Why Not a Revolution Happen in India?

2060 - Headlines on Ajtak News Channel

============================

• A Raja's son Yuvaraja caught in 22G scam.

• Pakistan wants Tamil Nadu. PM says that they can resolve the issue with peaceful talks.

• 400 disciples of martyrs Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and Arvind Kejriwal along with the support of 100 million people are fighting against the government to bring back the black money stashed in tax heavens. Gandhigiri Zindabad!

• Congress barely wins Lok Sabha elections for the 25th time and forms a coalition government at the center with the support of BJP and other like minded parties.

Note: (Courtesy: Internet)

These are few lines I got to read on net. Isn't it fun to read them? Yes, but, does it pinch us as well? If not, then they are going to happen for sure. It is the path which we take today leads us there. 

"Why?" 

It is the same why of “Why Not a Revolution Happen in India?”

Let us analyze the Indian (I mean aam aadmi) mentality.

Reason 1 - Lack of Unity

We are not united. In fact, we are not united mentally ever to be precise, even if we were ever, then not for long. We always say that we are a nation of ‘Unity in Diversity’. Socially to an extent we are, but not ideologically or at thought level. Take any period of Indian history and let there be any dynasty or any ruler’s era for that instance. We read that the samants (ruler of a small geographical area under a big kingdom) always used to fight with each other for power and wealth. At the apex of their thought they even wished and tried to replace the king.

Even during all the foreign invasions, which fall under the different periods of history in all periods, we were fighting between each other, which gave them an advantage to rule over us for such a long period. It was not divide and rule policy using which they ruled us. No, I believe it is half truth. We were already divided into small groups pursuing different interests and we did not dare to fight because of lack of funds and less strength of army. The foreigners just facilitated the needs and we fought between ourselves and they looted us there after becoming our friends.

Every one of us would have heard that we had around 565 small and big states/provinces at the time of independence; this number is almost close to the number of total 640 districts, we have in current independent India. Is it not proof to show that how united we were!

We are best as individual contributors but very bad working in group. We cannot accept working under someone from our community, our society, our group. We become egoistic, get into superiority-inferiority complex, which kills the very purpose of the working together. But, in mass there is always requirement of listeners and executes rather than leaders. We join hands only when committing unethical things.

Still it is the same situation. Can you count how many national issues or regional issues we fought united till date? We cannot count beyond a single digit number. Unless we unite and fight together, leaving our self pride, there is no end for the suffering.

Reason 2 - 90% of the people are Selfish and Lazy

We are one of the most selfish races. We always think of "Me", "Myself" and "My Family" and at the most "Our Relatives" (that too when we are sure that we are not losing anything which comes under our comfort zone). Never ever come out of this mentality even at the toughest situation our neighbor is facing. I mean, when he is fighting against evils or corrupt babus or power politics. So, he does the same in return, when we are trapped in some other similar situation? We always think of our benefit rather than benefiting the society as a whole. Selfish and lazy man is the one who is more corrupt than anyone else. Lazy (to the core) in a sense to take any action against the atrocities he or his loved ones are facing. It is someone outside has to come and wake him up to fight against the atrocities. 

Vedas taught us "Vasudaiva KutuMbakam" (The whole universe is my family) but we hardly practice it. It doesn’t mean that we have to leave all that we posses and stand for all social causes. No, stand for just one key social issue and mobilize people for the same cause. Success will be ours. Unless we sacrifice our selfish thinking to an extent the big social change is just a dream.

Reason 3 - Entertainment is Primary

With time our priorities have also changed. Till few years ago, social responsibility was primary but now it is changed to entertainment. In the name of fun and entertainment we are touching the heights of absurdity. Youth are served glittering fantasies and detached from their strong values slowly. Once the youth is shown wrong path, it is tough to bring them back. Value based entertainment plays an important role in social restructuring.

Reason 4 - Comfort is at Apex

We always try to find the comfort zone around and resist struggle. The addiction of comforts is so high that we cannot feel the pain of others. Say, there is bomb blast in Mumbai, we say, it is very unfortunate and bad thing to happen and we forget it, thinking that we are still safe in the city where we are. When the same massacre/tragedy happens in our city then we empathize ourselves by saying that we are safe in our home. This cycle of getting into the comfort zone from other city to our own and finally to our home speaks about the narrow mindedness. Then who knows how long we are safe. This mentality is due to the flow of more money in the market as well as in the hands of people. That provides independence of thinking. Most of the time it is unguided or immature thinking will result into unimaginable consequences. There is a saying in India which goes like, “Jyada paisa dimag thikane nahin rehane deta hai bhai”. But, still we won't come out of our comfort zone and take a step. If this attitude continues God save our country!

Reason 5 - Tolerance = Coward

By nature we Indians are peace lovers. That is really admirable. But, problem is, we are tolerant to the core. By "to the core" I mean here is we act dumb, deaf, blind and dead most of the time. We do not react to any bad thing till the sword hangs on our head. We have several instances in our history, when people revolt after a limit. Take 2 main epics "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" themselves as example. Even during that period, they fought against powers after losing all limits of tolerance. Our problem is, we do not know limits of our tolerance. After a limit, tolerance can be considered to be an act of cowardice and hypocrisy. That is an advantage for our enemy. Let us first set a tolerance limit for ourselves, which is good to be called "Lakshman Rekha" and then take on the future action.

Reason 6 - Fear of Money and Power

Yes, this is most discussed reason as well as most accepted reason for not having revolution. We believe that moral values, ethics and integrity have a price associated and can be bought by paying money. If not, power can shut them by using unhealthy, unlawful tactics. The answer for this is "Unity", that too Sustained Unity and fighting spirit against all diversities and adversities. None can stop the change! 

Reason 7 - No values, No Goal

Rather than blaming illiteracy, it is lack of love for the nation, which is the main reason for subdued social revolution. Why, I say so is because, most of the people involved in all illegal and fraudulent activities are literate. Then what is lacking is values. We might be having values and goals at individual level but we miss them on social or national forum. I believe the reason is we forgot the contribution of our freedom fighters, social workers and plight they underwent. We thought that this independence they gifted us is just for enjoyment than to nurture it with all goodness for our future generation.

Don't think that whatever we earned is because of our hard work. Yes but No, because our very existence is due to our nation. To the outer world we are known as Indians then the employee of so and so company or resident of so and so locality or owner of so and so car. So, it is mandatory for us to take on some social/national responsibilities as well to bring a social change. Unless we give this a serious thought and labor, it is highly impossible to expect a considerable change.

Reason 8 - Patriotism is out dated

Yes, exhibiting patriotism is considered to be over / out dated. Remembering or quoting the martyrs of motherland on any other day than 15th August and 26th January is interpreted as bewakufi. What is this? Our own freedom fighters are called as terrorists and we just ignore it saying a slip of tongue. National Tricolor is dishonored by militants and we just re-iterate that the offenders are not going to be let-off the hook at any cost.

Do, we tell any stories of our martyrs to our kids? No. We tell them the stories of screen heroes, cricket heroes and keep them away from politics, thinking it is bad and vulnerable. Is our patriotism just left to winning cricket matches and exhibiting frustration on screen through screen characters? We have to think over it. Till date patriotism is the base of our very existence and peaceful life. "How?" Ask the soldiers who safeguard our borders and what motivates them to leave all their happiness and family and sacrifice their life for a single cause. Patriotism, in other terms, the fire of national pride and it should be there and be ready to stand against any adverse condition in support of nation. No battles have been won without any martyr, so is the case now. Call it madness or Josh, unless it is there in every heart, forget about a big change on our way.

Reason 9 - Belief in Miracles

We Indians most of the time wait for miracles to happen. For instance, say we are playing in World Cup final match against Australia, They have scored above 300. In such a situation the whole country, along with the players, pray to God for a miracle so, that we can win the Cup! We are superstitious. We analyze all the calendars and series of matches, played on the same ground against the same team and we won all of them. So, we are going to win again. God's blessings are very much required for any win, but, why can't we challenge the spirit and win? Same is in other scenarios as well.

We are not ready to take risk. We are not ready to do our bit. We are not ready to even stand for the person who is taking the lead. Rather supporting him we try to pull him down by posing many illogical questions on his credibility. We just want some miracle to happen, which set everything right, else we are ready to wait another 100 generations for someone like Rama or Krishna with all super natural powers to take birth and restore the Dharma (religion), Nyaya (justice), Satya (truth) on earth. But, we forget that God helps them who help themselves first. Remember only a sustained mass movement can bring in any change.

Reason 10 - Why Me?

We say that there are lots of other people, who can take the initiative then "Why Me?" We should stop thinking negative. On the contrary feel proud that "It is Me/We". This kind of feeling should come from inside. Then no one can stop the change. We always hear an argument from the auto rickshaw driver to the top most ministers that, "I am not the first and only who does this fraudulent/corrupt act. Everybody does the same, why you are just pointing at me alone?" Boss, Good or bad it starts with individual. Let us change ourselves, so we can stand proudly in front of our kids, friends, and relatives and in front of our mirror.

These are the few reasons, I could bring to everybody's notice but there could be lot of other small and big reasons for it, which couldn’t have come to my mind at this moment. But, you can analyze yourself and find answers. Unless we come together in selfless group, with pride, josh, nationalism and readiness for sustained fight, (by setting aside all our selfish goals and comforts for sometime) it is tough even to initiate and where as success seems very far.

We should not be just talkers; we should be thinkers and action takers. If we cannot put our effort then we do not have any right to talk hours together on any social issue. Unless we change, the social change is hardly going to come our way and success is hardly going to adore us. Whether we would like to change or continue to be live like this, it is left to our discretion. It is as bitter as that and as simple as this.

-- Kalyan Kulkarni