Two things marked the importance of this day....
First, my morning started with the news that a bill has been passed for promotions in jobs based on the cast a person belongs to (and may be no more talent and hard work) ; and second, the movie 'Invictus'.
Indeed any news about reservations in India disturbs me. I was, am and will always be against reservations based on casts. In my opinion it has always restricted my country and now its destroying. I love being an Indian and I am proud of it as much as I need to be. But one thing I learnt from the pledge we used to recite in our classes is 'we all are equal' and it saddens me to see that my own people have forgotten this fact.
While watching the movie I couldn't resist but think of this issue (I would rather call it a problem). The movie depicts a part of Nelson Mandela's work. The way he united the country through the medium of sports. There is a scene, where he observes that South Africans are divided based on their skin color, and he tries to bridge the gap through a game. We have similar situation, we have been; over the years separated on the basis of cast, and its high time we realize this.
The leader in the movie tries to build the nation by minimizing the differences and hiding the dark past. Our so called leaders (and I mean each and every one of them) are doing the exact opposite. They are using the differences to their personal gains. Yes, we had a dark past too; but we always have a great future, only if we choose to see it. And for that we must learn to look past these barriers. Our nation is known for its 'Unity in diversity', We conveniently show or use the diversity but we forget to trust and promote our Unity.
Its not about who acted right or wrong in the past, its always about how can 'we' make things better. In order to succeed in any battle its importance to know the enemy. And I strongly feel, any system that tears us apart, or because of which some useless people create an unhealthy environment is harmful. Its a bigger enemy than any terrorism or foreign hand. I feel we should know this. Because the change has to come from within us...I can't stop reading these lines by William Ernest Henley....they say a lot to me...
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
