We do have quite a many accolades to our credit to feel proud about. We are moving slowly and steadily on the path of economic growth. The penetration of internet has been increasing at a staggering rate of 700% since 2000. Our intellect is respected be it in terms of scientists or doctors, top management or software engineers, dancers or musicians, authors or chefs, artisans or designers and they all occupy coveted positions worldwide. We have a rich culture and heritage of which apparently we are all proud of.

Despite these achievements, we have left no stone unturned to tarnish our nation in every possible way. I am specifically using the word ‘we’ and not ‘they’ because each one of us is responsible in our own way in contributing positively or negatively to our national image. However, it has become a matter of habit for us to take others’ credit and burden others with our wrongdoings. Shunning responsibility has become our second nature.

We are a nation of 1.2 billion who cannot govern itself properly. We elect politicians who are too busy filling their own pockets and making foreign trips to take any concrete action on issues of national concern. Our borders are so porous and security system so dismal that anybody can enter our territory at his or her own free will making a passport or a visa redundant. Our inter-departmental coordination is so remarkable that a handful of goons go about bombing places and taking the entire nation in its toll and all we do is sit back and play the blame game.

Instead of performing duties properly we have politicians who are busy thrashing and driving north Indians away from Maharashtra as they are an ‘obstruction’ to the development of the state. We are a nation where these politicians instigate illiterate populace and ‘organize’ communal riots.  We cannot protect our citizens but our good-for-nothing politicians enjoy z-security.

It is not only these politicians who contribute to make India the 74th most corrupt nation in the world. There are people like Ketan Parekh and Harshad Mehta who create huge stock market scams. More recently we have corporates like Ramalinga Raju of Satyam who has tarred the image of corporate India by masterminding an accounting scandal of 7000 crore rupees but he is not to be blamed alone; what about the auditors and the board of directors who were supposed to keep a close watch on the company affairs? 

I am falling prey to our national trait now by accusing others for the wrongdoings inflicted upon India thereby displaying my high level of ‘patriotism quotient’. If I continue with this list, I can fill pages after pages but it is high time I wake up and take the bold step of asking myself – what difference have I made to solve any one of the thousands of dilemmas, troubles and threats that my beloved India is currently faced with? To my surprise I find only a few feeble answers raising their insignificant heads.

It is high time that the youth wakes up and realizes its responsibility as an indian citizen. Let us stop bitching about our own country and idolizing the west all the time. Our country is what we have made out of it.

Let us stop envying foreign roads and stop littering our surroundings.

Let us stop calling politics as a dirty area. Let us step in and clean the mess. It is only educated young people like you and me who can help make dramatic progress and bring about a revolution.

Voting is our right and we must exercise it but our duty does not end there. We need to bring about accountability in the system and not just sit back. We have to seek information and command explanation. Right to Information Act allows us to have the answers to questions like why you never get your ration card or the passport on time or why did you fail in the examination, which you were confident of passing or where is that elusive Income Tax refund and similar others that keep us bothered. The act also enables speeding up pending issues with the government and other civic bodies, without greasing palms or paying speed money; thereby taking care of red-tapism that is so very rampant in our economy. It also warns the culprits that somebody is keeping a check on their activities.

An individual’s hard earned money goes into paying taxes and hence isn’t it his right to know how exactly is his money being used?

We have to ensure that incidents like Mumbai terror attacks do not repeat themselves by keeping our ears and eyes open and informing concerned authorities immediately. We also need to extend our whole-hearted support in the various security measures.

For a revolutionary change to come about, what is most important is education. India’s literacy rate is claimed to be 61% which is far from reality because people who only know how to sign their names are considered to be literate. How can we expect such people to have a sense of their rights and be able to speak their minds? Each one of us has to come forward and spread literacy. The least we can do is educate people with whom we are in immediate contact like our drivers, household helps, peons, newspaper boys, etc. and increase their awareness.

Existence of social evils like child labour, child prostitution, dowry, female foeticide are prevalent in India. They are not restricted to backward rural areas with low income. It is shocking to find that these are present even in the urban areas with higher income where majority of the population is literate. And we dare to call ourselves educated and progressive? Let us stop these practices ourselves and encourage others to do so.

It is quite convenient to feel that what difference can only one person make but it is time we perform our duty properly and stop thinking about others. Sooner or later others will also realize. Let us start making a difference in ourselves first and be rest assured that a better tomorrow will be awaiting us.