Stop and Stare

“How far that little candle throws its beams,

So shines a good deed in a naughty world”

                                                          -William Shaespeare

The quote seems to have lost its meaning in today’s fast paced world of fame and cash. The values which formed the very basis of civilisation have been lost through the ages. Today’s India seems to rigidly stick to the adage – “Stop and Stare”

Today it is not uncommon to see a heated crowd of people surrounding an accident site, some bemoaning rash driving and some groaning about the delay in schedule. Rarely if ever does one find someone to stick around as a witness.

Similar situations are seen in all walks of life. People are always admonishing their children pointing at security guards and cleaners - “If you don’t study you’ll end up like that...” Strangely these same people are the ones to point out dirty roads and stores without adequate security. When we need our bathrooms and drains cleaned we call someone to do the work but why because we don’t want to get our hands Dirty. That means they are capable of some things that we just can’t get done. It wouldn’t hurt to respect people’s jobs. Some people don’t have the comforts we do to choose their jobs. Until we learn to respect others for who and what they are can we ever truly be one.

  Once I heard that five trees were cut down for our honoured ex-President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s helicopter to land. On learning of this the ex-president immediately ordered ten new saplings to be planted. Now I feel this was a great thing to do, but with all due respect to Dr Kalam, I feel true greatness lies in planting ten saplings without cutting down any. Why wait for stimulation to perform a good deed, is a good deed only a response to a bad one?

Such situations arise everyday but we always stay silent and act ignorant because we feel helpless.

The ball now lies in our court, the new generation. With young blood, fresh ideas and some if not infinite enthusiasm, we must tackle these problems. To better India we must better ourselves inside out.