Essays

We all dream. In fact, we all enjoy dreaming, whether it be day-dreaming or dreaming at night- But the pleasures of building castles in the air are untold and Infinite. Many a times a few people sit and casually discuss about the current political and socio-economic situation and give their own solutions about the problems facing the country. I often wonder what kind of a country do we dream of all of us being inhabitants or citizens of our country naturally dream of what kind of a country we desire. We even dream of building the kind of country we want India is a large country with an amazing wealth of diversity. With the onset of the new millennium, historians, sociologists and other experts predict that only three Asian countries seem to be the ones who can or have the potential of taking Asia to great heights i.e., India, China and Japan, Japan is of course struggling economically but China and India seem to be more dominating and promising because of their impressive size and huge man-power India, marching gloriously ahead after her independence, is emerging as a force to reckon with. But a lot needs to be done at home front as illiteracy, population explosion, poverty, unemployment, corrupt politicians as well as bureaucracy are the burning problems of the day. Besides this, we have failed to provide basic life-needs to all the citizens like safe and clean drinking water, housing, sanitation, a square meal a day, medical facilities etc. Moreover, the problem of malnutrition, AIDS etc. are growing day by day. India has the world's third largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS. According to the report of WHO about 2.5 million Indians are suffering from AIDS and if nothing is done in this regard India will overtake Africa in HIV infection.

The India of my dreams may appear impracticable and a little too imaginative to many but then this is what I want my country to be. In the land of my dreams, the suffering of millions and the burden of poverty will be no more. The ever-widening gap between the rich and poor will be bridged. Education will be free and compulsory and there will be complete law and order. Crime and violence will be no more because reason will reign all over. Every citizen will be free to express his/her ideas. No one would be deprived of justice. Everyone will live with dignity There will be equal rights for everyone - no discrimination between rich and poor, high or low, man or woman.

Malevolent and dividing forces like casteism, regionalism, communalism, parochialism, provincialism, chauvinism will lose their identity and roots. There will be no more corrupt politicians in the country. The country will be run by capable and able youths elected democratically. Terrorism and violence would end. Peace will reign supreme. Bureaucracy will be honest and prompt in their duty. Right incentives will be given to those who are economically backward to bring them at par with others. There would be no minority and no majority feeling. No part of the country would feel side-lined or cut off from the mainstream. There would be no child-labour, no exploitation and no one will sleep hungry.

Science and technology will trickle down to every village, town and city. Computer literacy will be cent percent. Science will erase even the least traces of superstitions and ignorance. India will be a haven of scientists. We will produce our own indigenous products and technology The country will be self-reliant in technology and everything else. Every citizen will be swayed only by one emotion-patriotism, and nothing else.

India will emerge as a world leader and lead the world towards peace and universal brotherhood. The country of my dreams will emerge as the champion of peace and goodwill among the nations. The planning of India would be real, pragmatic, well-targeted and would yield fruits. The policies would not be lopsided. Agriculture, small-scale and cottage industries will be fully protected and will be prosperous.

Thus, India of my dreams would be strong and self-reliant economically and strong in its defence, politically astute, socially civilized, non-communal, secular, educated and united. The India of my dreams, in fact, coincides with the dream of Gurudev Tagore -

Where the mind is without fear and the head Is held high;

Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth,

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit,

Where the mind is led forward by thee into the ever-widening thought and action – into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.