Independence Day - time to think and reflect

Do we give any significance to our Independence Day these days? For many of us it is just a holiday. Taking things for granted has become a way of life for many. Have we done anything for the sake of our country other than complaining about the way things are? Have we done anything to bring about a positive change in the society? It is easy to sit back on that chair and whine about things that are wrong in our country. However, it is very difficult to stand up and take action in order to set things right.

We complain about corruption and are used to saying that nothing happens in this country unless you bribe corrupt officials. These days we have got an effective tool to fight corruption. Right to Information (RTI) act is one such tool provided to us which can be used effectively to fight corruption in government offices. Internet is a great tool to connect with like-minded people. Social networking sites and blogs can help you to unite for a common cause and spread awareness. Hey, but who has got the time?

Democracy gives us the right to vote and elect people to manage our country. How many of us step out on Election Day to go out and vote? We do not do that and then complain that the politicians are not good enough. How many of us knows or cares about what happens in the parliament? I do admit that at times the politicians of our country make us feel ashamed by the way they conduct themselves in the parliament. This should not make us think that every politician is bad. Just as every cloud has a silver lining, there may be at least few politicians who do care for the country. Why not glorify them to such an extent that others look within themselves and question their integrity? It is our hard earned money that goes in the form of taxes in running our country. Is it not our duty to ensure that our money is being utilized effectively for the development of the country?

After reading what I have written so far, you may be prompted to question me as well? Has the writer of this blog done anything significant for the country before he started questioning others? The answer is no and I feel guilty about it as well. This blog of mine though is one such platform that I intend to use to change that no into a yes.

This Independence day, let us all take a pledge that we do take some initiative, no matter how small that may be to bring about a positive change in this country. If my blog ends up inspiring even one person to think and reflect, I would consider it as a small but successful initiative in playing my role for this great country.