Vision
India: Together We Can !
By Nishikant Waghmare
28 July, 2007
Countercurrents.org
As
Indians we must have one motto: "One People! One Nation ! One India!"
Now, let us look back at the Indian society. In villages where 81% of
Indians live untouchability is practiced. Do untouchables get drinking
water? Do they socialize like others? Have their Human Rights violations-
rapes, beatings, and cold blooded murders stopped? Will they get justice
in their lifetime?
The fact is that although
a Dalit has made it to the post of the President of India Mr. K. R.Narayannan
(1997-2002), but the condition of Dalits remains unchanged. The scourge
of untouchbility prevails in India. (60 Minuties the CBS story was anchored
By Christine Amanpour in 1999.)
No matter how many Lok –Sabha
seats (122 SCs and STs) are reserved, it doesn't do much good if a Dalit
cannot drink from public water taps and is condemned to live in the
outer fringes of society. It is with a heart full of love, gratitude,
and trust that I take up my pen to write for the Dalit cause. The Indian
National Congress Party and Bhartiya Janata Party – led by National
Democratic Alliance( NDA) is toying with the idea of job reservation
in the private Sector for SCs/ STs'. I believe that for SCs/STs' jobs
are the only route to socio-economic empowerment as they do not own
any means of production, like land! President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam said, "Our greatest enemy is poverty and not human beings,
and if we want progress, we will have to fight poverty." Eradicating
poverty, illiteracy, and reducing inequalities within upper caste and
Dalits is the challenge we must face as a nation.
It is crying shame that after
60 years of the Independence, 350 Millions of our people live in poverty.
The UNDP Report shows that in India 23crore and 30 lakh people live
in starvation. I am sorry to state that after India gained Independence
we have no social justice, social security, health care, sanitation,
education, infrastructure, drinking water, food, and socio-economic
empowerment of all its citizens. We have less cars in on the road but
more accident. Train accidents have become more frequent and also India
Air Force MIG 21 crashes. Is anyone thinking about it?
India stands highest in the
world for blind people, HIV positive, and illiteracy and poverty. As
Indians become more educated we will be more productive. Mostly, Indians
also lack sense of humor. Our strength, however, lies in our family
values.
In India politicians, such
as M.Ps' M.L.As, Ministers, Governors, and Civil Servants from services
like IPS, IAS, IFS, and IRS and several other officials of the country
consider themselves above the law. Corruption is deeply rooted each
and every department of public service and Ministries. Corruption has
become the way of life in India and people have learned to respect it.
Many top public servants are under CBI investigation after being arrested
on the charge of corruption.
Our Politicians must think
about health care, education, and infrastructure development. Our politicians
must have vision, courage and ideology to make a real difference. Dr.
BabaSaheb Ambedkar wanted to do more for his country, but in the existing
set-up, he observed, it was difficult to maintain one's interest in
its affairs when the people were not prepared to give a hearing to any
view, which did not agree with that of the Prime Minister of India.
"It is Sin," he sighed," To take birth in such a country
whose people are so prejudiced. Anyhow I have done a lot in spite of
the words of abuse hurled at me from all sides. I will continue to do
so till my death."
We have been living in this
country for thousands of years, in a hopeless system, which lacks enthusiasm.
So long as the present system continues, there is no scope for progress.
Under the Hindu religion, which is founded on inequality and injustice,
we can achieve nothing. Manusmriti describes the chaturvarna.
Chaturvarna is disastrous
for the progress of mankind. Under this system, shudras are restricted
to perform menial jobs only. They have nothing to do with education.
Who would be Interested in ameliorating their lot? Brahmins, Kshatriyas
and vaishyas benefit alike from the slavish condition of shudras. The
shudras have nothing but slavery to share. Chaturvarna cannot just be
blown away. It is not only a part of tradition; it has become a religion.
There is no equality in Hinduism.
Narrating an incident that happened with Gandhi, Dr. Ambedkar said,
" I once went to see Gandhiji. Gandhiji told me that he believed
in chaturvarna. 'What kind of chaturvarna'? I enquired, pointing towards
my hand with the little finger in the bottom and thumb on the top or
this way – with the palm lying flat on the surface of the table
and fingers lying side by side. What do you mean? By the Chaturvarna?
Where does it begin and where does it end?' I asked Gandhiji. Gandhiji
could not reply."
Commenting on the contribution
of the so-called lower castes, Ambedkar further stated, "The Hindus
wanted the Vedas and they sent for Vyasa, who was not a caste Hindu.
The Hindus wanted an epic and they sent of Valmiki who was an untouchable.
The Hindus wanted a Constitution, and they sent for me."
I hope all political parties
must think big. Otherwise there is no future left for future generations.
All leaders must forego their egos and work together for the development
of India. It is my hope and prayer that we will always live a happy,
and peaceful life based on non-violence, truth, equality, love, and
compassion as taught to us by Buddha.
India has the men and women
to rise to the challenge and ensure a future of racial harmony. A clever
person cannot achieve self-realization, which comes only to a wise person.
Wisdom and compassion is the way forward.
Copyright©2004 Nishikant
Waghmare.
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