CHARACTER BUILDING IS NATION BUILDING

                     

“ Neither the money nor the fame , but it’s the character, that cleaves it’s way through the adamantine walls of difficulties”  said Swami Vivekananda ,while explaining the importance of a strong character to his disciples in 1894. So, to understand, what is a “character”, if I look up the exact meaning in an oxford dictionary, it has a one pain statement “Mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”. But then what does it mean in the physical world. How do I feel and understand it. I feel  “It’s the inner strength of a person that always allows him chose a Right path even under the most trying and testing circumstances”.Yes Gentlemen, this is, what is called a character of a person.

                           Remember, we are not born with a character, all of us are born with basic animal instincts. The character is developed over the years of learning at home, school and society in large. It’s a learnt behavior and a habit. We are only responsible for the choices we make to build our character. So if this be true, that choices build the character, then today as a nation where we stand is a reflection of choices each one of us has made to build his character and that of a nation as a whole.

                       We must understand each person has a central character, It is his Swaadharma, and each nation has collective Swadharma.  Indian culture has always laid lots of importance to Swadharma, ie doing ones own duty unmindful of results. Even in Bhagwath  Geeta  lord Krishna asked Arjun in  the middle of the  battle field  to do his swadharma, he said " ....

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                          Any civilization in the world is known by the kind of  people that live in it. The Romans were known for order and discipline, and Rajputs as a race were known for their courage, valour and love for the mother land. I must tell you that, there were times in the history when our nation was a great nation and it contributed to the worlds economy. The Harappan seals were found in the Rome and Greece are nothing but the testimony to the fact  that we traded across the continent even 5000 years ago. It was only, when this peace loving nation was invaded by the foreign rulers and it served more than 200 years under the colonial empire, that we fell in to the trap of poverty and corruption.

                          But we must not forget that we are a land of Heroes like Rama, Krishna and Guru Gobind singh and saints like Gautam Buddha and Guru Nanak Dev. It is not important whether   Ram ever existed or not or Krishna ever walked this planet to explain Bhagwath Geeta, But the cardinal fact  is that the people of this country worship, admire such characters. If India were to regain its position ,it’s greatness in the world it has to produce men of such character.

           

                          It can be safely stated that anything and everything good that any nation in the world stands for, is the sum total of the values of the people living in it. So if this be true the let us look at ourselves as a nation. If, we were to look at the Global Perceived corruption Index, India, as a nation ranks 85^th out of survey of 175 Countries with a score of 38 points, what is more shocking and disturbing is our consistency at this position for past one decade. We have marginally improved from 90^th to 85^th in last 10 years. 

                      At Poverty index  even after 60 years of independence, 1/3 rd of population still lives Below Poverty Line and we are ranked 70^th among survey of 162 countries further to add on, in recently concluded UN development Report on HDI (human development index) based on the life expectancy, MDP(multi dimensional poverty) India is ranked 135^th.  

                    Well, I am not giving out these figures to scare you, but to wake you up. It’s an awakening call, how much more, as a nation, will we  go down. It's time to look with in and we all will have to take collective responsibility for it.

                     If, I were to ask you who is to be blamed for all this, most of us rather all of us would palm off the responsibility to our political leaders. In that case let me ask you another question, where are these leaders born out from  after all we have chosen them. In a democracy like India, when I had the power to vote, I did not have character strong enough to overcome my cast and religion differences  to vote for the right person, then how do I expect to see a change. So if as a nation we have strong character, we will then have leaders with Nishkaam karma. It’s also said in Geeta that what ever shresta’s do( shresta here mean leaders or prominent personalities ), so will others do. So now we see it’s hand in glove, what leaders do is a true reflection of what people want them to do.

                      Here, let me quote you another example of Japan, post world war II their economy was in shambles, but people of Japan have a spirit, to compromise short term personal gains for the sake of long term gains of their country. Why do you think Toyota manufactures 3 times the cars per employee per year, as compared to one of the largest car manufacturing companies like Ford and General Motors. Well the answers are well known to all of us, it’s the values and respect for work.

                        Let me once again take you to the words of Swami Vivekananda, he rightly said “No country is ever great or good because of it’s Parliament, but because it’s men are great and good”. Now, let us suppose, Govt was to give you every thing you wanted, but then gentlemen let me ask you , where are the men who would deliver your demands.

            So to bring in this change, in my opinion, Education is the best tool to achieve long term success in Nation Building through character building, only thing we need, is to realign our national education policy  to focus on core values and character building schemes like  Bhatrat Scouts and Guides and National Service Scheme NSS are required to be given impetus.

                  All the Uniformed forces in this regard have lot to offer,  like army inducts its personals at any very early stage and then through the structured training, focus on core values like Imandari, Wafadari, izzatnand and nation before self.  No wonder, why this man stands tall, even at the -30 degree on the peaks of Peer Paanjal ranges to deter the enemy. He is no ordinary man , he is a man of substance and character build through military training and education. As a result Armed forces as an institution retain max credibility in the society. 

                    Let me tell you there are no formulas to would work and overnight and we all will have “The Character”, for it to happen, each one of us will have to play his role. AS a Parent and as a society, we are the foundation of this program of nation building. Gandhi Ji rightly said “ Be the change you want to see in others”. You be the epitome of character and let me then assure you, nothing under this sun can stop next generation from imbibing the core values.  For the change to happen, the present generation, yes, you and me have to make the difference and the change must begin from top.

                       With this I would like to conclude, that, Nation building is only possible through Character Building and would like to leave you all with a thought, let’s not only preach but also practice, actions speak louder than words.