Significance of the pledge

Principal: children, do you know what is meant pledge?

Monitor: we say it, but we are not quite sure of the meaning. Please tell us. 

Principal: it is a solemn promise that you take to treat all the people of Indian as people of India as you brothers and sisters. You state that you would work with devotion for the welfare of your country and its people. You also vow that your happiness lies in the well-being of the poor and the destitute. In short, you vow to devote yourself to the development and prosperity of your nation. 

Monitor of other classes: yes teacher, everywhere we meet people of different cats and religions. We live together, we learn together, we pray together, we celebrate festivals together, and we are all one family, part of the one world.

 Principal: so you, all have understood the meaning of the `pledge’ thoroughly.

 Moral science teacher: in 1992, communal riots broke out Mumbai. Mass killings place between rival groups. Houses, vehicles, and voluble properties were destroyed by angry and frustrated mobs.

 But, there were exceptions too. In many parts of the city, both the communities are still living together as brothers and sisters. They did not rouse the feelings of enmity during the riots. They shielded each other during the riot period. Some volunteers and good politicians of both the communities played a great role in maintaining peace and normalcy in the city. Police officials worked hard to bring back trust and confidence among he two communities. Then peace was restored. Now, in the areas where riots took place, Mohalla committees have been formed. These committees organize cricket matches between the youths of the Mohalla Committee and the local police. The aim is to maintain peace among the masses and also to create brotherliness between them.

 Peace and harmony are the major pillars of a developing country. People of all ages should join hand and work together. Human chain is organized to promote the idea of co-operation and co-existence.

Politics in India is one thing which has been discussed a part of our daily lives and this is something which has day in and day out at our homes with our family members at home, colleagues at workplace.  Discussion of politics just does not end with home or office it goes beyond it as we discuss about it even strangers like auto drivers, and co passengers in train who are unknown to us.  The bitter truth however is that majority of discussion borders on criticism of politicians and political parties.

In the current structure while the we the voters have absolute right in electing a member of our choice, our rights end once we have casted a vote.  After having voted a party to power say the BJP, Congress or Janata Dal whether we are going to be governed by a single party with absolute majority, single largest parties or a assortment of parties in which the main party might have secured only 10% of the total number of seats in the assembly.  While the voter cannot predict what happens once he has exercised his right to vote, the election commission should bring in more transparency in which the voter should be provided with a lot more information than the name of the candidate.  The following information should be made available made to the voter well in advance. 

1. Post Poll Alliances:- While it is fair enough for a political party to fight elections on its own without having to depend on ally which could be a probable hindrance to smooth administration they cannot forecast the result as there is a possibility of a fractured verdict or a thin majority which has been happening in India since the last two decades with Karnataka being the most recent case.  In such a situation political parties should be instructed by election commission to give their preferred choice of another political party should they decide to forge a alliance in the case of a fractured verdict.  The information can be provided by the election commission on websites which should be made available to the public well in advance.  It is also advisable to have the information provided on the ballot paper as well.  The advantage here is that if a voter knows that his preferred political party is in the hands of a safe ally he can go ahead with his decision and if the voter feels that the ally would be a hindrance in smooth running of government in future, he can choose another political party or combination.

2. Post poll Enemies:- Similarly political parties should be instructed by election commission to list out their enemies or parties with whom they would not like to forge alliances after elections.

3. Political parties to provide list of Chief Ministerial candidates:- Political parties should be instructed to list our their Chief Ministerial candidates well in advance.  As a single Chief Ministerial candidate is not assured of winning a election, the political parties can list a few of them. If there are 5 Chief Ministerial candidates listed by the party and if the voter feels that 3 of them are not good enough this gives them the option to reject them by not voting for them.  Indirectly it would also mean that people have had a choice in selecting the Chief Minister rather than a one forced on them.

4. Defections:- Election commission should give details of number of defections of the candidates against their name in their websites meant for public.  The same information should be provided on ballot papers as well. If the voter knows well in advance that the candidate may shift to any other party then he can choose another candidate of his choice.

While the above points would give the voter clarity which would help them in choosing the right political party or combination, election commission should ensure the following after the elections.

1. Power sharing can be done only as per pre poll preferences:- In the event of a fractured mandate, the single largest party or a combination of smaller parties can share power subject to the condition that they have listed themselves as allies.  Pre poll enemy parties should not be allowed to share power something which had happened in Karnataka when Janata Dal shared power first with Congress and then with BJP.

2. Single largest party should be allowed to rule the State in exceptional cases:- In many cases single largest parties have failed to rule the state because of not having obtained absolute majority.  Even if a combination of political parties outnumber the single largest party election commission should discount the number of seats obtained by pre poll enemies and arrive at a net figure and if the net figure is lower than the single largest party, then the single largest party should be allowed to rule the state.

The election commission may have some reservations in enforcing rules as they may be  bound by some political compulsions and in that situation it becomes the duty of the courts to interfere and pass on the necessary instructions to erring parties.

IF I WERE CHIEF MINISTER OF BIHAR

I belong to Bihar and I know well the conditions prevailing in the state since I was born. Even though progress is being felt in many fields, on the whole any Government has not been succeed in bringing all round change. Even after more than five decades of  independence, we are where we were in that time. We are still deprived of the basic amminities. When many states have developed them and are moving forward for being the best in the whole world, we are still looking for literacy, nutrition and shelter. Let us take a look at some of them in brief.

 First and most important of all, our education system s so ill that we are receiving just Certificates of Completion and we lack knowledge. Education is the basis for all other means of development. The State Education Board has always been unsuccessful in doing its responsibility. This is because of un-eligible and untrained teachers. It is not possible to think of a well-educated student from an illiterate teacher. We always run towards degree than towards knowledge and so we fail in our mission.

 Once Bihar was one of the most self-sufficient State in the field of agriculture. We also used to export our production to neighbours and we received good funds from this industry. Still we possess the same power. The main reason for food shortage here is due to inappropriate toage facilities and supply system. We produce but we don’t store it I good conditions and so it is wasted. Merchants do black-marketing and hoarding to increase rates and so gain more. And the result is rise in prices that even middle class too find it difficult to buy the requirements.

 We face problems in health sector too because of the irresponsible nature we have. Good and qualified doctors give their 90% time to their private clinics even while practicing in Government Hospitals. We often hear of a doctor beating a patient or his family in hospitals. How heartless they are to harass the people they have taken oath to treat. They should be first be given warning and if even this doesn’t work their licence should be cancelled.

 A big setback occurred to our state in field of mineral industry when Jharkhand was partitioned from Bihar. We lost our most rich land and mines and now the condition is that they too are facing many problems.

 Law and Order of the state has always been challenged by protectors of the law themselves. We have all the necessary laws but we lack the will power to enforce them. Police Department is not practicing its powers in the right way. They take bribes and no body can check on them. The same problem is with the judicial system. Cases, criminal as well as civil, are continued for decades and results are made when either the petitioner die or the guilty becomes old. Many thousands of cases get closed in the same way and that’s the reason for people losing faith in Judicial system and following wrong path.

 I too believe that we lack all infrastructure we need for fast development. But still we have a lot and enough for the time being. We can have a very high growth rate if we all do our responsibilities towards the society. When we will start responding to injustice to our neighbours, when we will start thinking that we all are equal in Democracy despite all our differences, when we will understand that our weakness is reason for our failure, we will succeed. This is a democracy and we are free to elect our own leaders. So whatever condition we are in is due to ourselves. First, forget to look for caste or religion while voting and choose only whom you trust to be good to the society, you will find the difference. If you think yo can bring a change, then join even Politics. This is age of the youth and when youth is undesciplined and aimless, we cannot think of good present as well as future. Youth can change the whole world with their power.

 And when it comes to me, my priority would be a complete reformation of the education system and its best enforcement. I will introduce practical examinations in all examinations possible to test the practical knowledge of the students. I will check the power and fees of private coaching and tuitions. I will introduce compulsory Yoga classes in all schools. For Police services, I will fetch the best IPS officers from all over the country to the state. I will intensify the trainings and will check the power of ministers in these Departments. Any Government officer won’t be allowed to work in a ny other private jobs. I will improve pay structure for this. I will enforce a Food Distribution System, common to all. For management of Governments funds, I will improve and tighten the Taxation system. Common shelter Schemes will be introduced for all people at low prices. And when all the resources we have are exploited, I will fetch more resources from the developed states. I will invite more foreign investment.

 At the first sight, ll the actions I want to take, may appear very pleasing to everybody, but when it comes to be enacted and when everybody feel small temporary losses, I will lose support. So always do remember that  it is worthless to speak if you can’t o it. A small action is better than thousand hours of speech. We cannot be good unless the whole society is not good and the society cannot be good unless each one of us is good. It is the darkness of illiteracy in our mind that has ruined us. So wake up and do whatever for well being of the society.

This famous saying speaks of the importance of a strong will. You can achieve anything if you have a strong will. `Will’ here means determination. So, if you have a strong determination, there is nothing that you can not achieve. Nothing is impossible. Everything is made possible if you make a strong resolve. A weak willed person is sure to fail in any walk of life.

Your friend may have scored a very high percentage of marks. You too like to complete with him. But, just desire is of no use. Your desire should prompt you to have a strong determination to realize it. Then only you can succeed in your attempt. On the other hand, if your will is weak, you forget it soon. Therefore your strong will is the foundation of your success in life.

A great majority of people do not have this strong will. At the outset, they resolve to achieve a noble purpose in life. But it is not always easy to reach their goal. They encounter many troubles and dangers on the way to success. Only a man of strong will can overcome the dangers and reach his goal safely. Nothing is impossible for a man of strong will. Of course, often they face failures and disappointments. But these failures and disappointments make their determination all the more strong. With redoubled strength of will they march forward? They rest not until they get success.

Do not you know how Mount Everest was conquered?

Everest is the highest peak in the Himalayas. It is also the highest peak in the world. The Himalayan expedition was full of dangers. Every inch of the journey to Everest is a threat to life. Several attempts were made to climb to the peak. But every attempt ended in a tragic failure. Still many teams came forward to conquer the peak. At last the team under the leadership of Sir John Hunt reached the peak. It was possible because of their strong will.

Abraham Lincoln was the greatest of the presidents of America. Lincoln came from the poorest of the poor. He had no advantages of birth or parentage. He had to walk miles and miles without shoes to reach any school. But he wanted to educate himself. So, he learnt to read and write. He had no money too buy a slate, paper or pencil. His strong will stood him inn good stead. He used slice of wood as slate and paper. A piece of burnt charcoal was his pencil. That way he learnt. He became a lawyer, a senator and finally occupied the highest office of the most powerful country in the world.

Even in our country, we have Mahatma Gandhi, the father nation. He was unique for his strong will. He takes crucial decisions after deep thought.

Once he makes a strong resolve, no force on earth could divert him from his decision. Such a strong will, Gandhi had. With the same strong will, he brought us independence. He could drive away the mighty British.

So, learn to strengthen your will. Your strong will helps you come up in life. It will make you stronger to face the dangers and problems boldly.