What Should Be India's New Year Resolution?

So we are at that time of the year again when everyone resorts to making resolutions for the New Year and following them throughout. While personal resolutions have always been very common, have you ever thought of making a New Year resolution for the country? What do you think must be India’s New Year resolution for 2016?

Research has it that the most common personal resolution made by people is losing weight and getting in the right shape every year. Improving a relationship and being good to people is the 8^th most common New Year resolution made by people across the world. But, this year, let’s start something new. Let’s make a resolution for the betterment of our country that would not only benefit us but also our future generations. What say?

What I mean by making a resolution for the country is that every single individual must pledge to be a better citizen of the nation and stop being a part of social crimes and evils. For instance, let is resolve to not take or offer bribes in 2016 and thereafter. If every single individual of the country pledges to this, then our nation can become corruption-free. Isn’t it?

Yes, I know this is something next to impossible. Not everyone has the heart of gold and some people have a never-ending hunger for money. But, simple moves and resolutions from our side can help make our nation a sturdy one and a better place to live in. For every parent, let your New Year resolution be that you will teach your sons to respect women and protect them. If every parent of this generation teaches their sons to be respectable, humble and responsible towards women, our next generation will see fewer crimes such as rapes and murders. Of course, making India completely crime-free is not possible but we can still try to influence as many people as we can.

Let us all make a resolution to respect one another and every human on this planet and not judge people on the basis of caste, creed, race, religion, language or gender. Let us all make a resolution to care more for our environment and avoid polluting our surroundings in any way. Let us all make a resolution to help one another, be kind and generous and raise our voice every time we witness crime or injustice happening around us. Many people in today’s world do not care about the injustice happening around them due to a lack of time and insecurity, fear or carelessness. But, there can be anyone of us in the same situation or even our loved ones. So let us all come together to raise voice against anything and everything that kills our unity and integrity.

If you guys have any more resolutions to share, please comment in the comment box below. I would love to get responses from you. Also, let me know what your resolutions are for the New Year 2016.

That's how our system works!

It was Sunday, a day that is loved by every working professional! Since I do not always get time to watch TV these days, I was watching TV yesterday. And what I prefer watching every weekend is the one and only comedy daily soap, Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashmah. There was that episode going on when Jethalal and all the men from the society go out partying, enter a No Entry zone and then attempt to pay bribe to a police official when caught. I simply love this series of episodes since they are truly comedy and fun to watch. But this serial is something that teaches us a lot and depicts the cruel truth of life.

Yes, just like Jethalal, we all have paid bribes to officials and public servants at some point of time

in life, whether knowingly or unknowingly. A few days back, I had been to the police station for the documents check process for getting a passport. And we all know this process well! The agent whom I had contacted for getting my passport appointment done had already given me the idea that I would have to pay a sum of money there so as to get my work done soon. And as my name was called out by the police after a long wait, I finally went in with my sister where all my documents were rechecked by an official. Soon after this, his voice lowered noticeably and he asked “Kahi payment anli ahe ka?” (Have you brought any payment?) When I questioned him regarding what the payment was, he insisted that it was the fee for the software that was used in the process and he demanded Rs. 200 each from me and my sister. Disgusted with this, I told him that this fees is not included in the passport process, and if it is, I need a valid receipt for it. Instantly, he started bargaining (literally) and finally settled down on Rs. 100 per head.

Trust me guys, I was not at all ready to pay the sum to him! I mean why should I? I earn for myself dude, after working whole day at office. And they are so called public servants! Well, I really doubt whether they are serving us or we are serving them! They get paid from the government for doing the work that they do, then why pay them extra? And, if, as he said, it was the fees for the software, why did he refuse a receipt? And c’mon, these people think people are fools! We understand very well the difference between fees and bribe! And then those who refuse to pay are asked to come back again later some other day (as if that’s the only work we have in life!) That’s the reason I wasn’t ready to pay him the sum but my sister insisted on it since no one has time for this shit every day! And then, it somewhere made sense, didn’t it?

At the face of elections, when parties are making huge claims, is there anyone who can free us from the evil of corruption? Frankly speaking, I don’t think so! When I paid the suggested sum of money to him, a higher official signed on my file. Later, when I questioned an official regarding when my passport would arrive, he said, “It would arrive within 30-45 working days. Leave now.” And trust me, I was so disgusted with this reply. I mean c’mon dude we are not here to stay at this pathetic place but at least have the courtesy to speak with hospitality to people! Why don’t politicians simply concentrate on improving the system rather than making false and irrational claims to people? Sad! L