So, Where Shall We Go?

हमको मन की शक्ति देना मनविजय करें ,
दूसरो की जय से पहले ख़ुद को जय करें ।।

Discussions among friends about joining a ngo, or doing something for somebody except ourselves, again instigated within me a sense of guilt and shame, alongwith the confusion and plethora of choices that my ignorance bestows me with.

Firstly, what principle should one follow? Greater good of the society. Or good for an individual.
Work with a local organization with greater impact on 2 children for 10 years, or work towards 'upliftment' of 1000 slum dwellers? Be a part of an NGO, which I know is minting money and paying huge salaries out of the donations received, or be a part of a voluntary org where there is no funding, no salary?

Listen to the speech made my Mr. Manmohan Singh, its like a poem. Sung with great rhythm, melody and hope. The optimism in his voice is enchanting. Then come the ideas I have been developing. Remember Deccan Airways? Rs. 300 a ticket? Why did they rise to 1000? Now, tribals in maharashtra cannot afford the same. Just because the government needs that 100 % tax on aviation. Nice.

Such incomprehensive and non-complimentary policies will not only harm the nation, but not justify his speech. Now, coming to the point of development. Discrimination and Development.
Of whom? Economic Growth, development, social service, infrastructure, standard of living, basic education, social awareness, healthcare, sports, blah blah. Ring a bell?

Abhinav Bindra. Doing the nation proud. Why the showers of laudes and cash prizes on him? Isn't he already a filthy rich man with assets of around 200 crores? Is it such a great achievement? The sportsmanship, yes. The spirit, no. I find the spirit better in my housemaid, who works at my house for Rs. 400 per month, and sends her kids for monthly private schooling of Rs. 1000, + tutions worth Rs. 300. Imagining the plight?

अमीरी है सितारा गरीबी है एक आँसू ...

Externalizing resources, distributing electricity for exorbitant prices (Reliance prices per watt are amazingly and foolishly high), Jammu Kashmir foolishness, the naxalite furore, Rang de basanti emotion, Hakeekat?

Policy making, being a volunteer, be an activist, be part of the local political organization, start a small school, be a social entrepreneur, start a company adding value to millions, be a social consultant.

What is the optimal path?
With a noble cause, can power still remain pure?
Are means to reach an end justifiable?
Yuva, RDB, Lakshya, Haasil, Shool, Satya, Munnabhai - Give some pointers.

So, a recent survey somewhere enlightened me: For every Rupee used for implementing a social project, Rs. 25000 is spent for getting that money, paying salaries to the officials involved, infrastructure etc. Horrendous?

I once visited Dr. Apte's house in a village near Solapur to see his self-sustainable house, with a farm growing everything to eat, a life without electricity, everything natural. (Dr. Apte is an agriculturist, worked for the government for 20 years) We stayed there for 2 days one night. We were around 20 of us from different parts of Maharashtra, forming a group called Nirmaan. Mr. Apte was a very well educated man and a man of words. He explained every little detail of his Gandhian following and the injustice to the farmers due to the price controls, while inflation kept on growing, which an urban person can never understand on his own. There was an AIR journalist there, from Bombay, who was talking to us and discussing the same. So, when I explained my views about things, IITB, resources and my future plans, politics etc, she had one question to ask: Why have iitians come here to this village? I was convinced to give her a piece of my mind, but then decided to control. I still regret that moment. Why can't I know more about India's villages?

Intellectual discussions, Planning, projecting, and estimating the effects of a particular thing on a particular case. Required. Though also required is the further implementation. Patience. Dare Devilry. Men and women of Courage. Or be strong enough, powerful enough and rich enough to have an impact. This seems so hypocritic.

Or continue what we are doing, pay taxes, be a good citizen, attend polls, attend the society meetings, maintain a sense of decorum, be a just and honest citizen with a clean heart.

The parliamentary vote session produced such a sense of shame, that we as a people are such. No, they are not, all of us. They reflect us. Considering the state as a separate entity than us. State and Society are not different. State is not for society. alone. State is by society. For society, together with society. More than 2 crore employees work in the government (state and central). The others too have a duty.

Suddenly a humming tone:

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action - - Into that heaven of freedom,
My Father, let my country awake

-गीतांजलि
A beautiful dream, lush green grass and azure skies with laughter flowing in the wind, happiness is just the way of life, everyone smiling at the moment, and a tear in my eye being caught by a butterfly. Me-topia.

Luxury of saying all this comes from the fact that I can still type and earn a good enough amount. The day my house be destroyed in floods, or I become a victim of a bomb blast, no longer will I be able to discuss, or even pity anyone similar. Will Regret my misunderstanding of Guilt.