Democratic Awakening, Youth for Democracy and Healthy Society
A healthy & holistic society is the foundation of every nation. This strong foundation can make our nation stronger & together we can make great advancement in human history. What is a healthy & holistic society? What are the characteristics of such a society? First & foremost, in a healthy society, all are happy and content because the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, education, and health facilities are fulfilled.
All the citizens of a healthy & holistic society rejoice together & have faith in one another. Differences may arise but such differences are always resolved through discussion & justice. People belonging to diverse religions, languages respect each other. They are appreciative of each others' customs and culture & there is no hatred towards each other. In fact, Indian culture is all-inclusive & follows cosmopolitan teachings of the saints.
The common man is not narrow-minded on the issues of religion, caste, creed, or language. Had it been the case, Shivaji Gaikwad , who hails from Maharashtra and famously known as Superstar Rajinikanth could not have ruled the hearts of the Tamil people. There are many such examples. There should be love and affection towards each other. Of course, We should be proud of the rich heritage of our nation & region we belong to. We should be proud of the moral teachings of our religion & the great heritage of our languages.
But we consciously need to be careful that it’s doesn’t turn into a false pride which causes hatred & arrogance & poses danger to harmonious co-existence. Hatred and jealousy are deliberately sown into the minds of people for selfish motives. We must remember ” Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. The society should not allow the destructive ideologies & thought patterns that deliberately create religious and ethnic hatred and causes a rift in society for its own selfish motives. If we follow the above principles, we can certainly create an all-inclusive healthy & holistic society.
This is an important condition of a healthy society. Nature & God has given equal status to all creatures (including human beings). As it is rightly said “All Men are born Equal”, A society that has financial disparity & economic inequality cannot co-exist happily!
This is an important condition of a healthy society. Nature & God has given equal status to all creatures (including human beings). As it is rightly said “All Men are born Equal”, A society that has financial disparity & economic inequality cannot co-exist happily! Education "See what state of society a lack of education can cause!" – Jyotiba Phule Literacy is a crucial parameter for socio-economic development. Education can be the most effective tool to tackle large-scale poverty entrenched in various parts of India. Children who receive holistic and quality education are enabled and empowered to grow into mature, skilled, and qualified adults who are eligible to secure employment or launch their own enterprise. For the poor and downtrodden, who lack material resources, having a good and holistic education is the only way to a better life. Hence, everyone should have access to primary and higher education. In the past few centuries, European countries emerged as world rulers, aided by the 'Renaissance,' which was driven by innovations and quality education. Developed nations spend 6% of their GDP on education, while developing or underdeveloped countries like India spend only 3% or less of their GDP on education. Such low spending on education is the root cause of backwardness.
Economic growth, or the lack of it, directly affects the well-being of a society and the nation. Economic inequality is on the rise all over the world. 10% of the rich hold 90% of the wealth, while 90% of the population holds the remaining 10%. Such wide financial disparity can destabilize society. The distribution of wealth should be more even. To worsen the situation, unemployment is rising globally. Unemployment can only be tackled with economic growth and industrialization. The basic needs of citizens are directly affected by income. Poverty has a very adverse and cascading impact on all spheres of life in a society. How can a society with high poverty and disease rates be healthy?
According to the Constitution, the judiciary must protect the fundamental and human rights of citizens. The judiciary is expected to safeguard the democratic values and fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. If the Constitution is attacked by the ruling government, the judiciary should take action. Laws must be strict, and law enforcement must be rigorous. The judiciary is the most important organ of the government because it acts as a protector against the possible excesses of the legislative and executive branches. The role of the judiciary as the guardian and protector of the Constitution and the fundamental rights of the people is paramount.
The Corona virus pandemic has shown us why we need to make healthcare a priority. Lifestyle & occupational related diseases such as diabetes, thyroid, and hypertension are on the rise in India. India direly needs a health movement to arrest this trend. Balanced diet, regular exercise & mental peace are necessary ingredients of a healthy lifestyle. These diseases are not only related to the healthcare system but also are affected by other important factors like diet, financial status, public hygiene, pollution etc. A healthy society can not exist without healthy, mentally & physically individuals.
Liberty, equality, and fraternity—these words represent the basic values of democratic political systems. Democracy is essential for a healthy society, as the will of the people is the source of legitimacy for a sovereign state. In systems like dictatorship, autocracy, or communism, people are secondary. The Indian Constitution ensures that different branches of government control and remain accountable to one another. It also divides power among the various branches, creating a balance. The Constitution has established the Parliament, the Judiciary, the Government, the Administration, the Election Commission, and other institutions. Democracy remains intact only if the autonomy of these institutions is maintained, ensuring that citizens do not fall prey to the whims of rulers or dictatorships.
In a healthy society, citizens understand the importance of democracy, and such enlightened individuals are always ready to go to any length to defend it.
A nation is not merely a geographical boundary of mountains and rivers; its people and their aspirations form the essence of a nation. To harbor a sense of brotherhood towards fellow countrymen, irrespective of their caste, creed, or religion, is the true love for the country. Advocating national interests is the real essence of patriotism. Those who merely equate patriotism with public slogans are indulging in jingoism. We must protect the people, wealth, and boundaries of the nation with all our might.
Our jobs—whether in private or government sectors—or our occupations, such as business and other endeavors, should be performed with the spirit of fulfilling a national duty. We should aim to inculcate a sense of patriotism and a strong work culture similar to that of Japan!
Social Commitment – A commitment to work for all sections of society, especially the weaker sections, to solve their problems and alleviate their sorrows. Honesty – Performing your duties and responsibilities with integrity, without expecting any illegitimate gain or succumbing to corruption. Fearlessness – Protesting against injustice and untruth in society and standing up for justice and truth. Fearlessness among citizens is a sign of a healthy society. Unity – Social unity strengthens society. One must be cautious not to fall prey to divisive tendencies that promote hatred and polarization. Society must collectively stand against such polarizing tendencies and ideologies. Social Responsibility – Fulfilling our duties as responsible citizens strengthens society. Responsible and socially committed citizens make the society stronger. Laws and regulations are for the benefit of all, and it is everyone’s duty to strictly abide by them, as this fosters public discipline. Punctuality – Being punctual in personal and public life demonstrates mutual respect and contributes to the unification of society. Valuing time is respecting life, for time is what life is made of.
The Indian Constitution, in its list of fundamental duties, clearly states: "It is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform." A country’s development will always be hindered if its population believes in superstitions, false evil traditions, and theism instead of science and rationality. Such a society becomes stagnant, unable to progress further, making it weaker and more vulnerable.
In public life, we should promote and inculcate cleanliness, simple living, and respect for fellow beings to make our society more cultured. It is essential to remain vigilant in upholding and practicing the noble values that our great leaders fought for. While there is nothing wrong with admiring our great leaders, we must be cautious that it does not lead to hero worship for hero worship and personality cults are detrimental to democracy.
A healthy social system is the foundation of a nation, as stated earlier. Economic progress needs to be broadly based if it is to foster social and political progress. Inclusive growth requires both economic and social progress. Without this, development is futile.
As discussed earlier, our society faces numerous internal challenges, such as the oppressive caste system, bigotry, religious fanaticism, theism, superstitions, outdated traditions, lack of unity, poverty, economic and social inequality, and the secondary status and oppression of women. Political or social change demands effective leadership.
In our country, during the pre-independence period, leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel earned us independence. Great reformers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Maulana Azad, Mahatma Phule, Shahu Maharaj, Sayajirao Gaikwad, Vitthal Ramji Shinde, and Punjabrao Deshmukh fought for social equality and helped rid society of its evil traditions.
In the field of education, Karmavir Bhaurao Patil and Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve contributed immensely, while Sant Gadge Baba and Sant Tukadoji Maharaj carried out religious reforms. These leaders upheld high moral standards and lived by the values and ideologies they preached. They devoted their lives and sacrificed personal comforts for the nation and its people, inspiring others to follow their teachings.
Mahatma Gandhi recognized the importance of a healthy society and pursued social reforms alongside the political struggle. He worked tirelessly to prevent untouchability, promote self-reliance, improve public hygiene, and ensure purity in public life with a strong emphasis on morality and truth. To achieve this, he conducted social councils alongside political councils.
Today, the decline in moral values has led to rampant corruption, greed, and a lack of ethics in our country. Additionally, demagogues exploit issues of ethnicity and bigotry, further weakening society. Growing disappointment has left society in a state of helplessness.
People must not wait for leaders but instead initiate a public movement themselves. The common man is the only hope. A people’s movement, driven by unity and the enthusiasm of the youth, can bring about positive change.
We must act now! Jai Hind has initiated this people’s movement. Alongside this ideological effort, the Jai Hind People’s Movement has taken up the challenge of creating a healthy and holistic society.
Welcome to the Jai Hind People’s Movement!
This is an important condition of a healthy society. Nature & God has given equal status to all creatures (including human beings). As it is rightly said “All Men are born Equal”, A society that has financial disparity & economic inequality cannot co-exist happily!In public life, we should promote and inculcate cleanliness, simple living, and respect for fellow beings to make our society more cultured. It is essential to remain vigilant in upholding and practicing the noble values that our great leaders fought for. While there is nothing wrong with admiring our great leaders, we must be cautious that it does not lead to hero worship for hero worship and personality cults are detrimental to democracy.
