This
Monday, I found the inner circle heavily barricaded once again, bringing
traffic to a near halt in this VVIP area. In recent times this has become a
rule rather an exception causing immense trouble to commuters. While the inner
circle is provided heavy security the same cannot be said of the nation as a
whole, which burns in the wake of student’s agitation. The frequent barricading
reflects the mood of the nation and we need to open our eyes to this reality.
And the reality is the nation is drawing adverse criticism world over despite
good efforts on the economic front. It saddens me that we are unable to keep
our house in order. The nation enjoyed bright sun-shine and pleasant climate
until last week and appeared to be moving ahead well on its trajectory with a
Government intent on implementing its agenda of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas”. Such
agitation is a setback as these clouds its achievement, just like the heavy sky
and unseasonal rains this week, diverting the focus of governance in the
process. Instead of debating development we are now engaged in talking about
“self-pride”. I believe this self pride is hurt when a handful of terrorists
attack our air force base with impunity to the utter failure of our
intelligence rather than the same intelligence waking up to find “secessionism”
on university campuses. This “self-pride” is hurt when despite providing the
dossier on support to terrorism by our neighbours to the international
community, USA continue to provide F-16 to the same neighbour, thereby making a
mockery of our concern to State sponsored terrorism. This “self pride” should not
come in between if the government enters into a one to one debate with those
intellectuals who are behind students who raised slogans on University campus.
It is essential to identify these so called ‘intellectuals’ and defeat them on
the turf of logic and reasoning. Bankruptcy of these half baked intellectuals
is behind the students protests. Students are soft targets and they cannot be
held responsible for a crime of which they were not the perpetrators. Such bankrupt intellectuals can be found in
professors, writers, leaders and even retired government personnel and judges. Hence
instead of hitting soft targets Government must come down heavily (and when I
say heavily I do not mean physically but intellectually) on such ‘intellectuals’.
And lastly this “self pride” will not be hurt if the Government goes all out to
embrace the students and take step to douse the flame which is fast spreading
to other campuses. Imposing Section 124 (A) of the IPC is not the solution. Youths
are the building blocks of a nation and you cannot “Build India” by breaking
away youths from your fold. I sign off
this post by quoting a few lines from the poem “Kurukshetra” by Rashtrakavi Ram
Dhari Singh Dinkar. The poet warns the youth to be careful of such pseudo
intellectuals who use them for their own selfish means.
वह कौन रोता है वहाँ-
इतिहास के अध्याय पर,
जिसमें लिखा है, नौजवानों के लहु का मोल है
प्रत्यय किसी बूढे, कुटिल नीतिज्ञ के व्याहार का;
जिसका हृदय उतना मलिन जितना कि शीर्ष वलक्ष है;
जो आप तो लड़ता नहीं,
कटवा किशोरों को मगर,
आश्वस्त होकर सोचता,
शोणित बहा, लेकिन, गयी बच लाज सारे देश की?
इतिहास के अध्याय पर,
जिसमें लिखा है, नौजवानों के लहु का मोल है
प्रत्यय किसी बूढे, कुटिल नीतिज्ञ के व्याहार का;
जिसका हृदय उतना मलिन जितना कि शीर्ष वलक्ष है;
जो आप तो लड़ता नहीं,
कटवा किशोरों को मगर,
आश्वस्त होकर सोचता,
शोणित बहा, लेकिन, गयी बच लाज सारे देश की?
Jai Hind!
