HONOUR OR RESPONSIBILITY

Prime Minister Narasimha Rao recently expanded the central cabinet. Among the new ministers is a 29-year-old woman, Selja Chaudhary. She has been appointed as the State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Government of India. In an interview, responding to a question, she said:

I didn’t believe it was true when I heard the Cabinet Secretary’s voice on the other end of the line informing me of my new office. I did not exactly jump but I was really very happy. (The Pioneer, New Delhi, July 12, 1992, p. 5)

This symbolic incident underscores why our leaders, even after fifty years, haven’t been able to turn the country into a land of peace and progress. The reason is that those who took power after independence have prioritized the honour of their positions over the responsibilities that come with them. People with such an attitude can never bring about an era of development and prosperity. Those who focus on the prestige of their office will only use it as a tool for personal advancement. They have no real concern beyond promoting themselves. They are willing to sacrifice the entire country for their own gain, even trading the whole nation for personal benefit.

In contrast, a person who focuses on the responsibilities of a position trembles when they attain it. For them, the position becomes such a burden that it crushes their personality. While the former welcomes the position with laughter, the latter does so with tears of sorrow. For those who see the position as a responsibility, attaining it becomes synonymous with the desolation of their own lives. Yet, it is precisely these individuals who manage to transform the country into a thriving and prosperous garden.