A WAKE UP CALL TO INDIAN SOCIETY

A WAKE UP CALL TO INDIAN SOCIETY !

Communism is dead and now   capitalism is  broken . A profit driven world without consciousness or humane-touch has failed to deliver solutions for the worlds problems . While discontent grows and protests take place acros the globe over the  consequeces of political and corporate greed  that is becoming rampant , there has also been talk in the media as well as from some global  leaders about a paradign shift required  in the thinking for the global economy - from a ‘well-off’ concept to a ‘well-being’ concept– from mere focus on income growth  to focus instead on growth in happiness and life satisfaction . The festival of lights  in the country is an apt time to start this debate in India too.

Billion dollar scams  , rampant corruption ,  a paralysed Government , terrorists striking repeatedly ; every hour rapes in Delhi , diabetes epidemic in the country  - all these may seem like very different events , yet  all of them, in their own way, are symptoms of the larger crisis affecting India - the internal decay  of the Indian society arising from a blind pursuit of economic growth  .

As a society, it is one thing to organize economic policies to keep GDP growth  on the rise, but quite another to subordinate all of society’s values to the pursuit of material wealth . When a society is  driven only   toward satisfying materialistic desires  , it is not possible to stop the corresponding evils of corruption, lower moral standards, and nepotism which are all symptoms of internal decay  . Legislation and police laws then are not enough to stop such nefarious habits and criminilisation of society . Instead , focus in a society must shift  towards  “well-being “ so that  the  principles of cleanliness, truthfulness, austerity, simple living,  caring & sharing will come into play that has  sadly gone missing today  in Indian society .

While the Govt and the media trumpet only about  GDP growth , nobody seems to be focussing on this internal decay that has been happening in the country . ‘Well-off’ is being focussed , but there is no talk at the same time about  ‘well-being’ of the  Indian society  . If we could measure the “Gross National Happiness or well-being  “ in this counry today , where would we stand ? While Gandhian philosophy and the Indian spirituality have all but dissipated from the  Indian context , in place we only have a race to amass wealth by any means . The rot starts from the top – the Indian state  or from those entrusted with governing the country.  This internal decay is more dangerous to the future & prosperity of INDIA  than external aggression by a China or Pakistan . Such  decay can emanate only when the blind pursuit of economic growth  is accompanied by the   neglect of  responsibilities by citizens & the media . In India while  corruption and criminlisation is growing by leaps and bounds ,we also have  a range of  physical ailments  growing rapidly  in the country with the diabetes epidemic   only the tip of the iceberg.  Before it is to late there must be a wakeup call to Indian society  & the media must act responsibly .

The moral fabric of the nation  seems to be tearing apart in the absence of an optimal governance system. There is  near total absence of accountability at all levels ;  with loyalty  taking  precedence over the sense of one's duty-– starting from cabinet ministers upto the lowly beat constable ; and  national interests  often and with impunity, being subjugated to individual gains. The latest scams –  the sinking into debt of national carrier Air India ; the  2G loot ; KG basin gas plunder etc are all testimony . The triad of corrupt businessmen, politicians and the executive  act in concert to violate laws and generate black incomes. Black incomes in turn feed and support the mafias. And today we have the land mafia , real estate mafia  , sand mafia, fuel mafia , mining mafia and even upto a vegetable mafia operating within the country .   Only the pretence of a law remains in the country because money power speaks everywhere and this money power is linked directly to the black economy .  A glaring  example is the “republic of Bellary “ whose uncrowned kings were  working hand in glove with the politicians - an unbelievable modern-day mafia that functioned in full public glare. The district administration, the police, revenue, mines and forest officials were all on their  payroll, working as  employees, rather than the governments’ for individual gains . In brief, the entire power structure in the country today  - the bureaucracy, the police and the judiciary that should maintain the rule of law is systematically involved in its subversion along with the elected representatives. The  callous indifference of the Indian masses  and  the corruption that has crept into the media  allows this cancer to grow .

The well being of the  nation & Indian society thus  seems to figure only in the thinking of very few today .  Least of all in the Indian media . Large sections of the  Indian media is culpable in this rot that has set upon this country . Yes, its true we become all that we eat. Equally, we become all that we read. If persistent, vacuous and unsophisticated gossip floods our intellects then, by natural progression, we decline into an intellectual abyss, bereft of questioning and thought-provoking content. After a time such mental processes as thinking & questioning demand too much concentration from an audience completely dumbed-down, & whose minds have 'switch off'. This is exactly what the Indian media has done to Indian society .Where once upon a time media had been a catalyst to development and awareness , today it is fuelling the internal decay by focussing more on non-issues, twisting facts, indulging in paid-news and joining in the  race for wealth accumulation by any means   .  The original 71 page PCI report  on PAID NEWS that was buried under corporate and political pressure , has  been put up on the PCI website  now , is quite damning on some of the big media names  and a sad commentary on ‘quality of Indias' journalism today  “.  Sections of the media in India - while hypocritically pretending to occupy a high moral ground , have  become participants and players in such practices that contribute to the growing use of money power in politics which not only undermines democratic processes , institutions and norms but also the health of the Indian society and the country’s reputation..

A society deteriorates not by the criminal acts of a few but by the indiffernece ,  inaction  or silence of the majority . The primary reason or the starting point  for this internal decay  thus is the neglect of  responsibilities by citizens -lead onto a wrong path by large section of the Indian  media . But thank god in the recent times there has been atleast an awakening & awareness on corruption.  In any democracy , more so a densely  populated one like India , for democracy to survive citizens must not only participate and exercise their rights.  they must also be politically conscious and observe certain principles and rules of democratic conduct . All citizens must atleast vote in the elections . A talk with a common citizen would reveal that the opinion across the board is  “life is made so tough and competitive in India  , with limited resources and opportunities , who has the time to devote to other than taking care of ones own  interests”. True the argument carries weight  , but in the end , if each one of us CITIZENS do not act responsibly , the trenches  we are digging  to call ‘home “& make out a living will ultimately become unlivable for all of us . Awareness and action is required by all citizens. There must be more interactions at all levels of society .Citizens must get involved from grass root level , other than just for religious or political reasons and instead to discuss about the well-being of the society . And media must make this  happen .Big responsibility also rests  on the shoulders of the youth , the educated and the middle class . A politically & socially consious electorate and a probing independent media thus can  be the best  watchdogs against coruption, criminalization of society  and internal decay of a nation .

A Govt pursuing GDP growth is good  for the country provided any factor influencing negatively , the well being of the Indian society  , the environment or  sustainability  is made non-negotiable .We need an holistic approach to development that emphasizes not only economic growth for statistics , but also   well being of society.  If the fetishness for GDP growth  can end and a race to national ‘well-being” can take its place , we can stem the internal decay  of the Indian society .How can our economic growth  be re-ordered to recreate a sense of community, trust, and environmental sustainability, must be made a topic of daily discussion on the 200 odd TV channels and print media instead of the vulgar display of riches and the glamorous lifestyle of the ultra rich picturised daily on our newspapers and on TV screens.

To those who matter in the Indian media and polity and those citizens who would like to lend their ears, “For once, please display some real will and take strong action to save India and the Indian society from this internal decay .” The churning at present happening in India over the issue of cleaning up public life is  good for the country, and we as a nation should seize this moment to bring about a real change . This alone can pave the way for a chance to establish real health , happiness , peace &  unity in India , while we pursue economic growth