Numb System or numb citizens

INDIA’S march after independence is a success story. What helped India, a country of billion plus with hundreds of cultures, to evolve as a nation is its democratic culture? To want perfection is innate to human nature, but no human effort has ever been perfect, at least not till date.

Pundits believe: The ills of democracy will be taken care of by more democracy alone. Empirical evidence suggests differently.

Has the quality of leadership improved or declined? Who have replaced (or aspire to) replace Nehru, Patel, Shastri and Vajpayee —Shibu Soren, and Amar Singh and Sharad Pawar? Will Nehru not be a restless soul, seeing his descendent Varun Gandhi speaking like a religious bigot?

Today over half of India is literate, fast developing and politically empowered, but why is the society as a whole consistently on the decline, and value systems crumbling? Why has Indian society over the years become corrupt — morally and materially? Where is public integrity for which Mother India was known for decades? Corrupt and criminal politicians have occupied the higher positions of the society. It is said that “nearly 25 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs had criminal cases against them”.

Eventually, with the passing of stringent laws, and the strict attitude of courts or the Indian Law, it is expected that the participation by criminal elements may eventually come down. But the same cannot be said about corrupt politicians and tolerance for corruption has grown.

To state some happenings, in June 2006 Kashmir was rocked by a sex scandal involving top politicians and bureaucrats. Though the trial is going on, the accused were gradually released on bail. In early 2007, Shoaib Lone, MLA from Sangrama, created a sudden outburst in the Assembly by alleging corruption against state Congress president and senior minister Peerzada Mohammed Syed. The MLA alleged he had paid Rs 40,000 to the minister in place of a favour for an educational institution managed by his sister. The National Conference had stalled proceedings for many days. The minister had to resign. During the 2008 Assembly elections two Congress candidates and sitting MLAs Peerzada and Mir were each surprisingly able to secure a fresh mandate. When voters were asked why they voted for the tainted and blackly candidates, the reply was revealing: Corruption and sex allegations are issues for the chattering and talkative classes in Srinagar; what matters for us is the availability of our MLAs. Peerzada Syed went on to become minister as the Congress nominee in the coalition. And guess what, he had his old portfolio back: minister of school education. All is known about our honorable Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and he is still honorable. There is a long list of names in the Telgi matter, where is the list, where are the names, where are those top shots?

Reports of crimes by politicians appear frequently and Kashmir’s politicians do not lag behind.

But people have become used to politicians’ moral and ethical degradation. That is why parties chose candidates on caste, religious and regional considerations. Politicians purchase citizens, the Indian Citizen, to get elected. Winnability, accessibility, effectiveness or properness — these are not issues; everybody just wants a share in the booty

Earlier it was thought that elections at the grassroots would broaden the net of democracy and help able leadership emerge. Instead, democratization of corruption has happened. Earlier MPs and MLAs were partners in crime; now representatives of local bodies also demand their share of the loot.

Everybody is aware of the continually annoying political system. But the question remains, where this is going to lead and is this failure of the system or of the self? Is there any hope left? The situation has gone from bad to worse. Numbness has crept in and the ‘feel-bad’ factor against social evils is missing. Can things improve? This is the question for ‘social scientists’. And then comes the question, where are they???

The value of a thing is known, only when it is lost...

                              

Society respects such people who cherish personal values and practice it, contrary to the opinion, that life is comfortable when you compromise and sacrifice your values for others. You cannot forgo everything for others happiness. A part of yourself at the least must be kept happy and contented.

I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself. I guessed life was like that. You gained and you lost, and if you saved anything from the ruins, even if only a shred of self-respect, it was enough to take you through the next bit.

So we say that - "Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.

Man cannot do away with ‘Self-Respect.’ Out of the foremost personal values, ‘Self Respect’ comes first. Self-confidence is of great importance without which nothing in this world becomes accessible but I personally feel that self-confidence is a successor of self-respect.

Man loses his self-identity when he loses his self-respect and voluntarily subjects himself to a life of willful submission. The mind is taken over by the alien forces in full control.

Even slavery does not spare him the comfort that he deserves and finally, he becomes programmed like a robot, unaware that he is controlled and monitored. Even under dreadful circumstances an individual must not give way to degradable attitude and must be prepared to relinquish any level of fortune.

A person who shows up limitations is matured and balanced. He need not make attempt to cure all the evils and fight all demons to clean the world. Instead if he succeeds in parts and in units he can be more nearer to being a perfect human being.

Self respect is so very important that it should not be sacrificed under any condition and circumstance. If you feel the impact of hurt, you must retaliate and stand up to your ideology and belief. Your conceived notions or any attitude must not be a hindrance to others. If you find joy in yourself you can best run it as long as you want it. Never over estimate others. They are ‘nothing’ in front when ‘you’ are controlled by yourself.

There is no way you can feel proud, by exercising your power over others, if they cannot publicly condemn you, at least their silence would demolish the false make up you seem to have. There is severe agony and sort of death if the wisdom is swallowed up by the black clouds of ignorance.

We need to be highly conscious of our greater self. Respect our own being and never look down nor denigrate ourselves. There can never be a holy identify than ourselves.

Humane values govern all life’s instances and circumstances, in whatever circumstances we are placed in life. To retain and nurture these elements would give us peace of mind in the worst of unpleasant incidents. To posses that blissful experience one needs to have sustained understanding and practice higher values. It could be difficult, but you would be better off than having accepted negative standing in life, and the burden of carrying the guilt which is overwhelming.

One must not sacrifice self respect and stoop low in order to take advantage in life. High moral values are associated to self and it cannot be a denigrated and rendered cheap. Neither the slaughterer nor the victim has any claim to be a reason to make suffer each other in order to satisfy or to be in an advantageous position.

If the job you hold becomes uninteresting, and scope for growth turns out to be volatile .Every day becomes unbearable and disenchanting, the best recourse is not to submit you to the situation endlessly, but take a firm stand. Whatever be the cause and effect. Search for alternatives and confidently go ahead living with your instincts. If we pursue what is best for us we invariably achieve our objectives.

Life do not permit us to live in peace beyond a certain point, if we stretch beyond boundaries it will engulf us. It is a question of timing, we need to be sensitively being aware when it hurts and seek solutions immediately. Time lived is time enjoyed, time unlived is time lost.

We alone are responsible to our lives, if there is what is called as destiny let it remain but to bury oneself thoughtlessly in the quagmire of self indifference is totally damaging to our own psychic.

Self respect is a measure of one’s own state of wellbeing, a certain concern for security and self protection, self-confidence and knowing what we are. If the boundaries cross limitations, this concern must ignite within and come to rescue on its own accord. Society greatly respects such a standing and individual, Setting standards and examples.

However wretched and discriminating is the human circumstance, a person of good courage to carry one will make it aware for others that the ridicule aimed at him is just superfluous and frivolous and does not hold any substance. This wonderful nature must prevail; it is the true health, wealth and happiness.

Every living creature on this planet is believed to be made of God’s own element, which can never be violated by anyone for any purpose or intend. The rich cannot holds way on the poor, nor can the poor threaten the rich. The equanimity and goodwill must create the right balances in life.

I love you

Lot of people suffer from the lack of belief in oneself due to the humiliation of others and trust breaking actions of others or rather being used as a stepping stones to gain confidence or trust of others. That prevents them from achieving their goals. It’s some sort of mental and emotional quagmire that holds them back. There’s a way to pull oneself out of that ditch and it all starts by putting value back to oneself and building up self-confidence.

Deal with your inferiority

Inferiority breeds because of one’s lack of belief in oneself. And you can’t claim that it’s something you’re born with. It’s more on the nurtured side of things where experiences like having a humiliating experience or a being bullied at school or having a personal defect, not one in my respect.

Because of these experiences, one tends to have low self-esteem and loses the will to be great. However, still, in that person’s mind rages the desire to make something great of oneself. These two clash together.

The trick here (and the most tricky part too) is to overcome the first dilemma. You have to go back to those memories and understand how they happened and what effects they’ve done to your life. You should convince yourself that no what other people said or thought about you, you’re your own person. Acknowledge your uniqueness and tell yourself that nothing makes you less human.

Set realistic goals

Once you start putting value back to yourself again, the next step is to make gain success to boost your morale and self-esteem up. However, don’t go overboard on your goals. Set small realistic ones that you can achieve. You don’t want to risk the effort of overcoming the first hump only to rush headstrong on a solid brick wall. So it’s a matter of winning small battles to eventually win the war. With each battle won, you’ll notice that your confidence grows too. Be a proud winner.

Build up discipline

The only way you can win those battles is through discipline. Pay attention to the smallest things and make a habit and routine out of things. However, don’t get trapped in the details too much that you miss out on your main objective.

Beef up on social skills

Now that you’re. It’s time to interact with people. Fostering natural relationships with people is what normal people do. If you always have thought that the world is against you and nobody likes you, think again. Maybe it’s just the childish environment of school that made people call you names. But as people mature, most wise up. In fact, most people are friendly. Try smiling casually at people that you meet on the subway or on the street. You’ll be surprised at how most will throw back a smile at you.

And hey, the wheel will turn for sure. Its destiny, everything pays off, the good, the bad; the false, the true!

As I’ve written, the hardest part here is the first one - overcoming insecurities and the feeling and thought of being inferior. Just learn to love yourself and everything will fall into place.

Love you Gurudatta!