Giving As Good As You Get…to INDIA…………………………….16th August, 2007

60 years of being an Independent Nation….60 years of being Independent Indians and yet the Essence of Independence has passed us by.  We are too busy blaming the government representatives, to pay heed to self-responsibility.

National pride and honor is exalted when every heart bursts in pride to state I am Indian.   Look around you ….we are always justifying being Indian --- as though it’s a second class choice that we’ve made. Who are you justifying your existence to, and why? You look outward, to the West, the Far East, the Middle East; in comparison, India comes out, not even second best, but last.  When you, the Master, have no honour, how can your representatives be honourable?  With your every thought, word, action, that emulates another’s, you dishonor India, because you are ashamed to walk the ‘Indian Path’.

To be Independent means to have pride and honour in what one believes, thinks, feels, does….IS. To say, this is my truth, and though different from yours, I honour you for being who you are, for in your honour is my own - That is FREEDOM.

Today you claim to be free and independent because there is no ‘Britisher’ ruling over you, but behind your every move is the predominant thought “what will society think of me?”   Freedom is not only the absence of political dictates; it is the ability to be self-disciplined, independent in thought and belief and action; not holding commonly held beliefs because they are ‘commonly held’, lacking courage to think differently.  Being neither scared of the jeers and sneers, nor deliberately flaunting social norms in order to make a rebellious statement.

Why is the world restlessly knocking at our doors?  Why are the spiritual poor seeking to enrich themselves with our wisdom? Why do the economically rich seek a standing in our home?  Living in India, we cannot see her strengths.  We can turn up our noses at the smells, and sanctimoniously shake our heads over the poverty, discrimination and over- population.  Ask yourself:  which one of these do I choose to focus my attention on, and eradicate?

Co-dependence is not complete dependence on the Government.  Does democracy mean merely casting your vote? I have done my bit – now, ‘they’ have to do the rest… clean the roads, pick up the garbage, educate the millions.  That is power-less DEPENDENCE, not power-full CO-DEPENDENCE.  The chariot of democracy has only one horse…I.

Co-dependence is making the effort to caste your vote for the ‘best representative’…and then to Live, Be and Act As You Want Your Representative To. You cannot do and preach differently. You cannot have excuses and justifications for yourself, and be mercilessly unforgiving with your country. 

WHEN EACH ONE OF US HAS THE COURAGE TO ACT OUR WORDS, WE WILL BE ‘INDEPENDENT’.  When we learn to help one another without selfish gain, we will learn to be Co-Dependent.  That is when we will experience the Essence of Unity.

The India that is to come IS what you and I consciously choose it to be! No more must India be undermined by unconscious choice and mindless habit.  Each moment envision YOUR India, and each day LIVE those choices. When you live them, your representatives have to live them, and India will be the gem of your creation.  If for one year you can take the responsibility of BEING the India you envision, we will ensure the fullness of our collective dreams. India has given us 60 years. The question is, can you give her ONE?

Ellaeenah