India (Bharat) was once known for its natural wealth, philosophy, spirituality, and morality. The early Greek, Chinese, Persian and Arab adventurers and writers spoke highly about the character of its natives, their regard for truth, justice, honesty and integrity. Hiuen Tsang (602-664 CE), the Chinese traveller, praised them for their perseverance, sense of service and fairness in dealings. Al Idrisi, the 12th century Arab geographer (1100-1165 CE), observed: “The Indians are naturally inclined to justice and never depart from it in their actions. Their good faith, honesty and fidelity to their engagements are well known and they are so famous for these qualities that people flock to their country from every side”. The British scholar-administrators of the 18th century also praised Indians for their simplicity, truthfulness and austere habits.
Can India of today claim to have the same high moral standards of yore? Perhaps no. Exceptions notwithstanding, there is a steady deterioration of values among all sections of society. Few can discriminate between right and wrong. The intellect has expanded, not the heart. The virtues of simplicity, self-denial, sacrifice, patience, temperance, equanimity, contentment and cheerfulness, have become a rarity. Self-interest is overriding societal interest. The supreme ideal of seeing good in others has eclipsed.
Education is preparing students for jobs, not cultivating virtues in them. The wisdom of sages of the past is considered outdated. Religion has become an instrument of exploitation of the gullible. God is on sale. The urge for inner discovery has given away to endeavours for material advancement. Money can buy anything, ranging from goods to human conscience. Truth and sincerity is a great casualty. The ancient social system has collapsed, and families are breaking up as never before.
Despite phenomenal material progress and technological achievements, the fair face of India has warts of scandals, scams and violence. There is a general deterioration in the functioning of all the three organs of the government. The Fourth Estate sometimes acts irresponsibly by creating sensationalism, taking sides, stoking communal fire or social differences, or promoting vulgarity. Corruption, nepotism, crimes against children and women, arms trafficking, illegal drug trade and cyber crime are on the increase. All this is due to the increasing pollution in the hearts and minds of people.
If India is to cope up with the growing mental pollution, it must return to the higher values of life so ably propounded by our sages, seers, philosophers and prophets from time to time. Law cannot bring about moral change, but education can. Parents and teachers have the prime responsibility to shape the character of the youth by guiding them to appreciate truth, purity, and goodness, so essential for moral perfection. Children should be introduced to human values from early childhood so that they become good human beings. Leaders of society in different fields, be it education, religion, politics, business, media, social work or some other, should set noble examples for others to follow.
When social relations are losing warmth and becoming artificial, we should learn to respect one another, observe purity of speech, mind and action, and vow to remain free from arrogance, jealousy, pride and cynicism. We should shed wrong perceptions about people, communities and ideas, and return good for evil in daily life, as admonished by Mahatma Gandhi. At the same time, we should rise above any feeling of guilt by remembering that our true essence is divinity.
