This is a Global Truth. A simple truth. Not so complex or sophisticated. In this modern world, everything seems quite complex, complicated and sophisticated. Be it in India, America, Germany, France, Russia, China, this simple and sad truth is prevalent. In fact across the Globe one truth is simple does not mean, it is silly or unworthy. I think most people across the World have such a misunderstanding.
Most of us have been to Banks. We are all customers by one way or the other. We must have noticed poor and middle-class customers, either to remit a hundred or two hundred rupees in their accounts or to withdraw such small sums, spending long hours in queues. Practically wasting one full day in a Bank, even after modernization is progressing with lightning speed in every business establishment. While these poor people spend long hours in queues with patience, they have no other way, rich gentlemen or gentlewomen with lakhs or crores deposited in the Banks, most of them avail the facility of Safe Deposit Lockers also for keeping their gold ornaments worth lakhs or important documents or having overdraft or cash credit facilities by pledging title deeds and also co-obligants with their collateral securities worth crores of rupees. They come with their heads held high, some wearing valuable cloths, a few wily chaps in khader shirts and khader dhotis( they are disciples of Gandhi) meet the manager, he with all his humility stands up and shakes hands with them or offers a ‘namasthe’ ( show of respect) to the gentle ladies, and personally and obligingly, extends all help they want and disposes off their problems or needs within no time. This is the trend prevailing in every nation. The poor man can stand in the queue, enjoy the sight and heave a long sigh…
Most of us have been to shops. In the early days margin free markets, retail shops of billionaires both Indian and foreign, the employees always clad in uniforms with neck-ties keeping a smile in their lips(even Wall Mart, the World’s number one retail chains based in America have branches in almost all the countries particularly third World countries and conduct business and reap profits but an amusing truth is that in USA , in certain States like NewYork and California they are not given permission to open their retail chains there but our nation has no such problem, very generous indeed! Our small-scale retail traders are forced to close their shops while the billionaires both Indian and foreign take away the profits. While the rich customers approach them and indulge in shopping spree, the daily wage earners and middle-class people make purchases in the provision stores- nowadays they struggle to compete with the new generation business tycoons and suffer huge losses often forcing them to down their shutters.
Majority of us- rich, middle-class people and the coolies are forced to approach hospitals, both public and private as the modern life-styles make us sick and are compelled to consult doctors. The rich can book their names by remitting huge amounts at five-star hospitals, consult brilliant physicians or surgeons, undergo all medical check-ups, spend weeks or months in AC wards, with all the comforts like television and telephone facilities and can make enormous calls to their friends and relatives either in India or abroad. Like the tourists spending their time at tourist resorts. But the common man, if he has to consult a physician or surgeon, has to borrow money from the local money-lenders at exorbitant rates and spend it for his treatment and if he is asked to get admitted has to pay extra amount making his family life miserable. Nowadays medical stores are seen at every nook and corner of the towns and cities because the number of patients are increasing day by day and the prices of medicines getting to be expensive and unaffordable. The fast-food culture and ultra-modern dietary style make people ill and now our society is choking with diabetes, heart-ailments and other serious ailments. Environmental degradation is rampant and consumer items are imported. Rice and vegetable items thus imported from other countries contain toxic wastes as a result of using huge quantity of chemical fertilizers and insecticides like Endosulfan and Furidan. The importance of using bio-fertilizers is the latest eye-opener otherwise our cultivable land will turn out to be barren in the long run.
The most pathetic condition is that of poor people- the daily wage earners. Whatever be the ailments they suffer from they are compelled to approach to Primary Health Centres and Government hospitals, often they have to bribe the doctors or else they become a neglected lot with nobody to turn-up for their rescue. Diseases, poverty and malnourishment make their life a hell on earth.
This is the beginning of the first half of the 21st century. Science and Technology have developed into unimaginable levels and this century known among the people as the age of Information Revolution. Space Science has made it possible to our scientists to launch a “Chandrayaan” expedition and MIP (Moon Impact Probe) has successfully kissed the moon and the scientists are provided with thousands of photos of the various surfaces of the moon. This is not to harp on our developments in the field of science.
Actually I wanted to write about the inequality in the field of education. Our nation is mentioned as the Sovereign Socialist Secular Republic of India in the Preamble of our constitution. The gap between the rich and poor is widening as the days go by. In many of our North Indian States even elementary education is still a luxury for many children, they after joining the classes, drop out due to hunger and poverty, mid-day meal scheme is not being conducted properly by the concerned authorities and corruption is ruling the roost in the running of this scheme, and the deserving lot are left in the lurch. Comptroller and Auditor General had pointed out the discrepancies in the implementation of the scheme, whether any remedial measures have been taken remain a mystery. On the other side, children from well-to-do families are enrolled in properly run schools and the managements, teachers and parents are always taking care to fulfill every aspirations and ambitions of their children. Whether these children are aware of their brethren in various States languishing under the scorching Sun with begging bowls in their hands. The concerned authorities are not much bothered about these unfortunate lots and they are busy with preparing huge lists of candidates preparing to contest the 15th General Elections supposed to be held in April-May months. Sixty two years after independence, majority of children of our nation are remaining illiterate and living without even roofs above their heads.
Now let us have a pilgrimage to any of the famous temples in India. We can find thousands and thousands of devotees struggling to have a ‘darshan’( glimpse ) of God, and for begging his blessings. Imagine about an information about a VVIP about to visit the temple to have a ‘darshan’ of the God and offer lakhs or crores worth jewels, crowns or idols, the concerned temple authorities appear from nowhere and with the help of security force the devotees standing with folded hands for hours in the queue, move backwards making way for the VVIP to pray to his beloved God to his heart’s content standing at the Sanctum Sanctorum offering his valuable gifts to the God Almighty, thus propitiating him, deriving solace happiness and ecstasy.
Those in the long queues without much to offer to the God can wait, if they are so particular to have a ‘darshan’. Otherwise he/she can leave the queue and return to his/her house and decide to visit the temple any other day.
Money is Power, sir, whether in India, America, Germany, Japan- all nations across the Globe. This is a Global Truth not a Gospel Truth…Think positively!!!
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