NOT UNTIL I FIND A BROOM TO SWEEP THE MESS WITHIN...
Pic.: Madan Manik
The
best and the shortest way to end violence in this world is to first end it
within our own hearts… Similarly, the best and the shortest way to end
corruption in this world is to first end it within our own hearts…
The violence we see outside is
the reflection of our own collective violence within… And, the same holds true
for corruption…
So, the question is: How can I
end the violence within my own heart? How can I end the corruption, there?
The
other day, I was sitting with a group of middle-aged men. The discussion centered
around the sensational rise of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party in New Delhi. Two of the men in
the group were ecstatic about the new phenomenon and were absolutely hopeful
that corruption would be wiped out of this country, soon. During the course of
our discussion, one of them received a long-distance call. Apparently, it was a
call regarding a big export order, which our hard-nosed friend was now trying
to negotiate over the phone… And, as the rest of us were keenly listening to
what was being discussed, it became clear as that afternoon sky, how much hope
was in store for all of us as far as making our nation corruption free was
concerned!
Expectedly, as soon as the phone
call of our friend ended, others were ready to corner him: “So, that’s how you
expect to end corruption in our country; isn’t it?”
Like
our friend, I, too, am very keen to see a society free of corruption, violence
and all sorts of social maladies… But, then, the more I wish to see that, the
more aware I become about the presence of those maladies within my very own
soul… And, with that, the thought that I should expect the society to become
free from all such maladies simply makes me look stupid, ignorant and even hypocritical…
Am I hopeful?
Yes, but…
Not until I cleanse the system
within me…
Not until I see hope with in me…
Not until I find a broom to sweep
the mess within…
And, I know, that, it is,
certainly, not the ‘easiest’ way!
GERALD D’CUNHA
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