P K Mam
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil but by those who watch them without doing anything.” – Albert Einstein
Our country is a birth place of Mahapurshas, educationists, statesmen. We inherit the rich civilization, culture, tradition and different religions which are source of our strength, resilience and secularism.
We are a nation of 130 crore population. We have made significant progress in almost all spheres and continue to keep pace with developments taking place in the world in terms of technological fields, IT, engineering, space research, agriculture, social media, industries, banking, service sectors, etc. We are also aware that society is changing at a rapid pace in digital world and we cannot remain behind the scene. We have to be in tune with the realities, as such the endeavors are there to reach out to people for betterment.
However, we have also reasons to worry that progress achieved is not commensurate with the investment, time and energy, entailed for it. We are engulfed in weaknesses in building of character, exploiting full talents and proper social environment. We have lost the precious values, ethos and practices, richly inherited; resultantly the advancement is overshadowed by dark environment of rampant moral turpitudes in the society. And there seems to be no shortage of destructive people who seek to destroy others which, in turn, destroys them too!
In fact, the degradation of moral values by polluted and materialistic mind for making fast bucks is due to known evils, broadly, limitless wants and greed / slow judicial system/low rate of conviction in court cases etc. to curb the crimes in one or other forms i.e. corruption, rape and vulgarity, killing spree, ransom, scams& scandals, drug addiction, blackmailing, black-marketing, adulteration, spurious goods, smuggling, hypocrisy, brain washing, using lies & manipulations and what not!
Even, there is symptomatic rot in education because of reported deceitful practices of mass cheatings etc. in examinations and the meritocracy too has taken a hit from the underhand means. Recently, the verdict of Allahabad High Court {U.P} directing politicians & bureaucrats to admit their children for primary classes in Govt schools so as to feel the pathetic condition of functioning of schools and Vyapam scandal in MP is an eye opener. Sadly, it is only fair that common people are tempted to indulge in unethical practices because children of high echelon of society too are engaged in that cheat. Demanding and accepting of bribe from top is possibly such an ingrained habit that it has become something of a tradition.
Further, due to magnified exposure of any such ugly episode by the print and electronic media, it is difficult to reconcile with the horrifying incidents and for “not-yet fully prepared society” to face fallouts or protect them against evil deeds from anti social elements. All these reports are disturbing which shake one’s beliefs and conscious because of powerful impact being left in minds especially in youths.
Then to expect the justice for the petty or grave crimes, we have to wait for indefinite time – from years to decades and even decades to half century! Till such time, new types of crime take birth. There is no fear of sentence/putting criminals behind the bars, for damage caused to victim and society, as the punishment inflicted upon is not timely and deterrent. Even criminals are crying for justice – but do not realize what they did! No humiliation. No stigma. No forfeiture of ill-gotten assets due to difficulty in recovery etc. Even, Charles Sobhraj – French citizen – international smuggler and hardened criminal, on being arrested, confessed that he had desired to face sentence in India only because of flexibility in legal system. And we did not fail to ensure his desired exit!
CHANGETH SOCIAL ORDER
Apparently, the definition of moral & social values has altogether changed because of new concept of modernity propagated like: glorifying objectionable Ads on TVs under the garb of marketing campaigns/ on line dating services/ stay-in live-in-relationships/ legalization of gay rights & same sex marriages/staging events go-topless pride parade/ transgender rights (happened recently in US and other European countries). Then, the cases of strange demand of love in digital age/ sexual abuses and violence on women, kids, children or hurling obscenities, irrespective of age consideration/ minimizing the scope for patronage to limit corruption in system are on increase than ever before. What was earlier considered dishonorable or immoral has more acceptability today. The incapability of Govt. to place checks and balances for eradicating social evils like ,open access of porno sites is another challenge as we saw that how Govt. was forced by the liberals to back track the ban imposed for reasons of un-implementable or irrelevant or hypothetical!
In effect, the impact of known evils is spreading like contagious disease in society and virtually eating its vitals. We want results but we do not want to work for it. What really ails the society is erosion of social & moral values and building of character which is now becoming a breeding ground for anti social elements. Relationship has become transactional more than devotional Rather, new generation is required to pay price for which they cannot be blamed much due to our having left behind legacy of moral degradation, as nothing visible is done to check menace. Importantly, for any real change to happen, not merely laws but also sweeping change in mind-sets, attitude at all levels, need to be there.
WAY FORWARD
The time has come to give due importance to building character, imparting awareness and knowledge of sacred scriptures, so as to imbibe moral, social and spiritual values of life which are on the wane when people remain confined with hunting their own self interests at the cost of public interests by degrading the system, procedures, rules and regulations. A public cry is needed to bring change. The need to move from the outer to inner life, to co-ordinate the scientific temper and the value based approach and to restore the efficacy of our ancient ethical, cultural and spiritual perspectives is needed. Remember, if in one area we are working vigorously for ourselves in the right direction but in another area we go on working in the opposite direction, then naturally our right efforts will be unproductive, because we may be undoing what we are trying to do.
Let us all work together to make the society free from becoming safe heaven/breeding ground of anti-social elements in the interest of national integration, stabilization and more importantly raise the values of life of people in our country. The social media and technology are powerful tools in the hands of the young and they are capable of making these ideals a habit in heart and minds and gradually transform the moral core of public life. Our educational institutions/media/ society need to inculcate leadership quality, sense of responsibility, discipline in way of life, humanity, self less service, self-censorship, social harmony, belonging, and commitment. And charity begins at home!
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