The Secret of America Power and Prosperity

The Secret of America's Power and Prosperity

America seems to have redefined democracy after the great Abrahim Lincoln -  government of duteous people, by the duteous people for the duteous people. None can beat a country where each citizen earns one’s rights on the basis of the performance of one’s duties

By Mukesh Sharma

Man is a creature of society; he can’t live without a society; he is born to believe; he is raised to observe the customs of society. Even kings and queens follow the customs. As an indispensable part of the society, each man has well-defined duties and rights also. In fact, duties lay the foundation of a society, and rights give it a structural stability. Further, harmony between duties and rights bring progress and prosperity in the society. And a strong society gives rise to a strong nation. The secret of America's prosperity and power lies in its well ordered and well-disciplined society where the people prefer duties to rights; duties are given more importance than rights. And in turn, the system ensures and safeguards the inalienable rights of its each citizen.

Right from Hon’ble President of America to a nonentity peon all perform their duties rather religiously, no compromise in the performance of duties. Be it in government or in opposition, each Hon’ble members  of  American parliament enjoys free votes and  just think of his/her country only. They collectively mull how more and more wealth can be earned for the country and how it can be used to maintain the supremacy in the world, how it can be used on welfare of the American populace. They perform their duties honestly. In contrast, unruly and uproarious scenes can be witnessed in the Indian parliament where political parties seem to indulge in gang-fight for their narrow  ends.

Though America is a capitalist country, rights of the employees are protected by the authorities like anything. Companies offer what they claim – best possible products and services at best possible prices. So the best food, best clothes and best houses that entails the best life, are within the easy reach of the common man of America. Even business class has strong sense of duty towards country and the people. But in India, anyone with social and political clout can swindle banks and hustle the common man  – Nirav Modi, Vijay Malaya, Ponji Scheme etc and  many big names in real estate business are in jail.

In America, with zero tolerance on corruption entire government machinery including the wet-departments perform their assigned duties honestly  - no favoritism, no preferential treatment, no prejudice or biases. The work is done as per the very well defined law purely on the basis of merit. In the other hand, in India, everything has a price-tag.

What is noteworthy, it is not only people in government services or in private business, even the common American is very well aware of his or her duties towards an individual, society and the country. Each respects law. Each observes rules. He or she can’t think of violating any rules or law even in his or her wildest dream -  no cop on the road but no violation of any traffic rule -strict lane driving; the pedestrians are duteously given the first right on the road. If a man on foot wishes to cross the road in local residential areas, motorists would pull up their cars and wait for the passes-by to cross the road.

Irrespectively of their place or position wherever they are  people never shirk their duties. And the system protects their rights. People at large do understand that non-performance of duties brings chaos; unearned rights bring doom. The sense of duty must not be enforced, it must come from within. In the light of justice, each object of duty is followed by the shadow of right. One must do something to get something. - no pain, no gain.

America seems to have redefined democracy after the great Abrahim Lincoln  -  government of duteous people, by the duteous people for the duteous people. None can beat a country where each citizen earns one’s right on the basis of the performance of one’s duty. And this is the secret of America’s power and prosperity.

The Sun Rising in West

The Sun Rising in West

So, the sun had gone to lighten up my India. What a great sacrifice! The sun burns itself to dispel darkness from earth. But when the man will come out of darkness of his ego. When the man will behave like a man

By Mukesh Sharma

As an early riser, I am used to watching the sun-rising almost daily. But the day, I landed in US, I was waiting for the most magnificent moment of sun-rising after a few days of reclusive rest, usually, needed to get over the jet-lag and for the adaptability of the body to the new geographical time-zone  –  India’s day time is the night, and the night is the day time in America. So I expected a different experience of watching sun-rising from the amazing land of America -  undoubtedly a country of intellectuals.

Sun-rising in West

Geographically speaking, the sun never rises from the West. It is always the East from where the sun rises –  the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars all rise in the East, and set in the West because the earth spins towards the east. But here, I wish to share my self-spawned thoughts while watching the sun-rising from the western part of the earth.

Finally, the much awaited moment arrived. Since I am in Peoria, Arizona, I set my eyes towards East. Well before an hour, the sky began to lighten in East. At the scheduled time (sun-rise in the Peoria 6:47 and set in 17:36 during winter) the sun began to peep from the cleavage of hills – Peoria is surrounded by the hills. With all devotion and difference, I folded my hands in the attitude of prayer, and chanted: Ohm Surya Namah. But when I opened my eyes to have the glimpse of the mesmerizing sun-rising, I found it was not at all different -  shine and sheen was same. It was the same sun-rising, I used to watch from my motherland, India.

To believers, the sun is the only manifestation of God on earth; it nurtures life on earth. Existence of earth depends on the sun only. Though there is only one sun, one sky, one ocean, one earth, the wily man has divided the earth into 195 countries. We earthlings share the common sky, common sun, common ocean, common air to breath, same color of blood, and the same physical structure, but still we are Indian, American, Chinese, etc. We are everything but we are not the man. We are no better than animals that have strong territorial instinct, and fight for their ear-marked areas. Sovereignty and boundaries are the causes of war in many parts of the world. All the claims of advancement sound phony and flimsy, for, the so-called man has not evolved yet who can be differentiated from animals. When the man will learn to be man? When the man will behave like a man?

And with the sun sunk in the horizon, my thoughts floated to India. So, the sun had gone to lighten up my India. What a great sacrifice!  The sun burns itself to dispel darkness from earth. But when the man will come out of darkness of his ego? When the man will behave like a man.

Smell of the Soil

Smell of the Soil

When I look inside, I hear an undaunted voice: I love my India to the moon and back. I miss the smell of the soil

By Mukesh Sharma

Living in one’s own motherland, one seldom realises the importance of the soil; it gives a definite shape. It gives specific color; it gives distinctive mien; it gives discernible countenance; it gives formidable thoughts; it gives typical expression; it gives coercive desires; it gives wishful wishes. The soil is one’s natural identity. The soil delineates one’s life. The soil is one’s whole existence. What soul is to body, soil is to life. Being a son of soil -  motherland India, I too miss that intoxicating smell of my soil here in Peoria, Arizona (US), far away across the globe.

Peoria, Arizona, US

 It is the third consecutive day since I am here all the way from Delhi, India, but still my body is struggling with the jet-lag, and the mind with the geographically changed time-zone. I have been sleeping during the day, and have been spending wakeful nights. It is said that it takes couple of days to get used to US time zone.

Surrounded by picturesque hills which are usually the home of Xerophytes – plants and trees of cactus family. Peoria is the major suburb of Phoenix, and is one of the cities in the state of Arizona (AZ). People are unknown to any kind of pollution here. Well planned city is inhabited by well-disciplined people.  Here I miss the smothering pollution of Delhi, the traffic snarls, road hogs and road rages. Nestled in beauty of nature, the place has quietness of countryside. 

The estimated population of Peoria is around 168,185.  With good physique, people are very hard-working. They follow the laws of land religiously. With reddish skin, there is glow on their face that exudes confidence and contentment. However, I miss here my fellow Indians brethren ever struggling on day-to-day basis for their survival. India is a survival society. And that makes the Indian rather selfish. Those who manage to survive successfully become rather egoist. Though India is multi-lingual and multi-religious society, all are true sons and daughters of the soil.

With golden brown hair and white skin, women here are very well shaped. They are self-dependent. They are respected career women. They have their individuality. They too perform their duties towards their families religiously. They are second to none. They are not second fiddle to their menfolk. However, in my motherland, I find women of my soil surpassingly  beautiful  -  mentally and physically. They are epitome of love and devotion. They grow up as a pampered daughter of their parents. They live as a faithful wife of their hubbies. They are the best mothers  who can make any sacrifice for their kids. I do salute the women of my soil.

To be honest, here I also miss the wily netas of my soil who remain busy in politics of self-preservation and self-aggrandizement. They continue to betray the trust of unsuspecting masses. They continue to cheat the populace  year after year in the name of religion , caste and region.

Frankly speaking, despite all the anachronism and anomalies, prevailing in my motherland, India, I miss my soil here. When I look inside, I hear an undaunted voice: I love my India to the moon and back. I miss the smell of the soil!