Terrorist Crisis --- Where we went wrong?
A basic question came about on aftermath of unprecedented sudden Terrorist Attack in Mumbai at most well known CST Railway Station and iconic hotels, Taj and Oberoi Trident and also at a less known residential building, Nariman House in South Mumbai. The carnage caused by mere ten (10) terrorists across the western border of our country is so massive that it torments most of us, the Mumbaites till now. The aim was well defined and singular to cause a trauma to our entire Nation by senseless killing of nearly 200 people and injuring over 300 people and immense destruction to land-mark and heritage properties of Mumbai. It was as if to defy the sovereignty of our country, India and make entire world witness how such a big country with the largest democracy could be simply a victim without any tooth to oppose and the means to drive away and fight the terrorism to safeguard the citizens of this country.
Why so ? Why such helplessness people feel even after 60 years of Independence, when this country produced so many martyrs who could uproot 200 years' then mighty British Rule and get the Independence ? The answer is not much difficult to find out, if we all honestly look into ourselves. Where are we today, having so much drifted from our spirited Nationalism of yonder years? As a country, we are at lowest level of basic values that make a character of a person. We are devoid of honesty, sincerity and integrity without which no individual character is built nor that of a Nation. In 60 long years, we have enriched ourselves in public life with dishonesty, corruption and domination of goons and underworld in country's politics. Hardly any politician has the character we can feel proud of. In a country over a billion people, we still believe in dynastic rule and hence sycophancy and so a culture of nurturing goons and underworld. All parties do not need merit to get the votes ; all they need is money power, muscle power and dynastic power. The same condition is reflected in public life of our citizens, who consider it a merit to get overnight riches by any means, rather than capability as it takes time and real hard work to climb up. But, we all know, a strong foundation needs proper ramming, curing and right proportion of ingredients for RCC mix so that a high rise building when built perfectly brick by brick, it super structure can withstand the time and weather vagaries. Has our country got that privilege of building a solid foundation ? Yes, as our founding fathers were principled with one dream to make this country free and great among others, as most of them then had characters. They were not indiscipline, corrupt and self-centred as much as next generation of politicians, who could manage to get their declared assets couple times enhanced, even being a MP/MLA. They all know, being a politician is the best job to make quick buck overnight at the cost of public, while enjoying the best fruits of public life without being accountable. Here, one does not need the hard work to build a career in other field like medicine, engineering going through long phase of education, learning from work experiences and still not earning anywhere near to a politician (including BMC corporators) in his/her life time. Why so ? Because, he/she could not qualify to be a corrupt like them.
Our so-called leaders have shown present generation that only way to have purchased (not earned!) comforts of life is to indulge in corruption, dishonesty, insincerity etc. Many youngsters are found to be drifted by this stream. Who should be blamed for this situation ? It is us, the citizens of this country. Why are we not taking pains at our home and also in school and all educational institutes to build characters of our children first so that honesty, sincerity and integrity of their personality come out as major qualifications in life followed by their competency in academics and in work. They will be the driving force to weed out corrupt and rogue politicians from our life and bring back the politics and administration in right place with accountability to the Nation.
I came to Mumbai in 1970 as a young bachelor and spent almost the entire life, while seeing the evolution of this great metro and the country through leadership of this city. It inspired then all young migrants and settlers like me to provide our mite for development of this country from this city of dream. In that process, I have had opportunity to work for most atomic power projects with CANDU reactors, major fertilizer and refinery projects and could develop our career brick by brick to climb corporate ladder. Today, to my surprise, for many young professionals, it has become hop-step-jump. Sorry, we cannot take our country forward with hop-step-jump method as often politicians claim.
I believe, we need multi-prong approach to get out of this rot and then move ahead to ensure security, welfare and prosperity of this great country, India. These are :
1. Purging : We need to purge undesirable elements among politicians irrespective of parties and also that in bureaucracy viz. IAS,IFS,IRS and all such cadres. Only people of character and competency must be taken with public credence, not through any recommendation. For that, we as citizens, need to vote right kind of candidates during election by checking their individual credentials ( individual bio-data with self-assessment of his/her competence must be made available by Election Commission to the public to confirm genuineness of the data) so that only competent and qualified young people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status and connections, are elected, who are accountable to the country so that any of them can be called back any time on public opinion, if found wanting in discharging his/her duty to the country, not to the party or political bosses etc.
2. Systems in Place : Such a major breach in security in Mumbai, only proves the failure of our governance and administrative system. This must be brought into place with transparency of working, proper co-ordination and accountability at all levels. No excuse or fault finding mission will be tolerated. This work must be on time bound and pledged to the country with regular information on its progress to public.
3. Professionals at Helm : India has large no. of eminent professionals in each field, who have contributed effectively to the organization/s they served. They ought to be brought at forefront for catalyzing the change through this movement by organizing country's young generation and directing that force to right way. They can help us improve in purging all ills in political, governance and admin. systems of the country.
4. Media's Role : Media has to be responsible and constructive in their roles to create positive outlook and the feel for united India among all our citizens by providing true perspective and also aid to connect people to right leaders, mostly to help our rural fraternity, who are guided by heart rather than head. They must stop using this platform for sensitizing news for TRP or mileage like many channels do; so must have credible journalists, who understand their role and responsibility. Truth should not be replaced by Fiction !
5. Public Priorities : Topmost in Agenda should be Education....without which no security, growth and prosperity of all citizens, irrespective of caste, religion and community, is possible. First, we have to eradicate ignorance to understand the truth, the right solutions to fix problems ( which are bound to come about for a vast population and country), the opportunities to grow and above all, appreciating top importance of population control that this country needs badly.
No bias due to caste, creed or religion must come in the way.......our only Religion is to become Indians first and so the nationalism in right spirit to ensure prosperity of all, to take this great country to its leadership position.
Next in Agenda shall be equal Job opportunities, Health, Shelter and Food, followed by Power, Water, Roads and communications. If these are pursued earnestly for next 5 years with zeal, I have no doubt, this country will be on top on all fields in next 10 years, because we have right people, right heritage and history with strong secular base and great democracy.
"Enough is Enough" is the slogan of the Day to bring both anguish and anger of the country in forefront, but that now need to be channelised positively for actions to set the systems in place at our home, institutions and public places. Even as a senior citizen, I believe, we too can extend our services for a better tomorrow for our young generations whichever way our country needs.
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