Politics
We, The People Of Rising Bharat
- Under the ambit of Panch Pran, we can think of pachchees kaam on which we can work proactively.
- They have to be adopted in varying versions by thoughtful change-makers to set in motion this moment of civilisational resurgence.
Bharat is rising at an extraordinary pace.
பருவத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல் திருவினைத் தீராமை ஆர்க்குங் கயிறு
Right action, made in consonance with the times, is a cord that will bind enduring fortunes (Thirukkural 482)
Bharat is rising and rising very fast. To paraphrase William Shakespeare, there is a tide in the affairs of men and women of Bharat. By objective parameters such as gross domestic product (GDP), Bharat will be the third largest economy in just five years.
Our recent successes such as Chandrayaan, our digital public infrastructure, medals in international competitions, our unicorn startups, leadership successes of our diaspora, global plaudits for our movies, immaculate organisation of G20, etc, are pointers to an ascending civilisation.
What was hitherto a quiet build-up of capabilities and confidence is now starting to show tangible outcomes. And miles and miles to go before we reclaim much of the glory that was lost in 700 years of servitude.
Fortunately for Bharat, we have a forward-looking leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who by the sheer strength of his will is moulding the moribund governance machinery. He is transforming politics and also goading the society to upgrade itself.
With his mantra of reform-perform-transform, he is not only coaching the system to conceive and execute Antyodaya policies, but also making jan bhagidari (people’s participation) a foundational aspect of impactful governance.
During the address from the Red Fort last August, Prime Minister Modi issued the clarion call of Panch Pran or five vows that we, as a society, must take in the Amrit Kaal leading up to 2047.
They are:
Goal of developed Bharat
Remove any trace of colonial mindset
Take pride in our roots
Unity
Sense of duty among citizens
The leader has set the vision and being the greatest behaviour-change communicator Bharat has had since Gandhi ji, Prime Minister Modi will keep drilling on these principles in various fora.
That brings into question the role of people. What is our role as citizens of rising Bharat? Either, we can change passively with time or make a more dogged effort to become “faster, higher and stronger" together.
Under the ambit of Panch Pran, we can think of Pachchees Kaam, or 25 areas on which we can work proactively. Civil society groups, religious organisations, artists and citizens associations could be brought in to elevate these issues in people’s consciousness and to make it a movement.
It may sound like a civics class. But no collective success is possible without individual action. As Gandhi ji said famously, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
Goal Of Developed Bharat
Thinking global. Making for the world. Acting in the context of the world
Deep environment consciousness and sustainable living
Being bold and innovative in all things small and big
Cleanliness and increased focus on aesthetics
Be collectively vigilant against enemies of our unity and rising prosperity
Remove Any Trace Of Colonial Mindset
Growth mindset — positive and self-confident. Taking constructive criticisms without outrage
Take pride in the scientific achievements of our past
Preferring “Made in Bharat” products
Being unabashedly desi. Our culture, language and brotherhood of fellow Indians are our intangible assets
Take Pride In Our Roots
High proficiency in mother tongue
Travel extensively within Bharat. Respecting foreign visitors.
Celebrating traditional festivals by carrying a bit of the past and infusing the new
Wearing traditional dresses as much as possible
Protecting all seats of dharma — temples, monasteries, sadhus and so on
Unity
Resolving to treat women better
Proactively avoiding communal tensions and resolving issues quickly and amicably
Promoting Hindi and Indian languages as forces of unity
Generosity and good citizenship — helping local community organisations with time and money
Including people of different communities into our daily lives
Sense Of Duty Among Citizens
Being known for quality and fairness in business practices. Pursuit of thorough professionalism in our jobs
Being punctual and acting with empathy
Civic sense in public places, in roads and respecting public assets
Being responsible in the digital medium. Acting with integrity
Self-care — being physically and mentally fit to play all the roles well
There is a saying that you have to start behaving like the person you want to be. Mimicking good examples can bring about deep psychological change.
By taking sankalp of playing an active role in India's ascendence, we can not only self-actualise deep change in ourselves, but also take the goal to developed India to siddhi. Hope the enlightened first-movers will fight inertia and light the spark of change.
'Rashtriya charitra' can be moulded only by 'adarsh nagarik' and vice versa. Such moments in history are rare, when a fast-advancing society and positive personal transformation can feed off one another to create virtuous spirals.
In the philosophy of 'Integral Humanism' by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the individual is placed right at the centre of duty and action, through which she transforms herself, her family, her society, her country and the world.
Hope the aforementioned list above is tweaked, expanded, enhanced and more importantly adopted in varying versions by thoughtful change-makers. We cannot let go of this moment of civilisational resurgence. Atlas cannot shrug!
