Happiness has many definitions according to many
people. However, one popular definition which is commonly accepted by all is
“Happiness is being contended with what we have”.
Now in the above context let us see how our
Government operates. The purpose of the Government is to keep its people happy.
So, the Government takes the same
popular principle of making people happy, by keeping them contended with FREE
or subsidized supply of their day to day
needs which includes, rice, provisions , gas stove, colour TV, cycle and many more. We are the
No.1 state in the country in terms of abundance of freebies and discounted
products, Karl Marx said, “Religion is the opium of the masses”. The new
version of the above, adapted by our Political leaders is “Freebies are the
opium of the masses” and it is a sort of addiction our people are getting into.
Well, these scheme of things have attracted cricticsm from a elite crowd of
people, who condemn that, the welfare measures of the Government, are targeted
at keeping the people lazy, and this “getting things for nothing attitude” has
been a spoiler to individual progress, so on and so forth. The Government is
fully aware of the harmful effects of such welfare measures, but still it
functions undisturbed by these feeble voices, because their intention is clear.
Their intention is to keep the people “HAPPY & STUPID”. It is just a new
policy similar to the “divide and rule” which was practiced by Britishers, in
our pre –independence period to have a control of the masses. The Politicians, know
who votes and know what they want. They are not bothered about the elite few,
who neither vote or a negligible fewhem. It is not what is right, that counts.
It is what that is popular among the masses, that counts.
This attitude of the Government, of capitalizing on
the people’s “sense of contentment” has done more evil than good. It has become
a limiting factor to our progress. A progressive person would not depend on
such spoon feeding, of the Government. He will strive hard to make a living for
himself and live a dignified life. He would surge ahead, in the direction of
emerging opportunities and make himself independent. He will not be a burden to
his family or the country, but rather a contributing person. But this sect of
people hardly contributes 10% of our population. Only 3.5% of our population pay taxes and it is with this
money, that all the Government social welfare schemes, infrastrucure
development and all other activities, are funded.
While we mock the Government for such a
irresponsible way of governing the country, a question we need to ask
ourselves, is, “Are we adopting the same pattern in our family life?”. Every
family is a small unit of Government, where you play the role of the leader of
the family. Now, just think. Are your actions in the direction of making your
children strive to progress or we are just allowing them to sit back and enjoy
the comforts, that you are offering them. Are we spoon feeding them or making
them to go in search of their own food? Are we limiting their progress by
excessive pampering or are we pushing them towards finding new horizons? Are we
keeping them timid, by overprotecting them or allowing them to face the
competitive world and just being there to back them up?
It is our responsibilty to help our children,
aspire for big things in life, make them independent, teach them the rewards of
labour, make them strive towards a goal and help them achieve it. The role of a
parent should therefore, only be an supportive role. Let them not bask too much
in your warmth that they fail to understand the harsh realities of life. Show
them the path and let them take strides of progress and bring pride to you and
our nation.
Let them not find happiness, through contentment,
but through progressive realisations of life’s worthy goals.
Happy Reading,
D.Senthil Kannan
Article dated Mar'11
No comments:
Post a Comment