Dreaming big is everyone’s dream, particularly of youngsters. Climbing up the steps to reach the top of the ladder- nobody can find fault with it. To reach somewhere, if not at the top we have to have dreams. When one’s dream is materialized he/she will have a sublime feeling. Or ask Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam, our former President who goes on addressing the educated youngsters of the land to dream big and reach the top bringing glory to the nation as well as the whole World.
Some people dream about saving money to sustain themselves and also for the next generation. They dream about flying abroad, finding lucrative jobs and earning attractive salaries. By sheer grit, determination and perseverance they slug it out in oil-rich countries day-in and day-out to earn fabulous sums. Their hard-earned salaries, thanks to the phenomenal development in IT and Science, within no time reach their accounts maintained in their native land and thus the foreign exchange reserves of their lands go on piling up. Their children’s education are well looked after and the latter do not have the need to knock at somebody’s door to beg or to drop out of their studies without the course being completed.
Now come to the subject. The hot news of the day especially for us Indians.
Australia, our neighbour and one of the CommonWealth countries also have a hubris of sorts in declaring to the whole World its reputation for calmness, harmony and solidarity. This country always finds time to shower praises on themselves for being a peaceful country. This hubris has led to a mistaken notion on its part and also a sort of derision towards even its neighbouring countries which suffer terrorist attacks and sabotages at intermittent intervals. During cricket or tennis seasons in India, Pakistan or SriLanka, the Australian government while eulogizing itself for its peaceful atmosphere shows reluctance to send its team fearing for their lives citing inadequate security. It would be wise of them if it is bound to reach a conclusion that terrorism can hit anywhere and it has no boundaries, caste, creed or religion. Even the ‘Super Power’ USA had to shed its complacency after the 9/11 and the Americans still shudder to recall that day even after a hiatus of eight years. The nightmares they underwent that fateful day still linger in the inner recesses of their hearts refusing to fade out of their memory.
Our educated youth always keep higher aspirations to aim high and bring marvel to the country. Therefore it is quite natural on their part to further continue their higher studies abroad- be it USA, Europe, Germany, China or Australia- and the government of India spend millions for the higher education of its students. While going through an article recently soon after the racial outbreak against Indians by Australians, I came to know about the stark truth that government of India spends Rs. 20000 Crore for its students’ education in Australia. The columnist derisively concludes the article by stating that- Indians pay to get killed in Australia.
Being educated is not at all everything. Among the terrorists, there are/and were many educated young men/women- software engineers, chemical analysts, medical practitioners (like Dr Ayman Al Sawahiri), civil engineers, and MBAs (like Osama Bin Laden) a whole lot- a lot of them fell victims to their deeds, some incarcerated and are still languishing in prisons, some well embedded in their safe-havens along mountainous terrains.
Love of humanity, irrespective of caste, creed or religion is the foremost quality expected from each in this world. And for that a man must be a cultural citizen. In fact no religion in the world preaches hatred, intolerance or hostility.
An educated man/woman can very well be an anti-social element, a thug or a hooligan. And if those elements are let loose by the government, they will certainly play havoc with the lives of others or hold the innocents to ransom. Thus a country’s reputation before the world gets tarnished because of a minority. The only remedy being a confident resistance on the part of law-makers thus bringing those elements to justice.
I doubt whether a confident resistance on the part of government of Australia is being undertaken. Mere rhetoric won’t do. Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister and Stephen Smith, Foreign affairs Minister, and all other at the higher echelons must ensure the safety of students, either Indians or any other nationality. Then only the whole turbulence will come to an end. While showering praises on oneself, one must make it sure to remain praise-worthy. Empty promises or platitudes won’t lead us anywhere.
Xenophobia, at times, rears its ugly head in certain countries across the globe. For example, France while Jacques Chirac was at the helm, xenophobia raised its ugly head, that time against the black-Africans. Nicholas Sarkozy, then the Interior Minister and now enthroned in the President’s chair was vocal in his support of the anti-social elements who went on the rampage against the Africans. The aftermaths of the electrocution of two black boys and the riots that followed lasted for weeks in the country are still haunting memories. Now the respected President has mellowed somewhat, most of us do not know why, is even playing a la Ban Ki Moon in the affairs of certain countries. The Russian-Georgian tussle over South Ossettia was defused with the help of President Sarkozy.
In Italy Silvio Berlusconi, Media baron and millionaire, xenophobic elements surface and play havoc with the lives of a minority community causing enormous damages in the form of destruction of life and property. All with the silent and tacit blessings of the Prime Minister himself.
On the one hand, man speaks about Globalisation and in the same breath he advocates for more and more protectionism.
Through which path we have to tread on…?
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