INDIA OF MY DREAM Where love to humanity is religion

I am an Indian and I love my country very much. As a true patriot, I dream to see my country flourishing in every sphere of human life. To enhance the glory and greatness of my country, I am ever prompted to sacrifice every bit of blood, beat and breaths of my life. Each hour and every moment of my life is destined and devoted in the service of motherland. I adopt all methods and measures to add every charm in greatness of the nation. I want to see my country to be counted in the prosperous and beautiful countries of the world. Moreover, I want that my country must be in the cadre of developed countries where there is no poverty, corruption, communal tensions, social and economical imparity, injustice, crimes and many more.

India’s one of the most abject part is her poverty. Once India was gloriously called ‘The Golden Bird’, but today her 2/3 of the population is hugely stricken by the curse of poverty. The Arjun Sen Commission in 2008 surveyed and made an analytical research on poor people’s income. The report said that there are 83 million Indians whose daily income is between Rs.6 to Rs.20. The report further says that 29 million Indian’s daily income is merely Rs 6, 26 million Indian’s daily income merely Rs 11 and 28 million Indian’s daily income is merely Rs20. To analyze it impartially, one can easily find how pitiable the condition of such a large population is. Is it possible to run life in such a meager income?  It’s unimaginable that how these unfortunate poor Indians are living their life.

The story doesn’t end here. It is rightly said that “Poverty begets strife” and “Poverty is the root of all evils”. These saying have hidden indications and implications. Our country is afflicted by numerous diseases like crimes, illiteracy, inequalities, unemployment, communal tensions, discriminations, starvations, malnutrition, corruptions, naxalism, health issues and hundreds of other evils overtly or covertly because of poverty.

The equivalent and balanced economy of any country is the mark of progress and prosperity. I dream the country where the resources, power and prestige are equally and impartially distributed to its citizens. I dream the country where the resources do not lie in the countable few hands that lavish their life with full facilities and the multitudes are destined to live their lives in penury and want. I dream the country where the richer don’t get fatter each day and the poor shrink to ribs and skeletons. At one side, there is the splendid cars, outstanding ornaments and magnificent mansions and another side, there is rotten roof leaking, crumbling and rotten huts in filthy stinking surroundings. If such disparities and discrepancies subsist, the glory of India can never be regained and revived.

All the governmental and nongovernmental bodies and other thousands functionaries should try all the possible and feasible measures to alleviate poverty. Merely enactment of statutes and statutory agencies will not suffice to attain the objective, genuine commitment; sense of ethical obligations and virtuous honesty should be observed and displayed in ample amount.  The true nationalistic, patriotic and service feelings should be fostered and nurtured among all our citizenry.

The most neglected and apartheid area of our country is education. Though there are the mammoth organizations, policies, commissions, curriculums, provisions and programs, the condition of education in the country is not quite fine. The universities, colleges, schools pervade every corner of the country but they are unable to attain the 100% literacy till date since independence. The central and state government along with private institutions could not fill the gaps of literacy among men and women, rich and poor, urban and rural. The tribes who contribute around 8% of Indian population spreading particularly in the India’s frontier states like North East, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, have been highly ignored. These poor and impoverished tribal Indians still live in primitive, paucity and penurious states. The rapid growth of privatization has also created the gulf between the poor and the rich. The children of affluent and high class study in prestigious renowned private colleges with all modern facilities, organized systems and fabulous infrastructures whereas the poor have no option other than the filthiest and rotten government colleges.

Today government, private and NGO’s are extorting huge amount of charities, services, subsidies and donations from the global beneficiaries to promote education, healthcare other fundamental amenities of life. The IMF, the World Bank, the UNICEF, the UNESCO and great benign personalities like Bill Gates release thousand millions amount for benedictions and benevolence, but the corrupt and capricious practices among our people are only making their own feathers to shine.

The quality of education also matters a lot. The education is to promote scientific, logical, liberal, free thinking, as these are the impetus of human growth. But the condition is just opposite to it. The party in power tries to color whole educational system in its view point and ideology. This conspiracy is merely to perpetuate their dominance and power ever and forever. They hatch to make their ways of power unchallenged, unrivalled and opposition less. Such tendencies may benefit them to enjoy rudderless luxuries but are disastrous and catastrophic for the country. They may enhance the literacy rate, but quality education which is the essence of growth of any county will be beguiled and defiled. Along with the increase in the rate and ratio of literacy in every walk of life, liberal education must be promoted beyond all conservatism, fanaticism and traditionalism. The reason, logic and catechizing should be taught than superstitions, beliefs and fables.

In a constitutional and democratic country, the government and its bureaucracy, stands for ‘Of the people, for the people and by the people’. The people elect government and the government selects the bureaucracy to run the country for the sake of its people. The government is fully responsible for all administration, policymaking, welfare schemes, crime control, economic and social harmony. The government has to fulfill the growing aspirations of the people and public. If the government is responsible for literacy growth and poverty alleviation, the government is also responsible for making good living and livelihood conditions of all its citizens. Those who are hale and healthy, suitable for job, they must be provided job and opportunity. The jobless youths may turn towards crimes to fulfill their dreams and desires. Those youths may become the part of antisocial and illegal practices if they are not given an honorable condition to survive. There should be the ample space of creating job opportunities to utilize the youth power of the nation. As the youth population covers almost 75 percent of total population of the country, so they must be ignored anyway.

Along with the government sector opportunities, the private sectors should also be promoted. There may be copious chances to bring the nation on the developed front. By engaging the huge man power that rubbishes into nothing as government sector does not have the capacity alone to do this all, the vast contribution in the country’s progress can be made by the private sectors’ entrepreneurs and enterprises. Wherever necessary, the government and private sectors should cooperate and coordinate each other with motive to develop the country and bring all possible smiles on the faces of the countrymen. But the real condition of private and government partnership is disheartening and discouraging. The private firms are governed and controlled by some hefty men who have direct or indirect stronghold in politics, bureaucracy and society. They viciously affect the formation of government. The people in politics and bureaucracy are their kin, friends or beneficiaries who provide all unjust, wicked and illegal supports for their private firms. Such an unhygienic and gawky knot of nepotism and red tapism bruise the golden bird. The privatization becomes a curse when it does not move towards its desired end. It becomes a safe and strong tool in the hands of the ruler to befool the common people of the country. The country cries and screams in the dark and deadly duets of government and private conspiracy.

The various functionaries should also be established to ensure social and economical imparities. The slogan of equality, liberty and fraternity should become a reality. Every citizen should be treated equal in front of the laws. And they must have the right to dwell and earn anywhere in the country. All Indian must be able to live in the fearless, free and secure social surrounding. But, even after long 70 years of Indian freedom and government, the country could not abolish the curses like caste system, apartheid, untouchablity. What to say of curtailing and eradicating it, day by day, it is being strengthened and invigorated. This demon prevails in every walk of life, may it be village or city, schools, public places, play grounds or market places. Untouchability, even today is stark reality. This social system reserves the dominant, powerful and prestigious place of some ruler classes; they never want it to be eradicated. Their age long privileges which they had been enjoying may be affected. Their supremacy and dominance may get rivaled and subverted. They, with all money and measure want to eternalize, glorify and strengthen caste system.

There must also be the strict governance to vigil all sorts of communal issues. The bondages of fraternity, humanity and communal harmony should be energized. The peace, cooperation and non violence amid all people and communities should be spread and sanctified. The festivals and celebrations must be organized together in mutual friendships and understandings. But the communities formed centuries before are still fighting the fatal battles to establish their supremacy over others. They follow all means and methods to subdue and defeat the other communities. The bloodshed and bombing have become the day to day acts. The most degenerating and dejecting scene is when the prominent and powerful people instill the communal poisons to gain political benefits. The most communal riots are well conspired and designed by the influential persons in the politics and society. The cruel game and gimmicks to polarize the public on sensitive issues particularly during polls is widely known to all. The sentiments of the common people are fuelled and triggered for their hidden intents which public fails to sense. The party in power mostly feigns to control the scene and situations, and support and incite covertly in such cases, as their own hidden benefit lies in them.

The majority should not be allowed to harm any way to the minorities. India has numerous caste, classes and communities. They co existed since centuries in result of many consecutive invasions. Many of them settled here and formed a definite and different community. The majority community often threats to minor community to abide all its methods, teachings and tracts. The minority community resists and struggles to survive its own cultures, beliefs and identity. The minority community is full of fervor and dignity. It is ever prompt to save its distinctive ways of living whereas the majority community contrives to establish its ale or rotten beliefs over other by its resourceful and dominant status. This leads to a perpetual fight in communities. As the Indian constitution protects right and respect of all marginalized and minor communities, so must be the role of the government to ensure and guarantee it anyway and anyhow. Diversity is the beauty of Indian sub continent, so the numerous minority communities who carry few charming and enchanting traditions, must be well preserved and protected. The positive and encouraging atmosphere in the India and her people towards such minority people and their traditions must be made and maintained.

The big reason of all such clashes and calamities is that the communal feelings in Indian people are high. The source of such feelings lies deep in the scriptures, cultures and beliefs where communal feelings reign over the individual feelings. Even the teachings of sanctimonious verses and parables say to sacrifice the individual and individuality for the sake of whole and community. The wholeness gets more value than the parts. The individuality is like parts there. The communal feelings should be discouraged by the public authorities and the individuality and individual dignity of being human must be revered and respected. Being an individual entity is more important than being the part of a community.   

And there should not be promotion of religious feeling by the government rather every individual should have the freedom to choose the faiths and languages according to his own choice. Any group forcing such feeling to other group must be punishable by law. When the political party with some fanatic religious fervor starts propagating, promoting and sloganeering any religion, the misfortune of the country starts. The dissents, demonstrations and deadlocks to the government start. The government which was elected for the well being of the country and its people has to confront impasse, hurdles and objections in its way. Non cooperation from various sections of the society create standstill in smooth functioning of the government. So the government should be quite apathetic and liberal in the religious matters. Its prime focus should be the development of the country and its people. It must not be a machinery to advertise any sect or religion. The religion should be purely and primarily an individual matter.

There should be proper balance between man and his surrounding including nature. There should be symphony in man, animal, plants and all natural phenomenon. The harmony among citizens is propeller to peace and prosperity but that is void and incomplete without the man’s harmony with nature. In the fierce and filthy race of development, the natural world is brutally devastated.  Nature is the source of our life. As much the Nature will be assailed, so much the life of man will curtail. All know that the bounty of the Nature is boundless; they know its rage too. The government, private organizations and common people must be well aware to keep green natural world hale and healthy. Our health depends on the health of the Nature. So all efforts should be made to avoid mindless extract, exploit and sabotage the Nature.

I want to see my country where there is no jealousy to each other of any sort. I want that one person should respect the other’s individual existence and as a human being one should extend all possible support to others in the need. Even in the small resources and power, the country and its people will live in peace, prosperity and brotherhood.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION STEPING TOWARDS NATIONAL INTEGRATION

India is a sovereign country. It is ruled under the constitutional principles of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice. The democratic tenet to individuality and individual dignity stands in the pivot of the entire system.

The individual person when compared and contradicted under the several institutions of human life, the individual gets more value and regard. The institutions are constituted and constructed for the people not the people for the institutions. In the passage of time, since human race emanated on the face of earth, millions of institutions in the field of academic, social, religious, political and economical were framed and constituted, and later eradicated and obliviously forgotten. Those institutions were replaced and occupied by the newer types to fulfill the demands in changed time and circumstances. And the human race continued to grow and grow.  All stale and stinking systems yielded place to more vigorous and vibrant institutions.

The fervor and reverence towards democracy in 21st century nations is not hidden to anyone. Today majority of the nations have embraced democratic values and principles not only in institutions but also in their personal and family lives. The days of despotism, autocracy, dictatorship, kinghood and knighthood, oligarchy, anarchy and oppression is wrapped into the pages of history. Today the man is free to live life on his own accord. He is free for his choices. The democratic principles give him ample space to his own individuality. He feels self honored and self dignified. He is not being ruled rather he is an integral part of ruling.

The democracy works on the principle of –of the people, by the people and for the people. This theory lucidly emphasizes the value of individuality. For the human society, every individual has the fundamental right to live honorably. Every individual must get the equal space and opportunity to grow. No individual must be the victim of discriminatory isolation.

During the era of wars and battles, different social groups and ethnicities used to fight either for prestige and power or for survival. In such morbid and murderous situations they required the high breeds and better built up people who were suitable for the war and battles. The weak, old and ailing people with infirmities were supposed to be the burden on royal exchequer. Such burdens were mercilessly cleared off by giving treacherous deaths.

After the colonial esp. post war era, the democratic values and principles were championed, propheted and executed in world’s major societies. The foremost doctrine of democratic system is to deter and discourage all sorts of discriminations like color, caste, creed, language, gender, race and region which had engulfed the humanity into cavernous cavities from human society. The racialism by the Europeans towards Africans and Indians into white and black was the deadening reality some day, and to certain amount, that spirit of racial supremacy on high race ethnic base is still present.

Many Indian scholars and students in abroad are killed by a group of hooligans only because they are Indians, they were black. Mahatma Gandhi was himself victim of racial discrimination while travelling to South Africa. He was thrown out of the first class compartment sharp at midnight to a remote station. Nelson Mandela fought years to liberate his people from the discriminative British rulers. The renowned American president and the great champion of humanity Abraham Lincoln had to stake his own life to emancipate the black people from the bane of slavery. 

To retaliate the curse of racial and ethnic discrimination, these masters have all felt agonies and anguish through ages. The father of Indian constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar fought for the upliftment of millions of untouchables and downtrodden, who even don’t had the right to touch public tank and walk public paths. Such sages of humanity ever endeavored their best to inclusiveness and integration not segregation and isolation. They brought scattered and divided people of same anatomy together. They instilled the philosophy to live in harmonious bondages. They fostered the democratic doctrines like self respect and self reliance.

Gender discrimination is another big question. The women were marginalized and deprived of human living. But the advancement of constitutional democratic values has given a push to their condition. Today they are even piloting and progressing in all big competitions and rivalries, equally with their male partners. Slowly but steadily, the people’s perceptions towards women are changing. They all have started realizing the fact that to ignore the contribution of almost half of the population of women is to puncture the path of symmetrical progress. The women are to be made an integrative and integral part of all our acts and deeds. In no condition, they should be excluded from the main stream, as was done in previous ages. They were made the victim of child marriage, sati system, jauhar system, pardah system, widowhood and matchless marriages. They were segregated beyond all chances to grow as an independent entity. 

Most despicable situation is that the persons, born with disabilities or unfortunate accidental deformities, stay neglected and isolated to die in deep depression. The doubts, fears and lack of adjustment shatter the mental fabric and paralyze his spirit fiercely forever. Deformity and disability is no bar in progress and pleasure of man. We have millions of success stories who had been magically and exceptionally talented despite being physically deformed and disable. The life, works and philosophies of Stephen Hawking, John Milton, Soordas and Arunima Sinha and many more living examples still inspire and guide us.

We have developed our own freakish and futile scales to measure the minds and capabilities of an individual. The child with good academic scores, performance and records get more focus and attraction of all. The institutions boast of standard and merit. They insanely expect punctuality, discipline, morals, obedience, and humility, updated and up to date disciples. They filter away cream children from the rubbish and rusts. They show apathy towards low scorers, unpunctual, undisciplined and disobedient ones. They forget the fact that only good academic career and high scores don’t make a man live a successful life. Good academic records may help in getting a high salaried job, but it’s quite difficult to learn the skills of living.

To quote some names of people who hadn’t good academic records but they are, even today the lamp to guide the so called high scorers. The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, facebook giant Marks Zukerberg, the god of cricket Sachin Tendulkar are the few names of them. The schools hadn’t good opinion about Thomas Alva Edison and Albert Einstein but they did beyond anyone’s imagination and expectation. Copernicus and Socrates were killed for so called varied and variegated views. What academic record Saint Kabir and Guru Nanak had, but they still rule the hearts of millions by their preaching and sermons. So, none of the child is to be nonsensically scaled on such trivial measures. Even the last child of the class should get due care and focus. He should feel honored and dignified. In place of sarcasm and segregation, they should be made the part of each school activities.

Inclusive education is to include and involve the faces of every strata of society and all walks of life. The children of all hues and color must be the integral part of the academic arena. In the physical look and individual capacity, they all may look varied but that diversity becomes a power after uniting together. Just like the shape of the palms and fingers, they vary in size and strength but after they unite into a fist, they assume an enormous force and blow. Our body is itself, a unique example. Different parts of the bodies have different roles like ears hear, eyes see, nose smells and skin feels so are others, but after uniting together, they form wonderful creation. If we separate all of them, they even can’t function, but after getting united, their strength gets multiplied. Same is the case of inclusive and exclusive education.

Time to time, the governments have planned to provide better and healthier facilities to differently able people. In the book of the governments’ record, we can find the girls colleges, colleges for blinds, colleges for deaf and dumb and colleges for orthopedically challenged children. Though government provides system, budget and manpower handsomely with good spirit, yet it is quite unaware with consolidated and integrated future impact of it. Human nature is built and brought up on the impressions of surrounding and situations a person lives in. We should rather create an amalgam of such differences. If the society, these young and innocent minds live in, is one, then why should their education and nurturing be different. The difference we create for them, likely reflect into their public dealings in life. To promote a separate arrangement for such children, whatever high budget and management may be, is to create a dubious wrestling ground of different minds and mentalities. To cry the slogan of humanity and harmony will be of no use. All efforts to pacify unrest and unruly citizens will fail. What have we sown while they were a child, we will have to reap the same.

The books and institutions give us stores of information. They fill our mind with pieces of knowledge. They make us aware and updated with the happenings around. They guarantee to provide us certificates and degrees. They provide us diplomas and qualifications. But the life skills and dexterity of living, we learn by mingling into human behaviors. We learn more by informal communications and less by formal communications.

Our notions are shaped by interpersonal relations and interactions. Our behavior is molded by looking into the eyes, gestures and personalities of others. We learn a lot unconsciously. The havoc of keeping all future citizens separately taught is the way to make more citizens of dissent and discordance. We are generating multiple groups fighting together with their innate instincts. Thus, we are rather creating chaotic and turbulent nation than a harmonious and symphonious one. We are on the way of making our own people as foreigners in our own country.

The worst scene is that those hallmarked for some disabilities, start developing a complex, negative and inferior mindset. They start thinking that they don’t have equal strength and capability like normal people. They start feeling isolated, depressed and psychic. They even feel that they are the burden on the nation. They develop suicidal tendencies.

In the age of lust and luxuries, the gulf between poor and rich is widening. The children of affluent people have the honor to study in air conditioned, multi storey buildings, well equipped with modern infrastructures and facilities, safe transportation, play grounds, healthy surrounding and well knit systems. Another side the poor children are mostly deprived of education or destined to study in meager and minimum resources. Above all, such schools are poorly managed, least funded and superfluously neglected. By such apathetic and negligible tendencies, we are rather creating parallel nations in a country. Such divisions and ruptures will engulf the peace and prosperity of the nation. Different minds develop in different circumstances. Those minds will one day, be retributive and avenging and demand for equal human rights. Otherwise they will move towards unrest and violence in forms of Naxals and Maoists. These are the outputs of all our discriminatory deeds shown during the upbringing and educations. They should be taught together with equal opportunity to grow. As soon as possible, we must forsake the double education policy. That will be good for the nation as well as for its people.

The recent surveys and researches have proven that each individual entity is unique in itself. Each individual’s capacity to learn varies from one to another. The amount of matter taught may easily be grasped and understood by bright students, and the same may be difficult for the slow bloomers. That does not mean that he has no capacity to learn at all. Most often, we commit blunders to assess the real worth of the child. The speed of leaning also differs from child to child. We start taking for granted that the child is of no worth. That is our big mistake. Making comparison among students is the worst part of the teaching. We must give the slow bloomers more chances and situations to flourish. They must get time to search their strengths in our constant able guidance and watch. They must grow by their own strength and capacity. They must not be forced to learn the way we want; rather they must be motivated to grow as per their own dreams and desires. For the sake of our convenience, these young buds must not be sacrificed. These sweet and young faces hail from different social and economical backgrounds. That different surroundings and situations create differences in children. So those differences must be well respected, not neglected. They must be included in the mainstream teaching, if not for those children, at least for the nation.

Above all, no individual is perfect in itself. In place of segregation and isolation, we rather create beautiful bond with such special people. With all love and friendship with them, we can make a land of lovely people, with common nature and way of thinking. Above all, we can provide the right of dignified living. We can instill confidence and courage in them by holding hand together. We should not let them feel aloof and lonely amid civilized society.

THE HUMAN SOCIETY- ITS ETHICS AND VALUES AS YOU SOW, SO YOU REAP

We boast to be the superior, wisest and dominant among all fellow species of the Earth. We have all the right to celebrate our successful journey to establish our supremacy over other creatures. In the wild and wizard race, we have shown the caliber and capability to be unchallengeable and unstoppable among all others. We had fierce and fabulous fights with horrible times and wicked situations. The Nature posed deadening and mortal circumstances and we proved our invincible spirit to overcome all odds and obstacles. Through all trials and errors, we emanated to be the ruler and the owner of the planet. We are the kings of incredible capacity. We are the heroes of long and loathsome battle of survival. Through the weary and vigorous journey to surpass and survive, we had cuts and injuries too. Nevertheless we emphatically and impressively appeared with victory and joy.

During such a vibrant and wonderful race, we achieved millions of milestones in transformation of our primeval conditions into modern one. We invented wheel, fire, iron and above all the social ways of living in settlements. We formed family and society. We started doing agriculture instead of hunting for our livelihood. Now we started living in groups than to live separate and alone, incessantly in search of food and safety.

While living in groups, family and society, several new complexities in interpersonal and intra personal dealings and communications arose. A new kind of chaos and disturbance started assuming form amongst them. We started fighting for the ownership and authority. We started quarrelling for dominance as that is in the very root of human nature. The jungle rule ‘Might is right’ started assuming grounds in the daily life and business.

As the human nature is that molds itself according to the changed scenarios, so we all together cogitated to find a solution for such unruly and unrest atmosphere. We agreed to lay some fundamental guidelines to control our acts and behaviors in personal, family, social and other life. That was the time, when some social and public rules of obligations in various negotiations were originated. The prudence and wisdom of human race has ever taught him to create balance and harmony in life. The man learns from the new challenges. He adapts and adjusts accordingly. This is the root cause of his supremacy and dominance. This is why he has controlled the Nature for his convenience and lavishment.

The journey which was started millions of years back has arrived to manmade time period, the 21^st century. The naked and hungry man is well clad today, and has delicious dishes. The barefooted man with log boats, today has the aero planes and luxury speedy cars. The man living in caves and shades, today has fantabulous sky crappers and glossy and glowing bungalows. The man with stones and sticks today has guns, missiles and nuclear weapons. The man wandering in dense spiky jungles and entangled shrubs have super shining and roaring roads. Moreover he has entered into and mastered information and computer technology. Millions of years, our ancestral men took to reach East Asia from Africa, but today, it takes merely few hours to reach and few seconds to communicate with the person in any corner of the world. Such a fantastic and fabulous journey, the man has covered and completed.

Though update and up gradation is an eternal process. This is universal fact. This lies in the very nature of man to advance and move ahead. No power can stop it. He will grow and grow incessantly. The change is a natural phenomenon. That can neither be stopped nor diverted. That is a force. That is innate and automatic. The speed may vary and forms may differ. The change may be for destructive purposes and inferior intents but it is beyond human reach to control and confine.

The change and growth is eternity but beneath it, there lies some valuable and significant factors, which was once and ever felt by our forefathers, and is great need of our time too. The interpersonal relations should be guided by some moral ethics and values. The danger that looms in all scientific and technological advancement can only be curtailed by magnanimity and benevolence. To save ourselves from the havocs and catastrophes, we should inculcate humane and compassionate attitude towards our fellow beings. We should nurture within ourselves the tendency of love to living and non living world. Tolerance and forgiveness should be our motto of life.

As much growth and advancement the man will make, so much complicate his life will become. As much height a man reaches, so much the possibility of more loss and injury is expected on falling. As fast a man runs, so huge his loss may be, while getting struck and stridden. As high in the planes or mountain peaks one flies or climbs, so enormous his damage may be, when fallen. So there must be symphony and synchronicity between growth, speed, height and above all values. The ethics and values behind all such deadly adventures may miraculously and magically mitigate and manage losses in the life of us.  

Undoubtedly, today we are far ahead and very advanced in the education system and teaching methodology than the Vedic era of guru and Shisya tradition. We have advanced ourselves in the field of science and technology. Today, we are able to easily reach to the millions of kilometers situated mars and other planetary bodies. We have also accessed the unfathomable thousands of kilometers deep oceans. We are boasting of our development.

But something we are lacking in the blind race development i.e. ethics and values. We are slowly and steadily forgetting the value systems that were sometime the very backbone of our social structure.

Because of this, today the crimes rates are increasing. The crimes like kidnapping, murder, rape and loots have become day to day activities in so called developed and advanced metropolitan cities. Beyond that, corruptions, honor killing, child trafficking, communal riots, Naxalism and terrorism have become the daily business of human life. Everybody is rushing toward money and power. Everybody wants it by hooks or crooks. This leads to make the simple man into dishonest and faithless. The healthy social structure gets contaminated and an atmosphere of uneasiness and restlessness prevails all around.

Today the world is facing the big challenge of terrorism. Imagine, where from the terrorism has originated? If these rascals would have been given value education, was it possible to make them terrorist and killing thousands innocent people world around? They would have lived a better and simple life than to involve in such terrorist activities. We need to delve deep into the root cause of such acts, which are the abominable blot on the face of civilized race, and find a better and healthier solution. The mind and intent behind such terrorist activities must be exposed. Not only this, if they have some sort of dissatisfactions with something, that must also be well and prudently addressed for making the world a beautiful place to breathe and live.

Such acts are driven by either to disrupt the normal social orders and systems or to gain hidden and inherent benefits. They may also be the methods of showing disagreement with current despotism and bureaucracy. There are many criminal acts which arise out of inability to partake in the current system. Other of the criminal acts also results, as the needs of materialistic world don’t get fulfilled. Above all, such anti social happenings are rather scandalizing the civilized sense of living. Whatever but the prominent factor behind all this is, the loss of ethics and values. This teaches a man to live with honor and dignity. This teaches to give equal importance and due reverence to all other fellow people.

Today, even in the family, society, at workplace and public places we observe the lack of values around us. We don’t respect elders. We don’t do our duties and responsibilities timely and honestly. We give and take bribes. We skip our moral duties and obligations. We don’t follow traffic rules. We don’t help the persons in needs. We don’t help the old and senior persons. Such tendencies are increasing rapidly.

The man is becoming more individual. The extravagant emphasis over individuality is leading to a big schism and rupture in social relationships. The man thinks of own wellness and goodness. He does not have any care and concern for others. He has lost the emotional aspects like sympathy, empathy, pathos, patience and perseverance. He only thinks of his own individual growth. Even in the world of technology, when mobiles and computers are in everyone’s hand, this individuality has increased to worst level. The wife, husband and children, under same roof, sway and soar into a different world with such modern gadgets. The ample stores and stuffs at internet keep him engrossed in a different world. As much we think separate, we live separate and behave separate, the gulf of social and ethical values will rather widen. It will become more hazardous and harmful.

Once we lived in joint family. That had our grandparents, uncles and parents. We had values and respect for each other. We got love and care of all family members. There was not so much rush for money, power and prestige. The fondling of grandparents and scolding of uncles taught us great lessons of living life. They all gave us infallible support whenever we felt weak and fragile. The joint effort of each family member molded the character, nature, habit, thinking, behavior, attitude and tendencies of ours. We fought all odds and evens of life smoothly and successfully because of their wonderful teachings and lessons. They always stood beside us whenever we needed them with all their blessings and backup. They transformed us into a real human being with emotions, love, care, help, kindness, bravery, happiness, harmony and brotherhood.

To become the most influential, prosperous and powerful man has become the ultimate goal of modern man. He works optimum hours to gain success. He sacrifices the dignity of familial terms. He stakes his own happiness for the pursuit of his goal. He frantically chases his dreams which do not exist in reality. He becomes alone in the world. No feeling for the fellow beings is left. He behaves like a stone idol or a robot. He has become a machine at all, beyond all humanness and humanity. His heart is shrunk and dried.

The academic institutions should rethink to restructure the defective social orders. The syllabus must not only focus on the professional growths but also for personal and social growths. Now a day the professional courses acclaiming magnificent attainments are mushrooming at every street. They cry slogans and advertise for quicker and better success. They merely focus to provide materialistic growth into coins and rupees. They only lead us towards glittering gold, luxury cars and beautiful bungalows. They never make even a pretty attempt to human growth. They never endeavor for ethical advancement. They are making man robotic machinery with no human feelings of oneness, togetherness and wellness of all.

The policy makers and administrators of the country have big role in this regard. They should promote the policies and programs of value education. They must incorporate such systems which may regularize the human nature towards ethics and values. They can take initiatives to build the bridge of damaged and defective human bonds. They may make the punishment and reward system to propagate value systems. For example, in the fierce race of life, the senior citizens are being abandoned by the couples after extorting their property. They are rather victim of torture and harassment by new generation. To fulfill the lavish needs, most often the youths even mercilessly kill their parents, for easy gain of resources. To save such elderly citizens, to ensure their safety of life and to enhance reverence towards them, the administrators can enact stricter rules of reward and punishment.

This is because we are missing value systems in ourselves. So we need to introspect within ourselves. We must try to promote value education in our society. The parents should also give value tips to their children. Until ethics and values become the part and parcel of our life, we can never make the world worth living. In lack of values and ethics, the dishonest acts, crimes and anti social happenings will be rampant on every door.  Then, only we shall shout slogans upon each other and try to prove others guilty. Sooner or later, everyone will be victim of such mal practices and inhuman occurrences. Such social abuses and institutional vices must soon be abolished and eradicated.

The lesson of humanity from teachings of saints and sages may help us. They must be our ideals and source of inspiration. The sermons of Lord Buddha may pave our paths. His teaching of Tri Sharanam and Ashtangik Marg may guide us as an illuminating lamp. Our scriptures and life of great masters is abundant of such ideal illustrations. That must be taught to all.

This is not a single man’s business. This is possible only when each hand moves forward with the pledge to make the world a beautiful place to live with all honor and dignity.

Women in India- Something we achieved, more we need to achieve.

The earth is created or evolved, may be lucrative stuff of debate and discussion but we witness dualism in everything visible or invisible. This may be cited as positivity and negativity, goodness and badness, day and night so on. The very nature of atomic structure, the smallest particles in universe, also has positive, negative and neutral forces inside it.

The most fundamental and conspicuous that lies in the very root of evolution and continuation of generations is the male and female characteristics of all living beings. In absence of one, the evolution of the species seems impossible. Both the male and female characteristics are equally important for the immortalization of species. Since the day, human species appeared on the face of earth both strived and struggled in tumultuous waves of time. They established their unchallengeable and unquestionable supremacy over other living and non living organism of the planet and completed journey from stone and woods to metallic aero jets and atomic and ballistic missiles. The long and lasting race from manual to machine was not simple and easy.  Human race is now considered to be the wisest race among all. Was this possible only by male or by female? The answer is a big and enormous ‘No’.  The male and female characters are an integral and inseparable part of the same coin. One is because of other and is complementary to each other.

In beginning of human civilization during stone age when the human creature lived on hunting, the men carried bigger responsibilities of safeguarding the family by food and lodging whereas the women bore progeny and looked after the domestic deeds. Biologically man was the symbol of strength and woman was symbol of love and care. But even during this era, in many dangerous hunting expeditions women assisted the men.  They even sometimes headed the hunting expeditions. They went to all extreme level in the mortal and magnificent struggle for survival. They together with the male counter parts paved the path to posterity.

 The Vedic religion in India had ample regard for the women as there had been the goddesses, the epitome of reverence, devotion and power. These deities had the equal right like men. They companioned in fields, hunt, battles and all religious rituals along with men. Godessess like Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Seeta and Radha and many more are worshipped in every part of the country. The temple of Vaishnav devi in Kashmir, Kamakhya in Guwahati, Kali in Kolkata, Maihar Devi and Vidhyavasini in Madhypradesh is pilgrimage where copious number of devotees and tourists throng about to prostrate in front of feminine power. What to say about shrines situated in farthest and highest peaks, they also occupy the hearts of the lanes and streets and even in the purged corner of Hindu houses. The public sentiment toward such feminine power is displayed highly while celebrating Durga Puja and observing stark 9 days fast not only by the women but also by the men at large.

Away from such mythological references we have plenty of historical evidences which solidify the women’s strong hold in the then social and public life. All historians and archaeologists together agree to the fact that Indus Valley family system was matriarchal. The women during that time had worthy and respectable place in the making and machinery of the social vehicle. The idol of the dancer does exemplify the notion of their freedom to choose the profession and it was not considered to be the act of lewdness. The Linga  and Yoni worship of the Hadappan age is another great evidence showing the equal and most often superior status of women.  During the Vedic era, the women were ‘Vidushi’ and composed verses of Vedas. These Vidushi women participated in the public debate and open discussion to prove their pedantry. Many times the men had to subdue in front of the women in such open public occasions of their learinings. ‘Gargi and Yagyalkya Sanvaad’ is the finest example it. Siddharth Gautam buddh is named after his aunt ‘Guatami’ who brought up him after his real mother Mahamaya’s death and later she along with Yashodhara and hundreds of women were solemnized in bhikhu Sangh. They were called as ‘Bhikshuni’ who roamed around the world to expand the light of learning and experience. After establishment of the world class Buddhist universities in Takshshila today in Pakistan, Nalanda and Vikramshila in Bihar and Ujjain in present Madhya Pradesh, these Bhikhunis’ worked as teacher along with being pupils there. Moreover in later period too, many parts of India there had been matriarchal family system where woman was the natural head of the family. Even today such system prevails in south of Kerala state and north east Manipur state of India. Not only this even the naming system was where the names of the children started form the name of mother like ‘Gautami putra Shatkarni’ during Satvahan of present Andhra region. More than that, the naming system of god and goddesses also reveals this where the name of wife goddess came before their husband like Uma Mahesh, Seeta Ram and Radhey Shyam so on. The reverence to the feminine power is also exhibited in the way where Indians feel motherhood everywhere and call the river ‘Ganga Mata’, the earth ‘Dharti Mata’, the cow ‘Gau Mata’, the country ‘Bharat Mata’ and even diseases ‘Sheetla Mata’. Is such great tradition to reverend woman is found anywhere in the world? Obviously it’s not.

But in later years women’s condition worsened and became too miserable and pathetic. Muslim invasion to India gave fatal blow in downfall of women and they slipped from the dominant status to abject state in the society. Indian society went through a overhaul of its norms and standards during this age. Though in the middle age, there had been the women enjoying the freedom and public honour and even became the rulers of the country like Rajia Sultan, Jodhabai, Noorjahan and Mumtaz  Begam but parallel to that women from middle and lower section of society lost the right to live. They were encumbered under the yoke of heart rifting social taboos like child marriage, sati system and widowhood. They became subservient and dependant under the commandment of men. The poetess Meerabai too hardly got respectable recognition amid hurricanes of social and political drama. That was simply because of her Krishna sectarianism. Manusmirti clearly says, “The women are not free in any state.  They depend on men in all measure and ages, in childhood on father, in young on husband and in old age on son”. What to say about heading whole of the family they even didn’t had any right in the paternal property. By the name of tradition and religion they were also called ‘Shudra’, fourth one in the Varna system and were devoid of all human rights. Education, the root of all advancement became a dream beyond their reach. The injustice done to them is still not compensated.

The country where the women goddesses are esteemed high and worshiped in large, they are the victim of numerous crimes afflicted to them by the fellow men. What is the reason of this colossal contradiction? The shastras say, “ yatra narystu pujyante , ramnte tatra devta” but in the same vein the heinous and derogative crimes like rape, kidnapping, eve teasing and molestations are everyday reality to modern life against them. According to the National Crime Record Bereau of India the cruelty against women by husband and relatives were reported 122877 in 2014 compared to 118866 of 2013. And the assault to outrage her modesty in colleges was reported 82235 in 2014 compared to 70739 in 2013. The rape cases were reported 36735 in 2014 compared to 33707 in 2013. Uttar Pradesh tops in the list of crime against women like abduction, molestation, rape, dowry death cases numbering 38467 in 2014 followed by West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

The man dominated society even feels cursed on the birth of the girl child. This is the reason why there is large scale foeticide- the process of killing the unborn girl child in the womb before it breathes in the world. Since the arrival of ultra sound and ultra sonography in 90s increased the such cases of foeticide and infanticide. Though the government has mad stricter laws like Pre- Conception and Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) in 1994 to ban and punish pre natal sex screening against it but situation is beyond control. The state like Rajasthan and Hariyana is far ahead in this regard. The estimate of foeticide by different scholars that 10 million cases of female foetus may have been illegally aborted in India since 1990. MacPherson has estimated around 100000 abortions of female foetus are done every year. The nobel laureate Indian economist Professor Amartya Sen compared the sex ratio of United States, Europe with South Asia, East Asia and West Asia and proclaimed that if male and female get similar nutritious value and medical attention, the female has greater prospect of survival than the male as the men are genetically more fragile.

Another mammoth challenge to these girl children is the threat of devil of dowry. The newspapers and televisions abound in the news of dowry death and domestic violence against women. The social reformers may boast to ride out the social evils like sati system, child marriage and widow re-marriage but the negativity and criminal acts against women still exist in human society. The situation will be crystal clear if we give a look to the criminal records against women collected by the government and NGOs. According to the National Crime Record Bureau, 8233 dowry death cases were reported across India in 2012 and dowry issues cause 1.4 deaths per year per 100000 women in India. For protection of women’s right in such cases the government structured laws like The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, section 498a of Indian Penal Code, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. These data are about the cases registered and recorded. Those unrecorded and unregistered even goes beyond the number games. In spite of all these criminal records and enactment of laws and legal procedures, the crime against women is a reality in India. Though to save the face of the government and administration from being condemned and criticized, a handful of data is mispresented.  How long will we evade the harsh realities and sing the slogan of advancement of human society?  How long will we keep alive such stains within us?

There is discriminatory attitude of the parents towards girl child compared to the boy child in bringing up, education and facilitating their needs. The girl child is considered to be the curse and a burden. The education to women had been a matter of great concern. “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”Kofi Annan (The secretary of UNO) said highlighting the significance of women’s role in the process of development.    But the scene of women’s education in India is gloomy and pessimistic. There is very sloth and sluggish progress in it. From the average literacy rate of India 73% by the census 2011, the literate women are 64.6% where men are 80.9%. This data clearly shows that 37.4% of total women don’t even be able to identify the letters and sign. Here the far flung proclamation of technological advancement and fastest growing economy with the highest GDP falls apart.  They had been the subject of perpetual prejudice and discrimination in this regard too. It is rightly observed that if a man is educated, only a man is educated; if a woman is educated, the family is educated.

Literacy rate and sex ratio are another parameter to measure the social and economic growth of any country. The developed countries like USA, UK, Russia, France and Japan have high literacy rate and sound sex ratio in respect of women. India has an average 943 per 1000 in sex ratio a slight reform 2011 to that of 2001 with 933. The Indian states like Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamilnadu top in high literacy rate and sex ratio (1084, 1037 and 996 per 1000) where as Haryana and Bihar stand at miserable points. If we analyze this we will find that the crimes against women are in juxtaposition.

If we look into the conditions of women in developed and developing nations we shall find that the women in developed nations enjoy more freedom and concessions than those of developing nations marginalized of such human rights. The woman in developed nations are modernist and ever exposed to changes of time whereas the women in the developing nations are traditionalist and god fearing. One becomes scientist and another becomes Sadhvi. To quote Dr. Ambedkar , “ I  measure the progress of any nation from the degree women have progressed”.  Sex ratio, literacy rate, life expectancy and public life partnership of women of such countries justify it.

The religious constraints and social institutions mostly deny the upliftment and empowerment of women.  These rigorous social system barricades the path of progress to them. In scriptures and Shastras they are presented either to perform religious rituals or to serve their men. During the Rajput era , the ‘Jauhar’ and ‘Sati’ system were esteemed on high regard. The scholars and poets glorified such inhuman and cruel acts as the great obedience of culture and religion. The false picture of uniting their husbands in heaven was shown to them.  If ever they were afraid of such abominable practices, they were tempted or compelled to do so. This is not a myth but a real history. Indian history has plenty of such examples. The prevalent child marriage led to early widowhood in the prime age because their men were killed in ongoing frequent battles mostly for pomp and show of power of monarchy. Such futile tendencies gave birth to another big evil like polygamy. The polygamy was another instance prevailing in the society that denied the right of equality and respect of women. These women are even today brought up with notion to be religious, obedient, submissive, polite and well mannered. The same is least expected from the men. They don’t have their own opinions on family issues and public life and if they dare to opine, they are simply taken to be talkative and uncultured one. Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest sons of India, quoted that, “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved, It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one win”.

The government, administrators and common citizens are to step forward for abolishing the blemish. Instead to carry out their onus to root out such blot, they are all together either transferring it on other or blaming others. Some rogues on authority even proclaim and shower suggestions on women to dress well and not to move out alone. I feel embarrassed to listen such notions of people preaching high lessons to women to be modest and submissive. Why not they transform their spectacles and see in every women their daughter, sister and mother?  Why not they learn to behave gentle and docile to women?  Are these kinds of scoundrel ready to have hawks eye upon their owns?

They comprise 586.47 million which is nearly 48.5% of women of total population in the country. If we overlook them, we overlook the major portions of the society who can contribute in the development of the nation. “We cannot all succeed if half of this are held back” The brave teenager Afgan girl Malala Yousafzai  says emphatically while addressing the UNO being awarded the most covetous and world’s most prestigious Nobel Peace Prize along with Prakash Satyarthi of India.

 The history abounds in instances where the women have done wonders in various fields like politics, science, sports, administrations, arts and many more. Who can forget the names like Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi and P.T. Usha? The misconceptions about their fragility and vulnerability is a myth today. Presently the female political leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Sumitra Mahajan, Vasundhara Raje, Mamta Benerjee, Jai Lalitha and Mayavati are nowhere less than male leaders. Harriet Beecher Stowe is no superfluous when she says that "Women are the real architects of society".  Rani Laxmibari, Mother Teresa, Savitribai Fule and Anie Besent were such greatest ladies who stood strong in the bitterest and cruelest time and set an unprecedented example of undaunted courage and love to life and humanity.

But the matter of great anxiety is that the opportunity and participation in the public life is not even to the satisfactory level. The middle, lower middle and lower class women are still forced to live undignified and deprived life. These women are the easy victim of all sorts of criminal acts against them. They even don’t have resources and assistance to oppose such sordid offences. One side the men folk assumes women to be weak and fit for bearing child and household deeds and another side the women have taken it for granted. The morale and spirit of women has been brutally suppressed and essence of life is mercilessly squeezed out. Even women have started thinking themselves to be ruled by men. This is more pathetic to think about. They don’t have opportunity to grow rather they are destined to dwell in the dark.

Valuing the dignity of women and their worth in the human society, Eleanor Roosevelt has rightly called, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” No other statement can stand so apt and fit than that of Roosevelt. The woman must strive themselves to break such nonsense barriers.  They must step forward to bravely take all the challenges posed and presented by the world. It’s none other but they themselves can emancipate and liberate themselves from the age long chains of slavery to breathe afresh. If they determine to move ahead, no power of the earth can stop them. Various women named before have come across their ignominy and ignorance. They even became the torch bearer and shown the glorious paths to others. Adreinne Rich one the eminent feminist writer once wrote,  “ Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking and naming for you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; grappling with hard work.”

The men need to change the perception towards women. Merely considering them as female character will never suffice to do any good. Rather they must show ample reverence to them as an individual. The women have their individuality as men. Before considering them as female character the men must regard them as equal partner of human race. Feminine and masculine features are not only the measures to set differences. Above it they belong to the same species of human race. The first prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had remarked about the need to awaken the drowsy spirit of women to make them equal partner in the race of development. He said, "To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves".

Talking about the strength and stamina of women and advancement of society, I affirm that whenever they got the opportunity, they shut the mouth criticizing them of their worthiness and mountainous caliber. Hilary Clinton talks about it as, “women are the largest untapped reservoir of the talents in the world”. She further adds, “I believe that the rights of women and girls are the unfinished business of the 21st century.” The women have superseded and surpassed the men of their exemplary deeds.   According to Eleanor Roosevelt on what role women has on the  face of earth, she says, "A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."

It was not only the men who fought from the Bitish empire to set India free but also the women walked hand in hand. They sacrificed their temporal pleasure and jumped into the fire of revolution. They thrashed, bulleted, lathicharged and jailed too. The names of Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani and Vijaya Laxmi Pandit is worth mentioning. So call them weak and feeble is either lack of understanding their real strength or prejudiced misconception. To quote in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man's injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?" [To the Women of India (Young India, Oct. 4, 1930)]” 

The most outstanding endowment of our ancestors to us is ‘Indian Constitutions’.  The constitution of India guarantees the equality based on individuality. It abandons any sort of gender bias. The article 14 gives equality before law and article 15 firmly says, “The state shall not discriminate all her citizen based on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them”. Further article 16 emphasizes equal opportunity in employment in public offices. In article 19 the women too like all other citizens are entitled of the right of freedom. Under adult franchise and universal suffrage, the constitution also gives one citizen one vote value even to the women. The constitution exhorts to constitute women commission in centre and state and also allocate adequate funds for their health, education and empowerment. The centre and state government at different times have enacted laws and announced schemes for this reason like Sukanya Yojana, Kanya Vidyadhan, Beti Padhao and Beti Badhao, Matritva Sahyog Yojana, Priyadarshini and Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, UJJAWALA, SWADHAR Greh etc. The NGOs local, national and international are also running numerous schemes to help and aware the women. In spite of such magnificent and paramount guideline we could not achieve the goal of gender equality even after 70 years of independence. They are still treated as the second rate citizen barring the exceptions.

There must be public program and campaigns to spread awareness among people by government, NGOs and also by the responsible citizens of the country. The artists and scholars may also play vital roles in this regard. The programs on gender sensitization and women welfare can be organized in books, movies and serials. In school and colleges, the conference and competitions can be held on this vital cause. The advertisement in electronic and print media may also help a lot. The common mass needs to be fully awakened and educated. During the parent teacher association’s meeting, there must be counseling session esp. on this topic. The social taboos and religious complications must also be dealt with fervently and feverously. The task to value womanhood must be taken to war level. "We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."  Says Sheryl Sandberg, one of the greatest feminist scholars of the world.

In recent days there has been some positive and constructive measures adopted to empower women. They are competing and even surpassing men in various spheres of human activities. They are getting education and being placed and elected to prominent positions and they are setting newer norms and standard. They are crossing the four walls and performing their best in the country and abroad. They are becoming more scientific, rational and sagacious than being superstitious, susceptible and theistic.

At start of 21^st century, we all need to pledge for new start with new thinking to bestow all blessings of the world to women. Let they fly high with feather of equality and freedom to choose the path of life they want. Let manhood no more be tainted of not being humane and just. Let the new chapter of human history be written with no such evils. Let nobody forget the precept that, “We are human race before being male or female”. Let all enjoy the birth right to live the world on one’s own accord. Let no one’s soul be unnecessarily be sacrificed. Live and let live and together make the world a beautiful place to live.

LAL CHANDRA   PGT (English)

KV NO-2 CHAKERI, AIRFORCE

 KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH

PIN NO-208008

MOBILE NO-09651519128

                      07068480095

Email- lalchandrakvs@gmail.com

                             

Settling with Time

Time is invincible. The one who ever tried to challenge it was swiftly and shortly swept way in its terrific tides. Whatever temporal and worldly powers and glories one might have accumulated seem dwarf and dummy in front of mammoth and mountainous enormity of Time.

Then, what remains in the hands of common fragile human beings is that he should  compromise and settle with Time's invincibility and  dominance.

though some of the important and conspicuous questions are to be solved and dealt deftly while living in the transient world. whatever length of life one lives is to be well systematized and planned for the better and greater living.

To settle  all issued confronting with the reign of Time are to be eased by cool compromises.

THE AILING PLANET

The chapter comments on the deteriorating condition of our planet. It speaks of the problems faced by our planet, reasons for its poor condition and the changing view of the world for the planet.

The Green Movement

The author begins by commenting on the great attention received by the Green Movement that began some 25 years ago. The world’s first nationwide Green party was founded in New Zealand in the year 1972 and the movement has been a great success since then.

A change in the human perception

A revolutionary change has come in the perception of the human beings bringing in a “holistic and ecological” view of the world. There has been a shift from the understanding developed by Copernicus to the people’s belief that the earth is a living organism whose needs must be respected and preserved by us. According to the writer, our earth is like a “patient in declining health”. Thus, we have to realise our ethical responsibility of guarding the planet.

Sustainable Development

TheWorld Commission on Environment and Development propagated the concept of “sustainable development” in 1987. Sustainable development calls for a well-balanced development so as to meet the demands of the present and not to deprive our future generations from the natural world of resources.

Man and the other living-species

Man has been considered as the most dangerous being on the planet. However, due to the efforts of a number of agencies all over the world, man is learning to live in harmony with the other living species on the planet. Man’s existence is shifting from the system of domination to that of partnership.

The depletion of the principal biological systems

There are still many millions of living species that have not been catalogued. The author mentions the ecological concern pointed out by Mr. Lester R. Brown in his book “The Golden Economic Prospect”. Mr. Brown points out four principal biological systems- fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. These form the foundation of the global economic system as they supply food and provide raw materials for industries except minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics.

The demand of the human beings on these systems is increasing to such an ‘unsustainable’ extent that the productivity of these systems is being hampered. The excessive demand result in deterioration and depletion of resources leading to the breakdown of fisheries, disappearance of forests, deterioration of croplands and turning of grasslands into barren lands.

Deforestation

The forests are being destroyed in large proportions to obtain firewood in poor countries. Depletion of tropical forests has lead to the extinction of several species. In fact, the tropical forests or “the powerhouse of evolution” are eroding at the rate of forty to fifty million acres per year. Besides, the increasing use of dung for burning deprives the soil of important natural fertilisers.

According to our Parliament’s Estimates Committee, a near “catastrophic depletion” has been marked in the number of the forests of India over the last four decades. Ironically, article 48A of the Indian Constitution states that the state shall “protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. However, India is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year.

The condition of the environment is ‘critical’ as per a study conducted by the United Nations.

The problem of over-population

One of the major factors adding to the deforming future of the human society is the fast-growing world population. The present world population is estimated at 5.7 billion. With this ever-increasing population, development seems a far-fetched dream.

As per the author, the best contraceptive to control the population is development. Voluntary family planning with an element of coercion is the only alternative. Rise in income, spread of education and improved health would lead to fall in fertility. Population and poverty are directly proportional to each other. Thus, control of the population should be our top-most priority.

“Era of Responsibility”

The author now re-mentions the “holistic view” of the basis of our existence. He points that it is an “Era of Responsibility” that calls for “seeing the world as an integrated whole rather than a dissociated collection of parts”. Industry plays an important role in this responsibility. Excellence in environmental performance is required for the manufacturers to continue their existence. Our earth belongs as much to the future generation as much to us. We should soon realise our duty towards our planet and should not treat it solely as our property.

The chapter concludes with the beautiful lines of Mr. Lester Brown, “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children.”