gloomy clouds on the horizon & a ray of sunshine

It's amazing how we're fooled into believing that we're truly a developing nation. 1000 farmers have committed suicide but Reliance still gets permission to do Range Farming. We have staggering growth figures but are shockingly low in human development indices. From infant mortality rates to basic Health Care services being inaccesible and unaffordable to the poor, there isn't much to be satisfied about. While we're selling Brand India to the world, improverished Indians are literally dying to be heard, to be helped.

So, what's new? We've heard all this. We still go to work in our airconditioned cars in the middle of winter, because the price for each barrel of oil is now coming down, no? We ignore beggars when we stop at traffic lights. Most of them have probably cut off their own arms to make some money for their families. Didn't you read that article in the Times?
This year there will be more billionaires from India than from China, yet there is so much chaos, both rural and urban, and such utter apathy that it makes you wonder where these billionaires are investing their monies.
We have a Twenty Point Programme with a broad vision to "improve the quality of life of the poor and the under-privileged population of the country".
Isn't this the objective of all development, government intervention and planning?
From minimum wages to prices of essential commodities, there is a glaring inefficiency on the part of our leaders. The majority which needs to benefit the most, is more often than not, ignored.

I don't have immediate answers to many nagging questions. There is no correct alternative. All we can do is make sure that the choices we make do the most good for the most number of people.
If Reservations need to be implemented, we should go ahead with minimum bias, have a common measure, instead of Religion or Sex. Dr. Manmohan Singh has now proclaimed that they wish to implement Reservations for Muslims nationwide. The only way something this stupid on such a magnitude can be avoided is, if educated Muslims themselves take a stand against such a practice. Though we are a Hindu majority country, our pleas for equitable progress and distribution of resources are often unheard and purposely neglected.
I was truly happy that Mr. Javed Akhtar received the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. I love his lyrics in Lagaan("Radha kaise na jale") and Swades("Pal pal hain bhaari").
Ram hi to karuna mein hai, shaanti mein Ram hai
Ram hi hai ekta main, pragati mein Ram hai
Ram bas bhakton nahin, Shatru ke bhi chintan mein hai
dekh dhaj ke paap Ravan, Ram tere man mein hai
Ram to ghar ghar mein hai, Ram har aangan mein hai
Mann se Ravan jo nikale, Ram uske mann mein hai

A Muslim wrote these lyrics, a Muslim composed soulful tunes for these words and a Muslim sang these words in the movie. Though Akhtar, Rahman and Khan have identities beyond their religion, it is this that makes me respect them and believe in the power of democracy. It is they who have to take a stand, beyond veils, on other issues of national importance.

I know, I've come back to the same Religion issue but it matters to me beacuse most problems are related to this. We cannot consider problems in terms of numbers or in isolation. We need to take into view all these other factors that play a major role in deciding policies that affect the masses.

Our great country can and will be everything we want it to be.
All we need to do is take a stand on issues that matter to us and ensure that there is a transformation, however little, before we die.

You can start today. Make a difference in a child's life by signing up for the Dronacharya & Ekalavya Mentorship Programme.

It doesn't matter who celebrates our successes or mourns our failures when it's over. All that matters is that at the end of it, you're at peace with yourself and believe that you have done everything in your power, everything you possibly could.