Rashtradharm
Article 1 - Introduction
Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet Sada, Main Geet Wahan Ke Gaata Hoon
Bharat Ka Rehna Waala Hoon, Bharat Ki Baat Sunata Hoon.
Bharat, a country where Love to everyone is a custom since ages. Bharat, the spiritual capital of the world since time immemorial. Bharat, a country full of natural beauties, a heaven on earth. Bharat, a country with a very rich and diverse cultural history. Bharat, a country who had given birth to people like Mahatma Gandhi, Shivaji, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Chandrashekhar Azaad, Ashfaq Ulla Khan, Prithviraj Chauhan, Rani Laxmibai and several other great Change Agents of the past, the contribution and sacrifice of whom has given me the pride of being a Bhartiya today. Bharat, a country who has given birth to people with divine knowledge and soul consciousness like Sri Ram and Sri Krishna amongst many others, the legacy left by whom has shown me the path towards Self Realization. Bharat, a country of sages, who invented many great things for humanity during their times and paved the way for people of many countries of the world to achieve the ultimate goal of human life; salvation. Bharat, a country which was once the Mentor of the world, Bharat a country which was once a Golden Bird. Bharat which never invaded any country in its such long history. I would fall short of words explaining the glory and values of my country Bharat and may even end up writing a book explaining its achievements and contributions to not only mankind but the other species co-existing with humans on this lonely planet.
However, unfortunately, all its past glory could not save it from reaching to a state it is today. Why? What exactly has happened which is ruining it from all its past glory? Lets find out through this literature.
A country is made up of two types of people; the one who rules it and the ones who are ruled. We all know that what kind of political people are ruling this country today. It is not to say that everyone who is in Bharat's politics is a person of bad character and low human values, however, it is evident from its present condition that many of them are certainly not executing their Rashtradharm in the way it is prescribed in constitution and the scriptures written by people of very high human values and very high levels of consciousness. This country has a history of rulers who used to visit the citizens in plain clothes in disguise of normal people to understand their real problems on the ground and today's ruling class is the one, who itself is robbing the country's money and resources and stashing the same abroad. There were many such examples where the ruling class always acted as a servant to this country and always thought country before their personal gains or losses; and today they are all thinking themselves to be the masters having no control of anyone on them.
When the saviour becomes the hunter (Rakshak Hi Bhakshak Ban Jaaye), then only God's inspiration or KarmaYogis can save that country. No doubt that the political class is at its worst, however, the situation is far from good in the other professions as well.
The businessmen are corrupt; they use all bad practices in order to run their businesses. The teachers are corrupt; they ask bribe in the name of "donation". The Babus are corrupt; they take money from citizens to do the work they are already paid for. The judiciary is corrupt and tilt the judgement in the favour of the one with might and not the one who is right. It is not to say that every politician, every doctor, every teacher or every Judge or Babu is corrupt. It is because of good number of right minded people that this country is still surviving even in such odds.
I would even say that each citizen of this country is slowly getting corrupt by contributing to corruption in one form or the other and why not; there is an old saying that "As the King, so as the Citizens (Yatha Raja Tatha Praja)
Even you and I are corrupt too in some manner, by becoming a silent witness of the same since many years now. In fact, what to say about anything else, even the word "Corruption" is getting corrupted by assuming a different meaning altogether and getting legitimized day by day. There is an unsaid competition today that “Who will be the biggest corrupt of the year”; and probably if something is not done even now, the time is not too far when we have a "Bharat Ratan" category for the person looting this country to the maximum. If something is not done, the day is not far when there will be a Bachelor's degree in colleges teaching “Best Corruption Practices”, citing examples of people from all fields.
But, if such elite professions have started getting corrupted to the proportions it is today, it is definitely a time to CHANGE. So, what should we change? Would changing the currently ruling party and giving the country in the hands of opposition parties, a viable solution? What if they come out to be corrupt as well? I think the solution lies somewhere else; the solution lies within ourselves. Lets try to find out, how?
Today's situation of this country is certainly not something I should be proud off, and I hope it is not a situation for pride for you as well. This country has given me its everything, each cell of my body is composed of this country, each breath that I take is provided by this country, each rupee that I earn and spend is provided by this country, this country is not composed of the inert matter with its geographical dimensions, but a soul of a mother, who is silently bearing the pain of becoming a country of corrupts and waiting for some of its real offsprings listening to her silent ordeal.
While doing meditation one day, I felt that this country's soul has asked me to do something for her, whatever small that I can do, and I am sure if you close your eyes and meditate, being the son/daughter of this country, she will speak to you as well.
So, what can we, as a powerless ordinary citizen (aam aadmi) of this country, contribute towards reviving it and providing her the glory she actually deserves, save its beauty from getting ruined by the land sharks, save it from the decline in value system and above all save it from its very own sons/daughters who have become totally insensitive towards her.
A human learns about this universe and his/her own existence within that, through the 3 Es Education, Environment and Experience. Let me try to bring that Education through a series of articles which has the potential to change the Environment of this country and provide us a wonderful Experience of being a citizen of this divine country, called as Bharat Mata. I would try to keep this as interactive and participative as possible by soliciting your feedbacks, suggestions and even criticisms. So, watch out for future Articles of this series. They are in the making.
The articles will also be published on my Blog: hiteshchandel.blogspot.com. You can provide your inputs on the same. These articles of Citizen Education Series will be clubbed together in a book in the making named "Rashtradharm – Code of Citizen’s Conduct" along with the inputs provided by you all.
By Hitesh Chandel
An ordinary citizen of this country and
an Ashtang Yog Practitioner
25th Jan 2012
Send your feedback, suggestions and criticisms at definedvalues@yahoo.com
25th Jan 2012
Send your feedback, suggestions and criticisms at definedvalues@yahoo.com
