Saturday, September 20, 2008

97. 5% VERSUS 95%

The scenario in every field of progress in India, to-day aptly presents the above mentioned ratio of growth, of two clear sections of Post, Independence Indian Society, the per cent of HAVES, and the 95 per cent of Have Nots. The parliamentarians themselves, have accepted this ratio of growth in their six day special session of the Parliament held in August ’97.
If this is the ratio of growth in an independent country, it is indeed mind boggling to consider whether this achievement really calls for a celebration of any kind. What are we actually celebrating, the widening of the gap of the Haves and the Have Nots? Where are we moving is it to the complete annihilation of the ‘GARIB’, under the muffled slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’? fifty years of our very own regime has shown us that, the ‘Garib’ is an enhanced class, as, the spiraling prices are bringing down the respectable middle class, by and by to join or rather completely merge into this ‘Garib’ class. So, in a nutshell, this has been the sum total of our achievement in fifty long years. It is high time that we sit and retrospect, moving down memory lane, to find out where we have gone wrong.
Our laymen’s arguments to prove that we have progressed a lot, are simple and sundry. We often hear people saying that, in 1947 where did we have so many roads, where could we see so many high rise buildings where did we see so many towns dotted with cars of umpteen makes etc., and the list of such great achievements goes on and on. All this is undoubtedly true but, let’s pause to think who is taking advantage of all this progress? It is the same 5 per cent who is taking all the benefits of all these so called signs of prosperity. In every sphere of growth, the leanings are towards the already prosperous class. Who are the people who live or work in all these the high rise buildings, who move in those prosperous looking cars, who affords the posh bungalows, the beauty of the towns, whose children study in public schools, who are the people treated in those hospitals, who are the people found in the places of entertainment – the reply to all these questions will be – the prosperous 5 per cent class of riches. All these signs of progress are being enjoyed by the 5 per cent, while, in the same country, the 95 per cent, are even after fifty years of so called progress, still fighting for their basics, food, clothing and shelter, and other necessities of life like, education, water, electricity and health. The scenario presented by India proves the existence of God, without any doubt, as people below poverty line, here see their own luckier brethren flourishing further and further and they do not revolt, they don’t demand, and above all, they don’t even die, in the face of all these man made adversities.
The question that now arises is that, when will the 5 per cent start thinking of sharing all the wealth of the country with the 95 per cent, less fortunate. Even in the end of the 20th century, a country which still has thousand of beggars on the roads, millions dying of hunger and heat and cold, has no right to celebrate or even think that it deserves any applause after fifty years of independent living. Our century has produced two saints, one in the guise of a princess and one in the incarnation of a saints, one in the guise of a princess and one in the incarnation of a Mother of the downtrodden. Let us learn from them and pay homage to their memory by sharing our lot with others, as, friends, we can never be happy till our surroundings spell of contentment. Now it is stock taking time, and the 5 per cent MUST awake to the right to an honourable and healthy and comfortable life for the 95 per cent of our very own brethren, under privileged section of our society, as, they also have the same rights to health and happiness and well – being, as us. The 95 per cent has grown to quite a size, now, let us concentrate in helping the 95 per cent to reach our level or at least some level of human existence before we further our interests ahead.

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