Crime rate is burgeoning and we demand effective laws and their proper implementation. But, will that alone put an end to crime? Well, the answer would be a yes if we want more and more people to be behind bars and be served with the harshest punishments. If we think that the very quantum and severity of the punishments can act as a deterrent to people who indulge in crime, we will end up getting nowhere and will have to face a shameful defeat. Rather, our intention and focus should be to clean up the social fabric and in order to achieve this we will need to go a step further, a big leap forward, I would say. We will have to bridge the gap between 'Bharat' and 'India', yes, the poor and the rich.
If one takes a look at the background of the people who indulge in criminal activities; be it against women, against children, for money, for pleasure, he may find that the poor and the less fortunate ones top the list.
The deprived ones, seeing light at the end of the pitch dark tunnel, move to the urban areas with dreams for a better livelihood. At a time when the needs of the urban masses themselves are not catered to, what will the urbanized lands have to offer the deprived ones? Unable to comprehend the situation and being felt trapped after realization by experience, they take up living every single day as a challenge. We better put in serious efforts to make 'Bharat' and 'India' one and the same lest come what may, these unfortunate masses will try to make a living out of everything, fun out of everything.
Let me not create an impression in the reader's mind that I am against urbanization per se. I only see a thin line of difference between the unfortunate masses and us. The difference between need and greed. I prefer to call this line 'thin', though it is not, because we are the people who tend to, purposely or out of sheer ignorance, forget the difference between the need and greed.
Whilst a young married couple among us, in 'India', remain confused to choose a star restaurant to celebrate their child's first birthday, a similar couple in 'Bharat' is busy searching for a small carton to put the baby to sleep. Whilst a teen in 'India' asks his daddy for some thousands to have a blast in the new year eve, a teen in 'Bharat' probably never knows what a new year eve is because for him getting up after every night is itself a gift. Whilst we in 'India' spend a couple of thousands for a footwear, in 'Bharat' they might never have had an opportunity to hold a thousand Rupee note in hand. Whilst in 'India' we maintain separate wardrobes for summer and winter clothes, in 'Bharat' they don't even own a shed for themselves. Whilst in 'India' we munch on a McD burger or KFC bucket to satisfy our hunger, in 'Bharat' they are happy with a couple of dry rotis and some green chillies.
Until and unless we think of them as our own and help them out, we are never going to get out of most of the problems we face today, we will continue to have their curse.
This is a pregnant lady I saw in the Delhi metro. The people around are way too busy in their own activities to see or care for her. Perhaps she is also used to the ignorance and lack of care or concern.
Have a look at this video. The child is perhaps hungry and wants something to eat and is continuously trying to get his mother's attention. But the mother may be knows that she has nothing in hand to offer and hence ignores the child completely. Left with no other option, the child takes the dust and dirt from the floor of the metro and licks it to satisfy his hunger.
One may very easily shed the responsibility by saying that 'all this is fate, no one can do anything to solve such issues'. There are certainly some simple things that we all can do. Let us first make a clear understanding and differentiation between need and greed. Let us resolve to reduce our wants keeping in mind the poverty in our nation, to apply self-restraint in every sphere of life and to live a simple life. Let, we the young generation of 'India' be sensitive towards our siblings born in 'Bharat'. Let us grow together, let us all live in harmony. Let us strive to make a nation where the poor feel that their voice is heard.
Let us all pray in unison "Om Sahana Vavatu, Sahanau Bhunaktu, Saha Veeryam Karavavahai, Tejasviana Vadheetamastu, Maa Vidvishavahi". (Rig Veda) Let us all live in harmony, let us share the harvest, let our thoughts and deeds create synergy to illuminate the globe.
Jai Hind! Mera Bharat Mahaan!
