It's not my inference or any sort of conclusion,but a question to all fellow Indians? Are we really human beings?Do we Indians deserve to be really called Human beings? Do we befit this definition?
If this question frowns us,embarrasses us or even enrages us,then you are correct,this is my intention.At least this question invoked any one of our 5 senses,otherwise we have turned so insensitive that we don't deserve being called human beings.
As per the lexicon,any living or extinct member having superior intelligence,compassion,emotions,love for others,altruism has been termed a human being.The one who cares for others,transcends petty benefits,has realization,doesn't marginalize others only is a human being.Then do we really represent humanity?
The nation where malnutrition is among the largest in the world,underweight children are nearly double that of sub saharan africa,where we face power problem,water problem,infrastructure shortage,deteriorating environment problem,what right do we have to call us human beings?
We are happy to live without power for hours,to stand in the bus on 1 foot with 15 people hanging with one hand taking support of 1 pole,to die of hunger,harsh winter,harsh summer.We are massively ready to make compromises on inflation,environment,unemployment and still want to be called human beings!!
On any given day,any terrorist group can explode bombs in any part of the nation at will,rail tracks are sabotaged,roads are blocked,and we compromise on every such instance.In metropolis,we keep waiting for hours for traffic to clear and for hours for rainwater level to decrease.Did we ever question our governments about their duty? Are we really human beings?
We keep no traffic sense,every vehicle seems hungry just to make a labyrinth of the road and to find its own way,the nation where we have no option but to buy water for drinking else we will surely suffer from umpteen intestinal diseases,the nation where road-clash is a minor thing,the nation where we share no respect for other human being,the nation where being poor is the biggest curse and the nation where seeing beggars on the road is a common thing for us.can we really afford to be called human beings?
No no no...We are not human beings!The word 'human being' is a misnomer for us.We are millionares,we have a car,a flat,enough bank balance.done.our job is done.finished...We don't care for others,why should we after all !!!what shall we attain?
And for those who want to befit the race of human beings,you will have to take a vow today. Vow not to make any compromises.Not even a single compromise.
Let's reach every Indian using technology if not physically.Let's awake them.Let's reach cosmopolitans,tier 2 cities,tier 3 cities,towns and villages.Let's not bear any injustice happening to anyone.No more people sleeping on roads,no more people hanging on poles of buses,trains. Let the connectivity and consciousness of every Indian be our mission.
All in all,only he has the right to be called Human being who fights for his rights.Do we fight for any of our rights?Power,infrastructure,pollution-free environment,drinking water,meals,shelter,employment are not the goodwill gesture of the governments,they are our rights.To provide this is the reason why we have chosen them,this is the sole reason why they are there.
Tomorrow when we wake up and our neurons ask us-are we human beings-I wish and I earnestly hope that we carry an answer which doesn't embarrass us.
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28 comments:
I could sense your feeling. But, the behavior is not at all contradicting human behavior.
For every thing that happens, there's a reason behind. Nothing happens without a reason. May be we should introspect and find the answers of why we don't have patience on road, why we don't respect other's privacy, why we don't do our work and many other such questions.
It's just that we - all indians - need to be more aware and realize our civic sense.
I agree to what Parthiv has to say, but I'd also like to add that the whole idea behind 'Are we Indians..' seems incomplete because though you have come up with a problem & kindof hinted at solutions 'Take a vow..'. But do you realize whether it is practical or not, given the kind of social-political-infrastructural-religiously diversified setup we live in. Even the Supreme Court of India gave in saying, 'Even God can't save this country!' If someone wants to lead an honest living in this country, it might turn out to be one of the 'harshest' decisions not only for that person but for his family too! I don't say it is impossible..Nay! but the question is at the end of it, all you have in your hands is a self-content conscience telling you 'You led a good life, though full of hardships & unwanted problems & unnecessary worries.'Maybe it suffices you, but what about your next generation(s)?
You say we take on things & accept them as they are...I ask you 'Do we really have a choice?' When I know I can get a work done by passing off some bribe(for instance) & if I won't do it the next person behind me in the queue would do it...I'll be termed as foolish if I were to miss that 'Opportunity'! I feel either it will take a change over from a Democratic form or perhaps a miracle to bring about the radical changes so earnestly required.
It is generally said that 19th Century belonged to Europe and 20th Century to the United States. But the 21st Century is certainly ours. India should be a country free from all kinds of exploitation. The forces of corruption, disruption and destabilisation must be eradicated.
At this juncture, I wish to quote the lines of Dr. Abdul Kalam "A developed India by 2020 or even earlier is not a dream. It need not be a mere vision in the minds of the people. It is a mission we can all take up and succeed".
One thing is clear — the core strength of India lies in its natural human resource. India can emerge successful if Indians settle their superficial difference and think and act as Indians. Then our population will be our asset rather than being our liability. India even offers boundless employment opportunities like America.
I want India to be a nation where children are allowed to be children, not working from dawn to dusk deprived of all their childhood pleasures.
Given the socio-geo-political conditions prevailing in India,we shouldn't be surprised at what we are seeing around us.At the end of the day, we are all hypocrites slinging dirt at the fellow beings or at the system but we never have the courage,determination or gumption to correct what need to be corrected and I am no exception.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;
Where the words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening
thought and action--
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father,
let my country awake.
Tagore
i can really empathize with wat u feel.but given the socio-economic scenario in wich we are livin,we indians only have time and energy to bring abt changes in their lifestyles and living but we just dont have the time 2 change our thinkin and psyche.very few indians feel dat urge frm within 2 contribute 2 their society ,city,state or country.its shameful but true
Thoughtful article ... Indians needs to be more innovative & sensitive so that people get more opportunities in a fairer way. DHeerubhaism can do wonders.
Thank you FIRE-Writers for your comments.
I agree that this is the reality we most are living in. But sometimes realities need to be changed.
Pseudo-pride needs to be kept aside and some harsh acceptances confessed.
This is the time when we need to try at at least individualistic levels-in our circle of influence-not to do nor to let happen any injustice...
I hope one day we 6 will become 6 million or even more...We have to start somewhere,so let it be here :-)
I think its just to go with the attitude of the people in India - the famous "Sab Chalta hai" thing.. aur "Whose Father what Goes". Its like in Rome do what Romans do.. So in India, its okay to spit, break traffic rules, pay a bribe, but the same guy when he moves abroad beomes a puny follows every damn thing. we blame others for the mess we are in today, but fail to realise that we are also the contributors. We are the public that bring a goverment to power and thats it, nothing after that. We just watch the great tamasha that these people play, gulp our tax money and njoy a paid vacation out of that. 6 can become 6 million, but it should happen in some decent time, else our generations to follow will just stink..
well,i completely agree with what u have to say bhai. we indians need to be more civilised and respect each other.we cant change our culture but there are various desprecancies which we should remove. like we blame our politicians but we are the ones who have chosen them and they are the one "amongst us".our attitude is the main hindrance. if each one of us tries to refrain from giving brime n breaking traffic rules we can definitely make a lot of dieefrence and teach the upcoming generation.
I think the article is very good but practically it is very difficult....
ahah :) That is a question which I always asked to myself .we all are very selfish and brutal when it comes to our comforts and achievements.Show me one person who can sacrifice his happiness for others (Like Mother Teresa) .I would pronounce him the GOD .we all are not GOOD Ravi :)
Each one of us are contributing to the current living condition, including the people who are facing the issue, there are certainly some measures taken from the government on some problems probably..like schools for children, but we can see lot of kids choose to be beggars than being in a school, as its an easy way of money probably...yeah on the other part the rest of the issues like unemployment, water crisis, power problem are our major concerns and solution for this is fighting against injustice of course as said by Ravi and also how well we influence the ppl around us with our act is important, because if one person tries to do some change and 100 around are against it or rather dont support, then definitely that one person will be over shadowed.
Hmm..interesting
True, but rather, I ask myself "Am I a Human" and if I do dare to say "YES" for my actions, I believe my actions will inspire at least one other, and that’s all we need to start a sustained chain reaction.
I believe the same way we (cumulatively) reached inhumanity by sustaining the dark chain reaction; we can reach back to humanity.
HOPE and PERSISTENCE...
I agree with Parthiv too. Although, I feel what you are saying, but that does not necessarily make us all un-human beings.
Very refreshing and thoughtful!
Sorry ravi but all you tell us is what should be achieved not "how it should be achieved"? Unless we have some sort of a civic sense, the kind of things you are talking about seem unachievable.
Quite enlightening!
Ravi... its this kind of behaviour that makes us human beings.... adaptability is one unique characteristic that we Indians have been blessed with....
But it doesn't mean accept the thing the way they are... we can always work towards betterment of the nation
all of your articles are very thoughtful and intriguing!
On one hand, we should be extermely grateful that we are fighting with bad infrastructure when there are places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia, Georgia et al that are fighting for survival. Probably, it is good that we dont produce oil, lest we would be forced to kneel down by the hegemonistic policies of the The Wild Wild West.
On the other hand, we should not squander what we have. Nor, let the governemnt do that...after all we pay our taxes on time. So, why should'nt we get power at home on time?
Very selfless thought, only if each one of us start thinking beyond oneself
when the population is big and resource is limited, it's hard to keep the selfrespect as you can have when you have a good life. but if more and more people will act and try their best to change, the world will change
No doubt the answer to your question is NO.
We dont deserve to be called human beings , we are far behind from being called that.
Merely being able to speak or walk on two legs or wearing clothes doesnt make us humans.We are still animals.
But biggest problem is that even if you want to do something towards making this country a better place to live by playing your part as a responsible citizen, you will be thrashed like anything - mentally , professionally,financially , emotionally and sometimes physically also.
So the problem is not that we are not, the problem is that we dont want to . Honorable SC in its statement gave a clear picture of this nation today.
Everytime we'll raise our voice against this mindless crap we are living in quietly , we'll be thrashed for speaking by some people ( who proclaim themselves to be "true indians") .The reason they give is that we dont love this country and we should try , we should do this , we should do that, I mean all crap .The other category of "true indians" will make sure that no one in your posteriority thinks of being a responsible and good citizen of India , forget being a human being.
Anyways it was one of your best I have read..
Ravi,
I feel there are two ways to look at, you either say glass is half full or empty. Problem wid most of us is we want everything to be changed, but we dont wannna be involved, we want to see our country prosper so that our bank balance swells up, We are patriotic but we dont wanna vote, its juz another holiday.
We rather watch what SRK smokes, How sachin takes bath, wat Aish applies to her skin,But How many of us know what our soldiers are goimg through, what happened in nandigram, y is kashmir burning, about the flood victims of Bihar. Fact is very few..If the educated mass who blogs and who has acess to information dont care..how do you expect this country to change...Hope we have more people lik you who thinks for INDIA..
Hi Ravi –
Although, I have never lived in India or visited India I could still understand your frustration as I am from the neighboring country Pakistan. Our culture and Indian culture is not that different.
I think being united is the key here and if we all want and work together we can make a difference. They always say that one person can not change the world but I disagree one person can change the world.
H_Raja79
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