Let’s make a difference rather than just celebrate!

As we circulated SMSs & watched news channels laud the efforts of the martyrs of the Mumbai terror attack, the heart couldn’t avoid but reach the one thought the brain processed. The message “Each one of us has a duty towards our motherland” & not just celebrate Republic Day or Independence Day without any concrete actions towards the betterment of the nation.

It is easier said than done, that’s why legends are born amidst crises which common men fail to accept. We all may certainly not be equipped to fight terrorism or dawn the Indian army uniform to protect the borders, but we are gifted by god in various facets, all of which can contribute to a better & greater India tomorrow.

Just as every passing year, we think of our family, careers, learning & lives as an individual, we ought to think of the progress, growth & development of our nation. We ought to. It is as much a responsibility as the privilege to enjoy living in a safe & secure India. We may or may not make the difference ultimately, but we definitely cannot avoid making an effort to.

We blame the selfishness of the politicians, the bureaucracy of the govt, the outdated education system, the bad roads & their sustainability during the rains, the current market trends, the falling rupee, the economic recession, the safety & security of the coming generations. Each problem has a cause, which allows us to crib on it for long times & create excuses, but more importantly the very same problem provides a solution – our approach alone determines if we ever find it. This is where legends are born. We either continue to vent our feelings entire life or stand up & get it changed forever.

We all have over a period of time gained some skills, knowledge & competencies which can make a huge difference to the way India shapes tomorrow. People with business acumen, technological geeks, the scientists, the researchers, the psychologists & the common man all of us can make the smallest & simplest difference to build the India we imagined.

If we as a combined group cannot make a difference at the national level, let’s start with villages & districts. Ensure food, clothing & homes for poor, Vaccination & Immunization for all, education for the needy, basic roads & infrastructure for villages, water & electricity supply at all times. This is the least we can contribute to but in the long run would make a huge difference.

Let’s pledge on this Day, every coming Independence Day & Republic Day we would see a better India, our state, the village we were born in, the district we grew up in. Even if we all make that 1% difference cumulatively we shall ensure a multifold growth for the coming generations to see.

Let’s think of the all the options where we as individuals or groups can contribute, explore the ones which can be acted upon & implement the best one to make that little difference to our motherland to whom we shall remain indebted forever. Remember, a country is as good as the citizens who live in it! The choice is ours, so is the country!

- Ashish Dabholkar