Gandhian Talisman Contd.

GC 78 070417 Gandhian Talisman Contd.

‘The third of this socio-economic development agenda is ‘working for agrarian reforms with focus on small and marginal farmers and promoting natural farming methods using modern technologies, and working to ensure appropriate prices for agricultural products based on the costs of production’. India is an agrarian country. Most of our farmers are holders of small plots of agricultural land. We need to make agriculture a profitable occupation. We also need to recognize the important national service our farmers are rendering by producing food items without which we cannot survive. We can survive without our politicians and government servants, but not without our farmers. But we give more importance to the politicians and government servants than to the farmers who provide us with food for our survival……

‘The fourth agenda is ‘working to ensure affordable quality primary school education for all children in India. Education is the basis of nation-building. We have the largest number of illiterates on earth. We cannot build a great new India with illiterate human resources….

‘We need to learn from countries like Japan, Germany and China. All these countries have become global economic powers by giving great importance to education and human resources development. Technical education and scientific development are very essential requirements for nation-building. So is the knowledge of Enligsh language today. English language is essential for development of Information Technology and scientific knowledge. India has to become a global power. She has a global mission to fulfill. This will be possible only by giving importance to Enlish language and scientific development in our education system….

‘In the multi-liguisitc context of India, English has also been serving as the common link. Without this national and global link language India cannot survive and grow as a living force ….

‘But first of all we need to focus on quality primary education for all children. This is by far the most important nation-building agenda. But this is also one of the most neglected areas in Independent India. All educated Indian citizens, especially senior citizens can take up the responsibility of educating one child. ‘Each One - Teach One’ has been a successful programme at many places in India...

‘Fifth of this nine-point agenda is ‘working to protect the life of all Indian citizens and the ecological harmony of Mother India’. Every life is precious, not only the lives of the rich and the powerful…The lives of the poor and homeless Indian citizens are also equally precious and important. They are also children of God and citizens of the Indian Republic…. 

‘Ecological health and harmony are very important requirements for the healthy existence of all living beings on this planet. Mother Earth is our common mother. We need to protect and preserve her health and vitality if we desire to lead a healthy and happy life on earth which is our one and only common planetary home in space. ‘Sustainable development’ can never be achieved at the cost of ecological health and harmony….

‘The sixth agenda is ‘working to promote effective governance and decentralization of authority and resources, and empowering Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, Gram Adalats and other Panchayati Raj Institutions, and channelising our endeavors to contain corruption in public life and Government’. This decentralization, as we have already seen, is at the core of the ENP ideology of ‘Democratic Federalism’….

‘The seventh of our developmental agenda, my son, is ‘working to empower youth and women to become nation-builders’. The Youth are our hope and most precious wealth. The future of the nation is their legacy. Empower them to build a great new India. This is our most important nation-building task today….. 

‘Also, remember my son, Mother India’s future is in the hands of mothers in India. Great mothers give birth to great men and women who build great nations and great civilizations. By empowering the women in India we will achieve great and far-reaching goals. All women are mothers or potential mothers….

‘The eighth of my Gandhian Navaratna is ‘working to promote Responsible Citizenship and Value Education, and protecting the girl child’. Education is the basis of human development and national regeneration. ‘Character-building’ is the most important goal of education. Developing responsible citizenship consciousness and commitment to non-violence in our youth are also very important objectives of education. This can be achieved through ‘Peace and Value Education’ that can be taken up by all competent and responsible citizens, especially the well-educated and well-experienced senior citizens in the country who are retired from active employment. This will also provide an opportunity to these senior citizens to show their gratitude to Mother India for what they have received from her bounty… 

‘It is a tragedy that in India we speak very highly about women, yet,as we have seen, many families in the country mourn the birth of a girl child. Many even try to get rid of girl children, or kill them before they are born. We need to save and protect our female children with great love. They are potential mothers. They are the most precious gifts of God for the very survival of human race on planet earth...…

‘And the last and ninth of this common minimum agenda for nation-building is ‘working to provide loving care and grateful services to poor and old Indian citizens, especially to poor and old farmers in India….

Excerpts from ‘Integral Revolution