Our country is still full of great souls

India is the land of saints. This sacred land has given birth to many saints in all ages. These people have sacrificed all personal desires for the welfare of society. They worked hard throughout their life in search of innovative ways to give direction to the society. They visioned for such a society where all would live together happily. They not only preached but also practiced. In fact people learned from their deeds rather their words. They never abused anyone, never blamed anyone and only taught them to live a good life. The rich turned generous by feeling their compassion, their concern for the poor and the poor learned to live a happy life by seeing smile on their face. They taught spirituality silently to all. Spirituality is the soul of our country.

People have given highest regard to saints. They worshiped them. They took inspiration from their deeds and tried to imbibe all good things in their actions. Dharma is the most valuable asset for all the persons of our society. People embraced death for the shake of dharma.

According to the need of time, such a kind people have also shown anger to revive the hidden power of the common man for saving their own dignity, their great culture. Chanakya was the most vibrant political leader who not only saved our country from the slavery but also changed the brutal king and united our country under one banner for making our nation strong so that no one would try to destroy our culture. Later Vivekanand have also inspired youth to be strong to fight against the foreign rule. Gandhiji played great role in politics for getting freedom. Patriotic revolutionary like Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, full of pugnacity, sacrificed their life fighting with the English rule which was crippling the growth of our nation which left the poor starving.

I have been reading many stories about saints, patriotic heros since childhood. I always felt thrill by reading the revolutionary speeches of great man which have given new life to the poor, oppressed class. The deeds of all are just like a milestone to be aspired by all in the field of humanity.

With passage of time all these stories have lost their real meaning for me. I was surrounded by people who only care things which are relevant for their self advancement in life in terms of material possession or for some in the form of name and fame. They always advocated that those ideas are the matter of past and self advancement is the need of hour. Life is limited and it must be spent with full of joy. There is no need to care of others. Such company changed my own view and I also started waving away from my real motto of life and suppressed all these thoughts in my own heart.

But now I got chance to meet, to talk to such a people who are full of compassion and ready to help all the needy always even at the cost of their own desire. There are many people who are serving the society even they have to face many problems in their own life. They forgot their own pain, grief for caring higher causes of life. An amputee forgets his grief of loosing his leg or arm while he was on the verge of death. So when a man starts caring to the mass, he forgets his own feelings or say he stops suffering from pain. From their life it is reinforced that pain is inevitable but suffering is your choice. Such persons always smile and they motivate the youth.

Sri Sri Ravishankar is teaching meditation for restoring peace of mind which ground level of mind. Peace of mind helps to stay happy as it helps in removing all the stresses accumulated over years. For his noble work is respected all over the world even in Islamic nation. Meditation not only helps them to achieve peace of mind but also helps in developing a sense of service which ultimately gives happiness.There are a number of people who are teaching all these learning of a great saint who themselves live like a saint. There are many other pioneer people who are teaching the world about different methods for inner self advancement which helps in enjoying real happiness. They are proving that quality of life depends upon status of mind.

There are a great band of patriotic persons who are sacrificing their desire to build society, preparing people who are always charged to serve the society and to sacrifice their own life if needed for the welfare of the society. There are parents who are sending their only one son to serve the society. Such people are happy and his mind enjoys peace although they are caring about very sensitive issues as well as critical conditions of country from one region to another. They are offering their whole life for saving independence although a very good, luxurious lives are waiting for them. Really they are mad for some cause and that madness gives them strength to relish the real happiness.

Last night I got chance to see the ceremony where a young boy was to march for social service leaving his own parents. I have met him many times on various occasions, but today I saw his greatness for taking such decision. That boy was always smiling. he did lots of work for the society. He filled with compassion after seeing the grief of the people. He was a simple but brilliant student, son of an auto driver. He was university topper and selected in INFOSYS. His family condition was not good and he was the only son of his parents. Still he thought about the society and decided not to join that company. He took a position for earning money which was only for survival and he continued to serve the society at his level. His compassion for society increased to such an extent that he decided to devote himself for the benefit of society for one year. He is going to serve the country at unknown place staying away from his own home. That doesn't mean he is not going to care his parents. For one year only he has to stay away but in later years of life he was expected to take care of his parents as well as society which is not a big deal. In this mission he is not alone, there are many who will take place of him. Really I saw a real seen where a father was offering his son for the welfare of the country. His both eyes was full of tears, but his hand was on his head giving blessing for his mission for the service of the society.

The address of another saint who has already spent twenty years of his life for the society on this occasion was rewarding and full of message. He talked about the fact that a man has to leave some personal desire which could be fulfilled at that time for the sake of personal advancement in life. On the same line a man has to sacrifice his own desire for the welfare of the society. So for the sake of society, one have to keep away his own desire. The man who sacrifice everything for the society, was worshiped as a saint. After western invasion on culture, blind modernization, still people are putting the picture of some saint on the wall and worship everyday. Such things impel them to live a spiritual life, a happy life. Really life should be spent with three integral activities, vyaktigat sadhna, samuhic satsang and samajik sewa.

Religion and Culture

Today I thought to penned down my thoughts about this topic which has been most sensitive issues on this earth for peace. Religion as its origin is always most sacred thing on this very earth primarily concerned for making people kind enough so that non of other human fellows or other forms of creatures have to sleep without food. This is the basic reason why all good people are deeply attached to their own religion and calling some person as religious is always the best compliment for them. But on the other hand, religion as an organization are the major agent of many war on this earth. This becomes problematic when people make religion as a political party and people have to be either this side or that side. This has brought crusade, killing of lakhs of people on the name of religion. The word riot itself is the most deadly, frightening word for any person.

The soul of all religion is spirituality, and so all religion are same, and gives same teachings at the core. From outlook, it seems different and that is the wrong perception of religion by people. They should always draw a clear cut line between religion and culture. Religion is personal and for personal purification for the benefit of all on the name of God. But culture is the way of life which is mostly decided by the knowledge of that particular society, weather, physical condition etc.

This is not the problem of uneducated person, but due to past incidences educated people also commit the same mistakes. I was concerned with the status of so called lower caste. Seeing my inclination, one of my friend of humanity department tried to convince me that Boddha Dharma is better than Hindu Dharma. I told him whatever you are seeing about the Hindu Dharma currently in the society, that is nothing but Brahmin Dharma which is the distorted form of Hindu Dharma. Lord Buddha has only tried to restore the old beautiful Dharma and that also had been distorted. So basically society goes in many phases and it's beauty of a society which has power to restore its goodness.

Later he has given many logic for coming into in Boddha Dharma. Then I replied to him, till the age of 11 I was not aware that I am a Hindu, I have given due respect to all God, even went into Masjid, Church but Ram and Krishna were always my ideal which impels me to be a good person for myself as well as for the society. Can you please tell me that after changing my religion I would be in a state to broaden my ideas? Would I aspire to be Ram or Krishna?

I have always thought the reason behind giving importance to anything in Hindu Dharma. Cow is worshiped by Hindus. But truly speaking, cow is not only worshiped by Hindus but by all the people staying in this region as they know the importance of cow for human being. This is matter of knowledge, culture rather religion. This has been given religious colour for spreading the knowledge, the knowledge of importance of this animal. I would like to make sure that only cow has power to bring better life for the poor. Its all products has some benefit for the humanity. Medicine for almost all disease can be made from the residual of this animal which would be quite cheap. This unique feature is found in only Indian cow and not in cows of other countries. So you can think shedding your own culture. Yes changing religion has no effect as all are going to teach you same thing if you are truly following that things.

Whatever teachings have been given in religions originated in this very land for living for better life are applicable in this land only. So such teachings of other religion would be applicable to the land where they have been originated. Yes there is possibility of some overlapping, no doubt.

Changing religion has no issue but shedding culture on the name of religion must create problems. Can you change your father by changing you religion? No, then how can you shed your culture that would be as bad as giving disregard to your forefathers. It is matter of concern that about 95 percent of Indian Mussalman are converted Mussalman. But how many of them are remembering their forefathers? If they really recall their forefathers all religious tensions will evaporate. Some Christians in Kerala have converted their religion two thousand years ago, but still they are giving due respect to all Indian God as they have realized their teachings for this land.

There can be written a long story over this topic. But it is simple thing that be united on the basis of core values of religion and don't shed your culture but put your life for making it better and better. For moving faster, prior knowledge of path always helps and so culture is important for better and easy go ahead.

Promote public transport and breathe more fresh air

The proposal of rapid transit system is a revolutionary idea and it is in accordance of the need of the hour. When whole world are becoming conscious for environmental issue as threat of global warming, promotion of less polluting vehicle is a welcome proposal. In any city of India, two wheelers and private four wheelers are the major agents of polluting the air of cities. In such a situation, public transport should be encouraged and use of private vehicles should be discouraged. This could be possible by providing better public transport system which will attract more and more people.

Providing special lanes on road for buses are one of such measure which will make life of bus passengers better. During hot chilling days, life in bus during Jam becomes pathetic. Free movement of bus will provide comfort to common people. By introducing more buses with better facilities will attract more passengers to travel by bus.

Transport demand in Delhi will increase from 14million to 28million by 2021. It is well known that about 60 percent transport demand is meted out by buses. But only 5000 new buses have been added during 2005 to 2007 against two lakh cars have been added.

But this new changes needs better traffic management, passenger movement etc. and hence there is need of planning and decision making.

Bank and Muscle man

It is shocking to know that banks are outsourcing the job of recovery of money from borrowers to muscle men. These men are harassing and humiliating the borrowers to get the money. Many a people are not able to bear such harassment and humiliation, a few of them get desperate to such a extent that they are taking their own life. In the latest case in court, one man committed suicide for not able to pay the loan which he borrowed for buying a scooter. This example shows inhumane nature of some banks, a few of them has reputation in the market.

Supreme court has sent many scriptures to banks for such harsh practices for recovery of money in 2007. There is already law which gives power to the banks for recovery of money from recalcitrant borrowers. But banks are taking law in there hand, as they couldn't compromise delay in payment. Banks are outsourcing works for incorporating new technologies and overloaded work. But using muscle men is a criminal act as it is going to nurture a class which are not supposed to be active in our society.

Banks should ensure that to whom they are giving money, would return money or not, especially when they are lending for vehicles. Money spent on such items could be recovered if the income level of the borrower is not enough. Again, anyone who is committing suicide must have some reason for not to pay. Banks are not the landowner of the past or more specifically of the period of the English. Banks should lend money for helping customers and so they should only press the borrower for not making delay, but they should never use criminal means which compelled people to take their own life. Such action will diminish the reputation of the banks and so banks should take care of their dignity. Banks are the agent of community development and so they must maintain their dignity, otherwise they must be thrown away.

Inflation- Devil for Common Man

Price hike of the essential commodities are the major problems that our country has to deal with. Last year, finance minister welcomed more than 9 percent growth rate at the cost of 7 percent inflation rate. The major reason of inflation was the large inflow of foreign direct investment which was also the main agent of economic growth. This year inflation rate has touched 8.1 percent as compare to 5.4 percent of corresponding quarter of the last year. This time, government is blaming the world economy which is on the verge of recession due to food crisis and hike in fuel prices.

If we see the growth as overall figure then it will give rosy picture of our country. But for the even development of a country, distribution of income among masses should be the indicator of growth. As the fruit of economic growth has been acquired by only a few percent of masses, the large chunk of masses still living in acute poverty. According to study by an private organization, per person daily income of 80 percent people is only Rs. 20. Now one can realize the effect of inflation on people of such group. They will not be able to manage enough food and essential commodities. So spending on education is beyond their imagination. So finally, inflation will cause reduction in literacy rate and increase in child labour.

So if inflation is accepted for national growth, then government should take proper measure to stop its negative impact on common man. She should have to spend more on education, health and public awareness. Without that, a large section of our society will left behind which are not the good signal of healthy development of a country.