In an article published in Bhavan's Journal in 1997, Nani Palkhivala had enumerated six fatal mistakes in the past so many years which have brought this country to this sorry state.
The first.
Our greatest initial mistake was to start with adult franchise. No democracy has ever paid, all things concerned, a heavier price from adult franchise than India.I am not aware of any great democracy which started as a republic on the basis of adult franchise : all of them started with a more restricted system and then graduated to adult franchise. When the Constituent Assembly was in session, C Rajagopalachari and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, had recommended that we shouldn't start with adult franchise but educate our people first to make them worthy of discharging their duties as citizens of a great democracy ; but they were voted out.
The second.
The second fatal mistake was to let the population nearly treble, in the absence of any sensible or sound family planning measures and policies. Today the problem has become so acute that whatever gains we achieve on the economic front are negated by the unbridled population growth.
The third.
Our most disastrous mistake was not to educate our burgeoning population and make them worthy of their right to vote.Value based education has no political sex appeal. Our politicians gave least importance to education, unlike Lee Kuan Yew who vowed to make education priority of priorities in Singapore.
The fourth.
The fourth major mistake of our central and state governments was to completely insulate the people from ancient culture and keep them totally ignorant of their priceless heritage which has never been equalled by any other country.
The fifth.
The fifth mistake was not to inculcate among our people a sense of national identity. Indians find themselves totally rudderless, with the nagging question which will not go away - is India a collection of communities or is it a nation; or is India a state without a nation? The greatest curse of India is casteism - the scourge which has spread across the country more dangerously than the plague ever did.
The sixth.
The most unforgivable omission of politicians have been to let the people think that they are entitled to freedom without a sense of duty and responsibility. By definition, Indians lack discipline and a sense of national dedication. The reason why China despite its huge population, is able to govern itself admirably is that they have a sense of order and discipline.
My take
Now, one gets a fair idea as to why anti nationals in this country have a free run, utter punishable things and take the law for a ride. Don't we want India to rise out of the ordinary and become a great nation? We need to strive constantly for it and in the process, be willing to surrender some of the 'enormous freedom' that we have.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Subin had come by about a half past 8 to clean the overhead fresh water tank.
Spoke to Sathyan, my classmate, my Prefect while I was his House Captain, to wish him many happy returns. He's shifting to Thrissur within this year and Anil, another classmate will follow him soon after.
Spoke to Ajith in the evening for over two hours. It was nice hearing about the simple aspects of life, that keep us contended, from him.
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