I AM ASHAMED

“I AM ASHAMED” said a decrepit man to his grandson on watching the aftermath of ‘Kargil in Mumbai’ on television. Can the series of events on and post 26/11 be an eye opener for all of us please?

The lust for power, fame and wealth displayed by the acts of certain sects of responsible people was disgraceful to the core. We know that a person who gives away his life for the motherland is said to attain immortality. Why then is his soul being treated as filth by the mortal souls? Have our souls gone dead? A foreign citizen might get a second grade treatment in another country, but why is he getting third grade treatment in his own country?Can we for a moment pause and dwell within our own selves to find out if we are a part of the problem or the solution.


Ø Why can’t we question as to where is our hard earned money being used? Do we have any idea of where are the huge sums of cess and taxes are being deployed? If corporate India can present quarterly Profit & Loss Account, and Balance Sheet why can’t the administrative machinery do the same?

Ø Are we doing our duty well? After all rights and duties are complementary to each other. Do we ever hesitate to bribe the traffic police after breaking traffic laws and being caught? Do we think twice before throwing a chocolate wrapper or any garbage on the road from our vehicles? Are’nt we adding to the poisonous environment? Do we want our coming generations to breathe in the poison contributed by none other than us?

Ø Why have we become so used to adopting shortcuts? Do shortcuts take us to the destination of human life or to deep pits? As they say, as you sow, so shall you reap.

Ø Why have we become so complacent that nothing but only self interest interests us? Why have we become so redundant that we can take everything lying down with ease first and then taking out our frustration somewhere else? Is there no room for improvement? Are there any locks without keys?

Let’s pause for a moment and do a little rethinking about our own acts, so that we do not have to say this to our grandchildren “I AM ASHAMED”.

Jagjit Singh in one of his ghazals says “yeh mere khvabon ki duniyan nahin sahi lekin, ab aagaya hoon to ---- karta chaloon”. I beg to differ, though I love the ghazal, it’s we who have turned away from our dreams, and not the other way around. Let’s take the first step in the right direction so that we don’t die leading a life full of compromises. I’ll end with a prayer that has helped me through various ups and downs of life:
GOD GIVE ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE,
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN,
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

Your suggestions and comments would be of immense value.