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We have a rich philosophy since ancient times. So, one may act in any way. Do you wish to simply succumb to the philosophy that this is Kaliyug and nothing can be done? Should this philosophy lead one to inaction or wrong actions to survive? Actions with a good motive -irrespective of the outcome–is to be treated as superior to inaction. Hence, get stimulated by not so old philosopher’s saying “ Arise, Awake and Stop Not till the Goal is Achieved”. Yes. Because of the philosophy that in Kaliyug nothing can be done one may feel no good goal can be achieved. This thinking should not deter one from doing his best.
Long back a UN (United Nations) document emphatically says that “corruption and population are the twin evils of democracy”. Further, the document says that “corruption is AIDS of democracy”. Does the above apply to India ?? CPI (corruption perception Index), Transparency International , theprint.in 30th Jan 2024 confirms the evil of “corruption”. Population is an open secret. Recently India has surpassed China to become the largest populated country in the world—148 crores plus( approximately 1.5 billion ) and projected to increase further. The problem of huge population is confounded by its high social heterogeneity and limited resources. India is supposed to have just 2.4% of the world’s land area and just 4% of world’s water resources but 18 % of world’s population!
With the present huge population, electoral expenditure is huge and inevitable. How long can democracy survive in this manner? In the context of UN document mentioning corruption this expenditure assumes significance. Long back there was hue and cry about corruption in government offices and a senior union minister had to respond to this. He said. “Yes. There is bureaucratic corruption. Bureaucratic corruption is rooted in political corruption and political corruption is rooted in electoral corruption!” Long back a former PM of India had said that of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paise reached the intended beneficiary! So, this parameter mentioned by UN also is confirmed in our country. So, what to do? Simply bear and resort to inaction and only keep praying for divine intervention! / Alternatively, the problem can be –theoretically minimised – if values like simple living and high thinking are imbibed by the population by due preachings by exemplary people. Is this possible? Ancient philosophy did preach so—Dal Roti Khaavo, Prabhu ke gun Gaavo”. But in the modern era it is simply not possible/ And the result is fierce competition and rivalry. How about population? Again, helpless as the existing population itself is far too high. Only praying for divine intervention?? In 1980 there was an international congress at Delhi. Even at that time the pressure of population was felt seriously. One reputed scientist said, in case other planets are found suitable for human habitation we may transfer some of our population to other planets!!
Well, while cynicism may be justified in view of the above facts, we should not resort to inaction but keep seriously reflecting on the state of affairs and continuously monitoring and evaluating the state of affairs.
Is there anything which we must immediately to do? Let there be a desert of chaos. But there should be an oasis of order. That order should be in the “Academic Sector”—schools, colleges, universities, research institutes and other educational enterprises. Because these are the places where people are groomed/can be duly groomed before entering into the mainstream of any public/ professional activity. The way we cannot compromise with defence sector as it would be a threat to nation, in the same way academic sector also should not be compromised in anyway. Let us start making an effort in this direction.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.