WARNING: The text you are about to read is solely the writer’s dissertation about things that have been previously felt, thought of or pondered over by the writer himself. The points mentioned do not represent general sentiments of any particular community or group. The text can seem funny, crazy, fussy, idealistic, at times radical and even fanatical. It actually depends on the reader’s perception. Happy reading!!
India ‘Rulez’!!
I am not a man of rules. I believe in free and happy living. But my short quarter century of life in this country has made me revisit my ideology and a few of my priorities. I’ve always believed most of us Indians are lethargic, indolent, partly ignorant, a little greedy and at times unethical (and at times overly ethical too). May be our surroundings and the kind of atmosphere we live in have made us so. But that pains me. I did not see most of this world; I may be like a frog in a well. It might not be correct to label only Indians with all such negative adjectives. But this is what I see happening here. And am sure it’s no good. I feel we should be better people to be a better nation. I don’t think we are a great nation yet. We only have an obscenely long history. If by any standards we are, then this is not our best. We can do better. Trust me, we can! Here are a few things I would like to see happening in this country before I die (hmm… may be another 50 yrs)! The list is not comprehensive though. I feel you can pitch in with better inputs. Comments and brick bats welcomeJ.
Label them as my rules, conventions or just dreams of a day dreamer (or may be of an overly ambitious person), these are ‘My Musings’ to see this as a better nation. Here you go… India ‘Rulez’!
Governance and Politics:
1) There are no coalition governments. There should be one ruling party and one opposition.
2) There are no political parties based on separatist or communal ideologies.
The ideology of a political party should only reflect development of this country, every section of the society, providing basic amenities and ample security to the society.
3) Head of the state has absolute power over all the matters.
This does not mean tyranny. An able administrator with full powers can create wonders. Let me quote a statement of … well, lets see who he is later. “One thing we must and may never forget is: a majority can never substitute for the Man. It is always the advocate not only of stupidity, but also of cowardly policies; and just as a hundred fools do not make one wise man, a heroic decision is not likely to come from a hundred cowards.” This was said by one of the biggest idiots the world has ever produced, Adolf Hitler. Nevertheless, this has impressed me.
4) Every politician is properly educated and there is a minimum educational qualification required to become a politician.
5) There is a proper recruitment process at different levels for entering politics.
The minimum age limit in politics is 25 and maximum is 65. All above 65yrs of age should be subject to thorough medical tests and those who clear the tests may be on the advisory boards but not on the ruling front.
No political affiliations or student bodies of a political party in educational institutions.
6) All kinds of societal planning are done with a vision. This should go through enough number of scrutiny channels like specialized planning comities, legal advisory bodies and government bodies for fund generation. Legal/punitive actions are to be taken against head of the projects if they are not completed (including planning phase) within stipulated time periods.
7) There are no caste/community based government sponsored reservations. Proper primary and higher education to be provided to socially oppressed and economically backward people. Absolute nothing in jobs!
8) All government offices to function properly. Government officials to be taught extensively about efficiency, productivity and ethics. Public service oriented offices should be taught soft skills. No compromise on speedy service. Unruly behavior in spite of speedy service to be punished.
9) There is an ethics department set up, to consider and deal with cases where any person is legally correct but ethically wrong. Such people are to be prosecuted. (LoL).
10) Development spreads across to smaller towns and villages from cities and at the same time, there are policies strictly in place and implemented to save eco-system and improve farming.
Police, Security and Judiciary:
1) Fear the police, if you are committing an offence. Feel the respite on seeing police personnel if you are in trouble. Police should be trusted saviors when anybody is in trouble.
2) Police department is corruption free. This problem must be tackled from roots to the top. There are lots of hardships a police officer has to go through doing his job. They must have a better standard of living, paid better and compensated better. I am sure this not the only direct natural cause for them to become corrupt but definitely one of the main reasons. Added to this the recruitment to police should be fair and free of corruption.
3) No body, absolutely, is above the law.
4) There is inflation, rise in prices, incomes, standard of living and of course crime and offences being committed. Then why not review the law system? Every slightest offence should be punishable under law (damage of public property, spitting, peeing, what not damn it… lack of such rules has destroyed the face of our country). Punishments are straightforward and severe.
5) Judicial system is extremely strong and transparent. No body should dare take law into their hands. People should feel free to do anything under the legal purview; nothing outside that.
6) Law can be amended in cases of emergency and not at free will (in fact, I think the judicial system must work with a mixture of instinct and pragmatism, which I know might not be possible in practical applications).
7) The police should have adequate power and should function as a military force. The department should be provided with adequate arms and ammunition. Police personnel must show a rational/responsible behavior and are to be taught extensively on soft-skills, personality development and language skills: one regional language, Hindi and English.
Education and learning:
1) Every citizen of this country is properly educated. Quality primary education is everybody’s right. Primary education is as much value driven as it is knowledge driven.
2) Moral science is a part of school curriculum all over India. Good manners to be taught extensively. Here’s one quote I learnt as a kid and still remember and love very much: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” –William Penn. Every student is supposed to say this in morning and evening prayers in schools (LoL).
3) Education is a process of betterment of an individual. Any kind of malpractice is a crime, and should be punishable under law.
4) Choice of higher education and subsequently profession is not market dependent but to be personal interest based. We often tend to take up the kind of education/profession that could give us better living, and finally find some interest in that. But that is strictly professional interest and can never be a substitute to personal interest. The choice of taking up a career is not easy. We need to know our choices and priorities. A young mind of 17-18 yrs of age can not decide upon that. Good primary education, good parental/professional guidance/counseling, an open/freer market and surroundings are essentials. Parental ‘influence’ should not extend beyond teens. Beyond that it should only be limited to guidance and not authority. A muscle to build up needs to tear the tendon first. And that hurts, but comes out stronger.
5) History and culture to be taught only to know our roots and to take some positives from them. Culture should not be tied up with religion. Religion evolves as a process of teachings of great men, saints, demi-Gods, of/related to same schools of thought, to understand this creation and our purpose of existence. (I can not deliberate here about existence of God. I am intellectually too low to understand Him. I recommend reading ‘Code Name God’ by Dr Mani Bhaumik, a classic piece which deals with integration of philosophy/religion and science). Culture in this world of globalization is a relative term. It should only mean being good, courteous and compassionate towards fellow humans.
6) Discipline and social awareness to be taught to youngsters/children as a rule, either in high school/under-graduation. Activities like one year training by NDA or NSS program should be made compulsory. Effectively a student’s education should be 16 yrs (15 + 1yr of NDA/NSS) or 17yrs (16 + 1yr of NDA/NSS) depending upon the type of under-graduation chosen.
7) Highest standards are set for the quality of education and only eminent educationalists should take care of maintaining that quality from time to time by reviewing the course contents at every level of education. The present universities are to be upgraded; education to be made cheaper and learning should be in practical form.
8) A government regulatory body to be constituted (or if one is already present, it must be strictly operational) to ensure high standards and quality. All private parties to be tested for their intent in setting up educational institutions, the kind of infrastructure and faculty they can provide. Without reaching a minimum set standards, no educational institution to be setup. This can be debated in rural and backward areas. But if we think good education is everybody’s right, why not moot private sector into this and make them fund such initiatives. No body does that with out any return for investment. These terms can be negotiated. Such parties can be given special benefits on some kinds of taxes/duties. Or, ultimately a well educated child comes to the benefit of this country only. Then why shouldn’t the parties work like job consultants??
Life and living:
1) Food and health are given maximum importance in everybody’s lives and relationships are stronger and healthier.
2) Parents are wiser in bringing up their children.
3) Everybody takes up a profession of his personal interest not of professional interest, so that there is minimum ‘burn-out’.
4) There is ample dignity of labor.
5) Roads are wider and there is better movement of traffic.
6) Auto meters and taxi meters do not raise blood pressure of everybody.
7) The media acts more responsibly. There’s no media hype for a cricket match loss/win or a celebrity wedding.
8) Everybody has a right to register protest against anything, but public property is nobody’s father’s property (LoL), and if somebody destroys it, please be ready to shot at, and the people behind it, please be ready to pay for the damages.
9) Everybody performs his/her duty with goodwill and sincerity (including service sector (most importantly), government offices, private offices, health care/hospitals, hotels & restaurants, retailing, etc.).
Above all, I would only want to pray God that we are wiser and are bestowed with better common sense and discretionary abilities. And, many points mentioned above might be idealistic in nature, which may not be possible in the real world. But I'll still try my best to achieve them. If I do not succeed, I'll make a realization. If I do, I'll be a revelation!!
… on a fateful day, when Infosys wasn’t at its full strength, software engineers from the alien planet Cipro™ tried to steal Infy's secrets of success and then destroy the campus. Just as the evil forces deformed themselves into less recognizable forms and tried to barge into the campus from the direction where Infy's belligerent security personnel weren’t guarding, I caught them on my digirebel. And then…
… I thought this was the end; it would be an all out war. Lives would be lost. I knelt and prayed, "Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen". The Gods heard my prayers. They have always pampered Infy. They sent rain-ships to cordon off the whole state of AP. The rain-ships fired on all CANONs, and though Cipro™ made relentless efforts to barge in, its attempts were being washed off in FLASH rains. Cipro™ suffered many casualties, but the bodies were unrecognizable since Ciproites already deformed themselves. Their souls were just flowing in the streams. Deprived of salvation. I was still kneeling, closing my eyes in prayer and holding fast to my camera.
… the whole area around me started reverberating with strange yet very familiar sounds. Someone was calling me. The voice was horrific. My heart started palpitating. I was sweating in the rain. A fear so familiar, but petrifying. I never wanted to loose this moment. I opened my eyes to stare a certain death right into its eyes. The sight was so horrible, I fainted. Sweat was still dripping. My heartbeat still racing, like a ball hit for a cover drive by Sachin. I became conscious again. I had to run. Away from this terrible death. I had to fight. To keep my self from drowning, in this ocean of marauders. Lucky me, I found a door. It was apparently closed. I ran towards it, still holding fast to my camera. BANG!! I opened the door… click!! Oh!! That was the real world!!
