Today perhaps for the first time one feels the total absence of patriotic
fervor on the streets of the capital that till a few years ago reverberated
with the same on the eve of independence day. The eve of the sixty sixth
independence day is indeed a moment of deep introspection, where have we gone
wrong and is redemption possible?
Yes it is true that India has over
time emerged as a member of both the atomic and space clubs and that gives us
something to be proud of. The rapidly growing middle class and the proliferation
of consumer goods is also a positive sign, yet one wonders whether these limited
achievements can offset the failures and the acts of shame that the nation has
been enduring with amazing regularity in recent times. Even the latest round of
skirmish with our neighbour gives us a feeling of belonging to a soft state
devoid of national pride.
Mere rhetoric that the nation is
showered with on such occasions is not enough. We have to act and grow in the
right direction. We have to bring back the spirituality and love for all creations
of God that form an essential part of the philosophy of all religions. We have
to revitalize the nation and once again aspire for the glory that the nation
once had. .
There have been many occasions in
recent years when we as a society had to hang our heads in shame, but the one
single incident that recently shook the collective conscience of the nation was
the blatant suspension and harassment of Durga Shakti for an act that should otherwise
have commanded admiration and appreciation of the nation. The triumph of evil
over righteousness that we had sadly and silently been witness to suddenly
acquired a new dimension with the governance machinery brazenly conniving with
those who loot and plunder. The uproar has died down and the brazenness continues.
Notwithstanding the rapid downslide
of moral values in the fabric of the society, it remains the duty of the governments to abide by raj
dharma, yet it is obvious that self gratification by the powers that be has taken
the upper hand over principles of justice and equality.
A recent news item about the prime
minister of Norway driving a taxi to assess the pulse of his constituents
should indeed be an eye opener for the mandarins of this forever developing
nation, the constituents of the sarkari machinery of which regard themselves as
rulers and not servants of the society that they actually are. This distorted
mindset has to change much before the nation starts changing for the better.
Abject poverty, failed governance, rotting
infrastructure, rampant corruption, delayed justice and a rapid downslide of
moral values fills the heart with anguish on this eve of the sixty sixth
anniversary of the independence day.
The India of today is a nation far
removed from the ideals that it held close to its heart while striving for self
rule. It is obvious that the system of checks and balances instituted by the
british and unfortunately perpetuated even during self rule led to the inspector
raj that successfully brought the nation to its knees. The social structure
that ultimately emerged is bereft of values of any kind and service, despite
the piety it evokes has degenerated to service of the self cutting across the
bureaucratic and political spectrum throughout the length and breadth of the
nation.
Durga Shakti therefore faced the
consequences of her action, an action that would have placed her on a very high
pedestal had it taken place in a society that places righteousness above evil. Unfortunately
the degeneration that picked pace in the early nineties now runs so deep that
far from being considered laudable, such actions are punishable. Yet the
inherent strength of her name and the radiance that she exudes gives hope that
her resolve to take on illegal activities regardless of the strength of the
powers that (mis)rule would indeed get strengthened with time. This case spurred
by the media has caught the imagination of the nation, yet there would be many
more where honesty is being brutalized.
My recent participation in a course
on Indian art was an eye opener. That till the 5th or 6th century
Indian art was inspired by love for the divine and all his creations after
which it started withering in favor of the sponsors and the rulers was indeed
the most powerful message that emanated from the course. The various art forms of
ancient times inspired by the divine were true creations of love with every
single creation being a masterpiece. This is in stark contrast to the art of
the present times that is driven by crass commercial interests and is therefore
generally ordinary with only a rare few clearing the masterpiece criterion.
It was also inspiring to learn that
the art of ancient times did not permit or promote portraits and the artist remained
almost under cover as art was only for the joy it gave to the artist and the
masses. The practice of self perpetuation through portraits and projection of
the artist however started around the mugal era and has perpetuated ever since
then. In the present times, the contemporary Indian art as they call it is
chiefly inspired by the love of the moolah and the desire to be known, and
therein lies the major difference in the quality of the art.
Perhaps it is the same in all fields.
A work performed with crass commercial interests or for the sake of self
perpetuation is bound to be inferior to the one inspired by the love and the
joy of creation. Be it a teacher imparting education to children, a musician
stringing his guitar or even a chief executive of an organization performing
his role, a performance inspired by the good of the society and the joy of
creation is always far superior.
What a fall, not only in the field of
art is a striking thought that comes to mind. Another realization that dawns is
the greatness of the Indian nation in ancient times, a nation so developed
economically and spiritually that it is a striking contrast with the present day
society smug even with depravity and self aggrandizement. Yet this day we all
hope and pray that the nation would rise from the ashes and acquire her
rightful place in the comity of nations.
Jai Hind!
No comments:
Post a Comment