available at the theatres, malls, exhibition halls, restaurants, railways stations, airports etc. Good efficient water purification machines can be installed. We will have to convince the people at large that the water available here is of good quality and can be consumed without risk. We should not think of short term gains and feel that this action would hit the manufacturer or the seller. Let us think of the global environment on a long term view. Today, we may be consuming millions of bottles every day. May be with this small gesture we can reduce this consumption and do our little bit for saving the environment.

Reviewing What We Teach

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The Government’s move to provide free education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 is a historic decision. It would certainly take time to get the act enacted in totality. It should be the duty of all of us to see how we can help in making this come true at the earliest. We will also have to review what we are teaching. A committee of experts should be formed to study the books that are used for teaching in schools all over the country. Recently I was helping my grandchild when his Class III examinations were going on. I was surprised to find a reference to ‘Loktantra Ki Sthapna’. Imagine a Class III student in the age of 8 learning about ‘democracy’. At another place there was a reference to ‘one anna’ – a currency that we replaced long back (in 1957 if I am correct). Either we should have a chapter telling the history of currency or use the current denominations. Imagine I had to first answer what is ‘Loktantra’ and what is ‘anna’ before helping him with his other questions.

Death on Roads

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I get quite upset whenever I read a news about people dying in a road accident. Today, 22 people died when a bus fell in a river in UP in India. I am informed that more people die in road accidents in India every day then by terrorism.
Lack of training of drivers of public transport system and also of private vehicles is one of the major causes for these road accidents. Overloading in public transport is also one reason. Other reasons could be poor maintenance of vehicles and also of the roads.
We as individuals should try to do our best to see that this untimely death of many could be avoided. May be we write to the authorities, use our influence in requesting them to be a little more vigilant.
While we can not do much to stop terrorism completely the deaths on roads can surely be brought down considerably.