TAKE A STEP FORWARD…

Our table in Wadeshwar was very noisy. Old school friends were meeting after a long time. Subjects kept on changing tracks continuously. Amongst was an ex-NDA Cadet, Prathamesh Apte, who is currently completing his training in IMA-Deheradun. He was narrating his thrilling and unique experiences. We were awestruck! So much of hardship, mental as well as physical stress with extreme discipline. But, he told us, PATRIOTISM gave them the strength to overcome this hectic schedule and pumped ‘josh’ in them. We are proud of our friend and certainly have a real respect for him in our hearts! That evening flew off quickly, and was a memorable one..
At night when I relaxed on bed, my mind kept on asking questions relentlessly. Why Prathamesh stands out amongst us? What’s special in him? He has created a different niche in the society. He is looked upon as role model by school students and their parents. Even in our school he gains a never before appreciation from teachers. WHY??? For few minutes my mind went blank. I couldn’t find any answers..
The next moment I realized that the answers were in my questions! The society around us is striving hard to attain self-security in all respects. People are identifying themselves as separate, isolated souls, and thus want to satisfy their growing needs which aren’t the basic needs (those are greed)! No one wants to heal wounds of others and at the same time wants to remain woundless. Willingness to help poor and needy people is dropping down. Though we realize help is required, helping hand is not being extended, and this help will surely change the situation! Some people keep a very clean approach “others are poor that’s their problem; they are living bad lives due to poverty. As I pay (heavy?) taxes, its not my job to help them. Government is responsible and must take a strong initiative”. This means majority of the society is flowing in a steady streamline aiming materialistic pleasures. Prathamesh has stepped aside this routine streamline and hence is making a different mark! That’s why he is so extraordinary and hence a respectable human being. But just by appreciating his step, or by giving a pat on his back, will the situation change? It’s easy to say that ‘you are doing a great job, keep it up’, for people flowing away from moral values. Why don’t these people work on similar lines? Why do they run to materialistic achievements? Are they lethargic? Are they weak, incapable of doing it? Intolerant? Are they cowards? NO… we lack the approach, outlook and we are resisting change. Its an acquired inertia towards change, which is difficult to break!
It was almost midnight; there was deep silence outside, suggesting answers to my questions-SILENCE! I woke up and went near my window, gazed at the pitch black sky studded with millions of glittering stars. Its so refreshing to see such natural beauty! This remembered me of a song from SWADES ‘ yeh tara who tara ‘, which really stands as an example of how one should change the way to look at things around. One such quote I read few days back. It says… ‘I cursed myself when I desired a new pair of shoes, when I found that the person next to me doesn’t have feet!’ I was shocked…this strengthened my thought process further.
“Sanskar” I uttered suddenly. The moral values inculcated during upbringing of kids. YES! Finally I collapsed on the answer. Molding of wet mud has to be done very carefully in order to shape it into a perfect pot. This is missing today. With growing unit families and both parents working all the day, children aren’t getting good ‘sanskaras’. They on their own decide what is right or wrong landing in wrong directions, keeping money as their prominent and sole aim! This is because their parents run behind money. Being children they are keen observers and quick followers, thus they walk fast on a misguided, wrong path living a self-centered life!
Has everything finished? Can’t we do anything to improve this situation? Is everything running out of hands? Absolutely not! Its responsibility of today’s parents, we – the present youth (future parents) to change this situation by altering ourselves. Take out quality time for children, be with them. Also, set an example for youngsters by working differently for healthy social cause. Along with parents, teachers too have a crucial role. They shouldn’t act as catalyst to drag the students in ‘academic competition’. At the same time just by giving donations you can’t help poor people. More than that, dedication and time is needed at this moment, a huge manpower is much needed to initiate a change. Its said that, ‘Man isn’t intelligent by answering all the questions, but by being open to all the questions’. So let us end our pseudo ignorance, lets be open to all problems, let us take step forward..Together!