Be the Change..

This is something I had always wanted to write about. India just completed 68 years of independence. India might be the largest democracy. However its major fails are with the people. We meet them every day. The shopkeeper who sells beverages above MRP., The ever so urgent commuter who has no time to stop at a traffic signal., The Traffic inspector who takes bribe and refuses to charge you having found you guilty of not abiding by the traffic rules., The auto wala who refuses to go by the meter. The bus conductor who takes money from you and would not give you the travel ticket as you intend to get down in the next stop., The lazy car driver who would not use the indicator for turns., The police constable who gets a petty bribe of 10 Rs. every day from every shopkeeper at the market duly justified for the protection (dadagiri) they provide for any local issues., And the list goes on..,

                It’s very easy to say “everyone does it., what’s the big deal...” These small mistakes are the ones that brings India down and have other countries look down upon us. We all know it, but overlook it every other time. Everybody are ready to get into a debate as to how they are being fooled by others and how corrupt the system is. But none ready to accept their own mistakes or to change their ways. Today I happened to be at a bakery where I asked for a 2litre cool drink bottle. The printed MRP on the bottle being 78Rs. the shopkeeper demanded Rs. 80 justifying the additional sum of 2 rs. for the refrigeration charges. When asked why he does this, he laughs at me as though I am an alien and says that is how it is, take it or leave it. Every other store at my place does this. One shopkeeper told me to even go and complain to the police or the consumer court and it won’t affect him as he pays bribe to every one of them. Is this how a truly democratic country grows? In a country that has treasured its culture, lived on its morals and known for its honesty and ethics, aren’t we ruining it day on day? No wonder our economy is on its way down. Getting petty issues like these to the consumer forum or any other judicial authority again threatens us with the corruption involved there as well. A true plead for justice is always defeated by corruption in the system.

                People talk about bringing about a change, but always overlook the fact that change begins from one’s self. Take a while to think about it. Better late than never. There is no harm in waiting for the signal to turn green or to wear a seat belt or a helmet. The law is for everyone. I am sure that you are not losing on a huge fortune by waiting a couple of minutes at the signal. People who complain about public hygiene are the same ones who are found Spitting on the roads, littering public places and urinating under every other electric transformer or a telephone junction box. Not everyone have the time to complain about these things and follow up with the consumer court or any judicial authority over these common things. It is better to not buy from a shop that sells way above MRP than fighting him or raising it to the consumer court. Change is gradual and it is ‘certain’ if it begins from every individual. Let’s take a pledge to be the change we want to see in our dream of a better India. I have taken a pledge to not involve in any form of corruption, to follow the rules rather than trying to bend them. have you?