India of my dream

India was known as the land of abundance. It was rightfully termed as the “golden sparrow”. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the South, Arabian Sea on the West and Bay of Bengal on the East, India was truly a land of great potential.

In the Middle Ages however, our motherland was plundered by the invaders and people with selfish interests. A land with rich cultural heritage was driven to suppression, scarcity and dependence. Internal communal riots, conspiracies and extremism further drove us down the abyss.

However, there is no point dwelling in the past. No system is perfect in itself. It has to be fine tuned by people. In a world where diversity is a trait and progress is a virtue, let us dare to dream of an India that we would like to build for ourselves. Just like a potter skilfully shapes the wet clay to form a pot, we owe it to our motherland to create a better tomorrow.

India of my dreams is a land of opportunity. It is a land free from all prejudices, vices and disharmony. It is a land where I have the freedom of expressing my thoughts without the fear of retribution. It is the land where rural and urban divide does not become wider. It is a place where I can breathe in the fresh air, eat pure food and drink clean water.

Where the infrastructure is well developed and the sanitary conditions are dramatically improved. Where illiteracy and population explosion are under check and where women are not suppressed in the name of religion. Where malnutrition does not exit and where environmental degradation is prevented. Where the basic necessities of life are affordable to all and where corruption does not affect the common man. Where the education system is impartial and jobs are awarded on merit. Where individuals do not blindly ape the western culture and where we do not lose our talent to the developed nations of the world. Where democracy and religion are not misconstrued and where life is fair.

Is this truly a dream? Or is this something that can be easily accomplished? If we turn our backs to our motherland, the dreams will evaporate. A mother never complains, but can we as children bear to see her in ruins? Are we that selfish? Or has modernization turned us into monsters? Are we are that cold hearted? If we cannot be loyal to our motherland, how can we rest in peace?

As a nation in modern times, India is still very young, even though we have had some of the most ancient civilizations in history. We still have a long way to go. Road to success is never easy. Ambition, hard work and perseverance are the key ingredients that can change the fate of India. The fate, however, lies in our hands. Mother Teresa once said: “Do not think what you are doing is a drop in the ocean, for that ocean would be less for the want of that one drop!” I, on my part, swear to work towards turning my dreams into reality.