Corruption is rampant, unhealthy and rotten food is served in restaurants, drug trafficking is peaking with every passing day, developmental projects are being delayed, sub-standard and not up-to-mark material is being used in construction works, the prices of edibles and other items of day-to-day use are sky rocketing, adulterated food items are being sold in markets, people are throwing their domestic garbage randomly chocking drains and in rural areas, the local, otherwise, fresh water streams and we as a society are not only watching it mutely but also contributing to this mess.
No society in the world can progress unless its members inculcate a sense of responsibility towards each other and also towards the collective good of the whole of the society. Neither governments nor some other sort of law enforcing agencies can make a society vibrant and self reliant though these may supplement society’s own efforts in this direction. In fact the major responsibility lies on every individual of the society to judge and understand what is good for his/her society and what not. The members of a civilized society never make it a habit to raise fingers towards others instead they develop a tendency of introspection. The introspection is the corner-stone of each society’s progress and development. Hiding ugliness is no answer to the ills but identifying it and then trying to beautify it only helps societies to remain in good health.
Take, for instance, the issue of corruption. We always point fingers towards others not understanding that Jammu and Kashmir is a very small place and we all here are the same. We may not be directly involved in corrupt practices but does that mean we are not a party to it. Which field of our life is not plagued by corruption? Whenever we talk about corruption, we just put all the blame on governmental sector, bureaucracy and politicians. Yes, there is huge corruption there, but is that all? Are others not corrupt? What about our shopkeepers who sell things on exorbitant rates? What about the traders who adulterate food stuffs? What about physicists who sell sub-standard medicine? What about teachers who shy away from their duties, what about the contractors who use sub-standard material in construction works? What about journalists who blackmail people and hide or exaggerate things whenever it suits them?
Fact of the matter is that we as a society have proved a failure because we never dare to introspect. We have accepted corruption as a legal institution. Corruption has become integral part of our society. Gone are the days when corrupt people were looked down upon. In today’s society they are the most respected people. Let us wake up – wake up as a society – and decide once for all that instead of raising fingers towards each other, we just look inwards and try to correct ourselves. Self-correction will definitely lead to societal correction.
