Self-rule & self-reliant nation

Looking for supply of materials from other countries to meet the major needs of the land’s steadily expanding masses, particularly food grains, takes us back to the mid-60s when the physically diminutive but otherwise steely leader Lal Bahadur Shastri took over the reins of the government. Although his stint at the top was too short, the nation takes pride in his leadership under stressful conditions both within and outside the country. However, glorious references to his famed slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan from various platforms are heard in subdued decibel, unlike the countrywide high-decibel celebrations of Gandhi Jayanti. Shastri’s imaginative pleading with the country’s diaspora to skip consuming cereals on one day in a week, which was widely talked about and also complied with have disappeared into the pages of history. But, his own norms of morality in public life even as he resigned as Union Minister owning responsibility for the Railway mishap of 1952 and his display of courage as he led the country in the victorious 1965 war are to be etched in letters of gold. His untimely death on January 11, 1966 at the age of 61 years left a big void in leadership of ideal character.

While Shastri has been bestowed highest virtually unanimous rating as a national leader, without even an iota of black mark, both as an individual and in high posts in the government, the nation owes to many other leaders in no small measure for their singular contribution in diverse fields enriching the country’s social life as well as its economy. One is constrained to feel a sense of sadness in the context of the goings on.

Without meaning to deny credit to the present dispensation for addressing the challenges, the charisma of the past leaders that held sway over the masses is grossly missing, thanks to the unabated pastime of mud-slinging by the politicos into whose lap has fallen self-rule unasked. The column-space of virtually all dailies across the land is replete with reports that do not see the masses in good light, barring exceptions. The underlying philosophy of self-rule, namely placing the nation before self has been mocked at by those who have a vice-like grip over society, and also administration, leaving a yawning doubt on who is in control.

The issues of graft in public life and massive accumulation of tainted money in the custody of you-know-who are no longer subjects for debates in all circles. Ironically, self-rule and self-reliant nation, as topics of greatest urgency and importance, have got drowned by media reports of youth losing their life by resorting to selfie on an alarming scale. The nation is required to personify itself and snap a selfie.