Republic Days should ideally be the occasions for stock-taking and introspection, as part of the process of undertaking mid-course corrections in the nation's journey towards the goals the Constitution has set, especially in its Preamble and its chapters on Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy.

That was why the veteran freedom fighter, founding father and life-long Gandhian, C.Subramaniam used to exhort, as long as he lived, the powers-that-be that instead of frittering away energies and incurring enormous expense in pageantries and festivities such as parades and ‘At Home's, the Governments of the day in the Centre and the States should place before themselves and the people a collective agenda to be accomplished before the next Republic Day.

In short, the mood set must be inspirational and evocative of the can-do spirit. The mood on the eve of this year's Republic Day, however, as far as I can gauge it, is a mosaic of conflicting impressions, thoughts and emotions.

Certainly, the governments, business and industry and we, the people, have been doing a number of things right in the last 62 years of the Republic, for, otherwise, the nation would not be where it is today, counted as a potential major power with an economy that bids fair to overtake that of the US and Japan, and possibly, even China, if it sets its mind to it.

Wherever one goes, one sees a spirit of resurgence and achievement which makes us proud to call ourselves Indians. No longer does the world dismiss India as a bottomless pit or a ne'er-do-well; on the contrary, there is admiration and awe at this lumbering giant, with 120 crore problems (as Jawaharlal Nehru would have put it), lifting itself by its bootstraps, as it were, while still adhering to the democratic fundamentals, a vibrant federal structure and basic requirements of consensus-building.

STELLAR ROLE

There should be no doubt in anybody's mind that over the long haul, the benefits to the polity and economy of the participative way of getting things done will be longer lasting and intrinsically more suited to the genius of the people than in the case of regimented or totalitarian societies. They may be slow in coming, but will be sure in their salutary effects.

Thus, a bit of counting our blessings is in order. There is correspondingly the need to cast off cynicism, defeatism and self-denigration to which as a nation and as a people we are prone. This is perhaps because of our being an ancient civilisation which has seen any number of ups and downs, hardships and upheavals, injustices and iniquities, and is consequently fearful of things going wrong, rather than hopeful of their going right. We must not let this corrosive syndrome get out of hand.

The media, particularly the TV channels, cannot wash their hands off their responsibility for spreading despondency and despair. I notice in them a pronounced tendency to blow up the negatives in their eagerness for ratings-from-beratings.

While saying this, I am not downplaying their stellar role in exposing malfeasance and providing high quality debates of the implications of public issues of vital importance. I am simply pleading for a balanced approach, sober appraisals and vigilance against vituperative language on their part.

In the ultimate analysis, the nation's hope lies in the members of the younger generation who are now perceptibly making their way into law-making bodies, public institutions and business, industry, trade and commerce.

DIFFIDENT

True, at the moment, they are still diffident to take on their erring elders, and are content to toe their line. But with increasing confidence brought on by learning the ropes and delivering the goods in their own right, they are sure to come into their own and make a difference.

Although there are many who discount Rahul Gandhi, I see in him the stirrings of a new kind of leadership made up of idealism, quiet determination and sincere identification with the ambitions and aspirations of the people.

So, on this Republic Day, I say: Onward, my countrymen! Let's take the nation to heights of glory, telling ourselves: Yes, we can!

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