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INDIA EMPOWERED TO ME IS

Saying no to blame culture, yes to courage & change

 

SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR, SPIRITUAL TEACHER

 

To me, India is empowered when at least 80 per cent of

its people are empowered. As most of India's

population live in rural areas, just a few urbanites

being empowered will be unfortunate for this country.

India will be truly empowered when people at the

grassroots start feeling confident about themselves,

their way of life, their tradition and their language.

 

A Frenchman is proud of being French or speaking

French, but here in India for a Kannadiga, Telugu,

Maharashtrian or Tamilian, pride depends on how well

versed he or she is in English or any other foreign

language. Their pride is in eating pizzas, owning

branded jeans and shoes, and the foreign trips they

make.

 

There is nothing wrong in adopting good things from

other cultures. The problem is, creativity and

entrepreneurship dies out completely when you don't

take pride in your own culture and lose self-esteem.

 

The most effective yardstick of empowerment is the

willingness of people to take responsibility. We need

to move away from the blame culture. Instead of

blaming the elected government, religious leaders,

police and even the weather, people need to take

responsibility for creating not just a prosperous but

a happy society as well.

 

Many societies in the world are prosperous, but they

are miserable to the core. To me, India empowered

means a crime-free, humane society. A renewed focus on

the core areas of strength will make India realise its

true potential.

 

India has the best of tourism which needs to be

exploited. India has one of the best scientific minds,

most of which is youth power. The ancient Indian

knowledge of yoga is a rage all over the world. From

Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is bestowed with a rich

lore of spiritual literature and philosophy. Ayurveda

has the potential to make India a leader in holistic

healthcare.

 

India should be proud of its diverse cuisine, dance

and music, rich textiles, embroidery, jewellery and

embellishments, which have been widely appreciated all

over the world. As the proverbial saying goes, India

is sitting on a huge pile of wealth, not knowing its

worth. The real empowerment will happen when people of

India realise that they have the power to change.