A panel had submitted a report to the Union Government on October 31, 1999, to operationalise suggestions to teach Fundamental Duties to the students and citizens of India. It needs to be taken up afresh by the new Government
So much happened for the first time from the ramparts of the Red Fort. A shudh deshi Prime Minister spoke extempore and transformed the occasion into a heart-to-heart dialogue. Everyone, except for his die-hard detractors and the self-proclaimed secularists, was deeply touched as never before. Here was a Prime Minister who could dare to talk of toilets in his first call to the nation on Independence Day. India needed affirm reminder. With half of its population fated to defecate in the open and heaps of garbage rising to monstrous proportions practically in every town and city, cleanliness can no more remain a neglected item as it impacts one and all alike.
One just cannot miss the Mahatma who had exhorted everyone in his famous ‘Jantar’: “I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by itIJ Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destinyIJ In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millionsIJ Then you will find your doubts and your self melting away”. Mr Narendra Modi was sticking to this Jantar in word and spirit, be it doing away with affidavits, mass movement for building of toilets, 15 crore new bank account, massive numbers to get insurance coverage.
Such ideas, plans and programmes clearly confirm that India now has a leader, who has risen from the ranks, understands India and has the experience of being at the ‘last end of the line’. What a change from the last 10 years! Even the last man in the line is overwhelmed and is talking of the power of his vote and the strength of democracy.
It probably is a world record of sorts that any country was awakened about cleanliness and toilets on the occasion of its Independence Day in such clear terms by its leader, who had just began to implement the promises made to the electorate before the election. There is tremendous response, not only from the corporate sector but also from middle-class families who wish to contribute even just one or two toilets. Several school principals, on their own, have expressed keenness to be part of this great adventure. This determination to make the venture a success is unprecedented, and the credit must go to the Prime Minister’s charisma. Once it succeeds, it would be an amazing achievement. No MP, including those in the Opposition, would be in a position to ignore the call to divert the MPlAD funds towards the construction of toilets in his/her constituency.
The call from the Red Fort to every Indian: “Come, join me, we shall work together to rebuild a glorious India of the future!” The agenda outlined assigns specific tasks to one and all. listening to Mr Modi was also the time to recall what Mahatma Gandhi wrote to Julian Huxley prior to the finalisation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Charter: “I learnt from my illiterate but wise mother that all rights to be deserved come from duties well done. Thus the very right to live accrues to us when we do the duty of citizenship of the world, from this one fundamental statement, perhaps it is easy enough to define duties of man and women and correlate every right to some corresponding duty to first performed…”
The most encouraging sign is the widespread readiness of the people to do their duty. Motivated public response could achieve marvellous results. Take the case of resurrection of Japan — a nation that was the worst sufferer of World War II. It was humiliated, devastated and reduced to penury. love for the nation and readiness to work hard changed it all. It developed a robust work culture, beginning from schools. Its leaders made the new generation realise, and internalise, that every minute of their ‘work’ was, in fact, contributing to the ‘progress and development’ of Japan. In India, too, it shall begin from schools, colleges and universities. When Government schools become the places of value inculcation, personality development and skill acquisition centres a new India would emerge. People’s cooperation has to come in abundance. Once they are convinced of the sincerity, integrity and purity of the commitment of the initiatives, society would be too willing to help and support.
Mr Modi reminded the nation of the demographic dividend and, that for skilled young Indians, the ‘world is flat’. The Government promised to leave no stone unturned to provide skill orientation to the youth. When did we last hear the Government of India talking of providing skill orientation to cooks, drivers, geriatric workers, hospital attendantsIJ A chaiwallah does it as he thinks about them, and is concerned about them. This hard-task master reminds every young person how shameful even a single case of rape is for the nation and its every citizen.
Everyone has a role, and a responsibility, to prevent this heinous practice. We must not expect only the law-enforcing agencies to root out social ills fully. If it were so, India would have got rid of dowry, female infanticide, gender inequalities, bigotry and religious fanaticism decades ago. People have to come forward.
A committee headed by Justice JS Verma submitted a report to the Union Government on October 31, 1999, to operationalise the suggestions to teach Fundamental Duties to the students and citizens of India. It needs to be taken up afresh. A new India could emerge as people do their duty and get their rights. The system of governance hinges itself on the foundation stone of selfless service to the nation and its populace.