We the people. Review on ______

India is a democracy and in a functional democracy, people and the govt. are synonymous with each other. It is the people who form the govt. and the govt. policies in turn go a long way in shaping the psyche of the people. So I thought it fitting to place this review of mine (which incidentally is on the people of India) in the Govt. of India Section. Now when u write about the people of India, u r usually bombarded with a plethora of thoughts and one review simply cannot do justice to the topic. I m not going to blabber about the rich culture and tradition of our country nor I m going to write on the glorious history we ve had. Rather I thought it would be befitting to write one one single trait of us that is visible every day at every nook and corner and which can go a long way in deciding how we as a country will fare in the future.

A couple of weeks back I had gone to the railway station to book tickets. Now Palam railway station in Delhi has a small computerized reservation center with just 2 counters and none for enquiry. To my dismay I saw that many people were submitting more than one form. Whereas as per rules on person is supposed to submit only one form. I also saw a couple of guys on seeing such a long queue try to hand over their forms to others who were further up in the queue. There were frequent voices being raised over all this and the atmosphere was one of total chaos. I was totally perplexed. Didn’t these people have a conscience? I mean there were people standing in queue for hours and they just didn’t care about it.

Incidences like this are not very uncommon in India now a days. We see people like these in every walk of life. People who just don’t care about others or the society and just care for themselves. Selfish, narrow minded people. We see them in trains when ever someone with a waiting list ticke pays a few extra bucks to the TTE and gets his berth confirmed whereas as per the rules any vacant seats should go to the next guy on RAC list. But who cares?? I have resources and I ll use them for my benefit.

We find them daily on our roads when someone jumps red light or overtakes from the wrong side knowing very well that this action of his may put others life in danger. But then again who cares???

People like these can be seen in different spheres of life and if I start listing them then it may take some time. But all these people have one thing in common and that is their attitude. Unfortunately India today is full of these narrow minded selfish people.

Now after waiting for about 2 hrs when I finally got my chance at the counter, a lady came and got in front of me. Now as I already said this was a small center and had 2 counters only. So obviously ther was nt any counter for ladies and senior citizens. They just form a parallel queue at any of the counters. I was irritated and asked the lady to kindly wait and let me finish first since I ve been waiting for 2 hrs. Now this snowballed into a major issue and many people joined in. I finally let the lady get her ticket first. Now should I have objected to her in the first place. I had my own justifications. I reasoned that in todays world where everyone was talking of equal opurtunities to women there should nt be any preferential treatment given to them. Even if it there it should nt be at the cost of other citizens. What I meant is that suppose people have been aiting for as long as 2 hrs at the counter and all of a sudden say around 10 women come and get in front of them they definitely will get mad. If there is a separate counter for ladies then no matter how many ladies come, the people in gents line won’t be bothered. Now frankly this reasoning didn’t appeal even to me. I mean wat if the lady was known to me?? Would I have reacted in the same way??? Wat if some female relative o min goes to the station??? Do I expect others to react in the same way to her as I did to the lady??? Never. But why??? Are my relatives special???

No.

Then this is nothing other than hypocrisy. So what is at fault here?? My attitude for sure.

We often find people criticizing the govt. and the politicians for being corrupt. But little do they realize that they too are the same. I mean at least most of them. How many people are there who would nt have gone out of the way to get things done. Like paying a bribe. Or for that matter using contacts to get their son a job. Very few.

Now one can argue that there is a hell lot of a difference between paying an occasional bribe here and there and the huge scams these politicians do. What we all miss here is that as an ordinary member of the society and the system that is perhaps the most we can do. Provided with a chance most of us will do the same thing that these politicians do. Because the attitude is same here. And in the end it all boils down to how much we can resist temptations.

No doubt India has had a glorious history. We had Nalanda and Takshashila when our counterparts in America and Europe were still hunters and gatherers. In Indus valley and Ganges valley civilizations we had a society which would envy many even today. How come we ended up being so heartless and narrow-minded? Certainly down the line there has been a change in the psyche of the people which has changed their attitude.

SO What is the need of the hour??

Certainly change. But then change whome?? Everyone around us?? No I don’t think that would be possible. The least we can do is change ourselves, our attitudes and start looking at things with a broader perspective. Because criticizing the system wont do. Some one needs to act and act real fast. In order to change the system we need to change ourselves first because we too are a part of it. Time to change is here and we need to change because time does nt wait for anyone.

Remember, ''Attitude moulds men and men mould a nation.''

As a country we certainly have lots of potential. It is just the matter of having the will and desire to achieve the potential.

Cause after all

“SAARE JAHAN SE ACHCHA HINDUSTAAN HAMARA”