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I
was new in the USA sharing room with three
roommates in a 2 bedroom apartment. A fifth
person Mr. X who was unknown to me but was well
known to other three was schedule to arrive.
There was a an emotional, sentimental and
philosophical discussion was going among my
roommates how to adjust Mr. X with us.
First person: "He is like my own family member,
we studied together in school and worked
together; I will have to do something for him. I
know my bedroom is small but still if needed, I
will go out and sleep in the living room for Mr.
X."
Second person: "Yes for me also he is like my
very close friend, we used to work on same
project and used to get lunch together everyday.
I can't leave him on his own. He will have no
money, no car; nothing. I will have to help him
somehow. Financially I don't think I can do
anything but I will help him as best as I can."
Third Person: "You are right, since he is a
north Indian, there are not many help he can get
like a Telugu guy so even though I cannot take
him everyday with me to the office, I must help
him."
There was a common camaraderie, a common
understanding, a common desire to help Mr. X by
each of the three roommates. Discussion and
deliberation continued for weeks but no solution
was coming along. No feasible and workable idea
was coming forward to accommodate Mr. X with us.
I took little interest but then I noticed
everyone was willing to help and support him as
long as -
1. They don't lose any money; 2. it was not
causing any nuisance or inconvenience to them,
and 3, they don't have to lose their privacy or
alter their timing.
Being a practical person, I suggested a
practical solution "Why don't we upgrade to a
3-bedroom apartment and don't take first month
rent from Mr X" which meant we would have to pay
$100 extra for a month. All emotional,
sentimental, and philosophical discussion
suddenly became mundane and I started getting
"shower of flowers".
"You think you are Gandhi, Nehru or Bose? Only
you can do sacrifce? Bhai sahab, ye 100 Rs nahin,
100 dollar ki baat hai. Bolana aur hai, karna
aur".
"No", I said, "I mean it" and I took out my
checkbook and wrote and signed a check for $100.
After that 'shower' became totally ballistic and
from all directions.
First: "I know you are Gandhi, Nehru or Buddha,
if you can sacrifice for our friend go to
Kailash then"
Second: "You are trying to show us down. Keep
your money, we can manage without it."
Third: "I know you can pay because you make X $
you have Y liabilities, you have house in Z
city" etc etc.
I took back my check and went into my room,
slept and forgot about it. No solution came for
Mr. X. When he arrived, he had to struggle on
his own, take his own apartment, take cab for
office. I also came to know that I was actually
blamed as the spoilsport.
Moral of the story is that Bihar is not going to
be helped by how much we earn or how high our
position is or how knowledgeable we are. It will
also not help how strongly we feel for
Bihar and put that in words. It is also not in
how much we believe that a divine power is going
to change Bihar soon. The help is actually going
to be from what we sacrifice whether our time or
money or labor for Bihar.
If we want to help Bihar without losing money,
time or labor then this is identical to losing
weight while seated on a sofa watching TV.
How much we should sacrifice? Well, how much we
will have to run to lose weight?
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Comments: |
Mr.
Ravi, I am very delighted to read
your article. It is really well
written and I can not stop praising
you.
But I would like to clear my point.
I am not in a mood to pay any money
to any organization which is an
arena of politics and which will go
to any politician. Why do we have to
give money to Bihar when Bihar has
so much money to spend for stupid
stuff? See how much politicians
make; new cars, new laptops, free
housing, allowances, free rail, free
airplane --- you name it and they
have it. We have to work hard to
earn our bread. We have to face
problems at work, and we have to
work hard to survive in our world.
This is not easy money that we can
just send to Bihar so they can build
infrastructure and impose their
rules. If Bihar is to improve, it
should happen with money that is
already in the government's grasp
and ear-marked for such
improvements.
If any NRB or NRI will spend money
for anything, it will likely be
totally for profit, not charity. If
any money comes as a charity, it
should come from politicians and
ministers, not from us. This is the
reason there is much thought and no
action.
I have recently heard the government
made a law that private colleges and
institutions have to reserve 50% of
the seats for SC/ST/OBC. Were these
institutions built from government
money? No. These places were built
with private funds, and as such,
should have the right to impose
rules and regulations of their own
(within the legal bounds of Indian
statutes). I do not think that Bihar
actually suffers from a deficit of
public funds as much as I think it
suffers from those funds being
dipped into --- pockets being lined,
wheels being greased. Until there is
REAL accountability with REAL
consequences, any money that we send
for public purpose will never
benefit the public, without so much
as a "thank you" from the official
who could suddenly afford to send
his child to an overseas university.
I have heard all the politician's
and minister's wards study in the
best English medium schools. Where
do these monies come from? Not a
single politician is working for
state or country; all are working
for themselves, their family and
relatives. They work to amass wealth
for themselves and their own
progeny. Having this situation no
one will like to donate their hard
earned money. I read that Kennedy
had once said "...ask not what your
country can do for you; ask what you
can do for your country." I do not
think India has any one true and
patriotic and serving for state or
country. A true leader does not need
to be a minister, Chief Minister or
Prime Minister. Gandhiji never held
any post but he became the Father of
the Nation, and citizens of every
faith respect him. Subhash Chandra
Bose, Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat
Singh are still remembered as
heroes, not because they became
ministers but because they really
fought for Indian freedom and fought
for Indians. - S. M. Khurshid
Anwar, New York, USA - Feb. 3, 2006
We
can understand what Ravi ji wants to
say us, but Khurshid ji mentioned
the hard truth. Even I say the same.
Remember during marriage of Laloo's
second daughter, a Maruti Showroom
of Patna was aimed and all its brand
new cars were forcibly used for
guests' reception. Many top
Politicians of India enjoyed these
looted cars. After marriage
obviously these cars were returned
to Dealer but it became Second Hand
car for the buyers and the dealer
lost huge business. It has huge
impact on new Investments on Motor
Dealership business. Currently, what
Bihar needs is the proper management
of existing funds and
infrastructure. Do you need
investments for appointment of lakhs
of vacant Police and primary School
Teachers Posts? Obviously no. Let
Government to handle these core
issues first. As far as investment
is concerned it will automatically
flow in. Investors need profit and
they already eyeing this virgin
Bihar market. They are only waiting
for proper time and circumstances.
Once they start flowing in you
cannot stop them. - Tarakeswar
Dubey - Feb. 03, 2006
One
side of the coin:
It's true, people are generous, in
words and in excuses. They like
preaching to others without taking
any responsibility on their own
part. They notice a small hole in
the mosquito net, and their instinct
directs them to insert a thumb into
it and make it bigger. 'Chhidranveshan'
is a hobby for them, which they do
not mention in their resume. A
sleeping man can be awakened, but
someone pretending to be sleeping
cannot be. Mr X was in fact, NOT a
friend to those roommates, they had
none, but he was 'supposed to be'
their friend and so they were
supposed to help him. The concern
shown by them was merely an attempt
to boost their own image. They had
more ego than any genuine concern.
Other side of the coin:
If people are looking for a solution
without losing money, privacy and
convenience, and I realize that,
then why should I suggest a solution
which ensures privacy but increases
the cost and inconvenience
(temporary but immediate)? The
author did not mention if Mr X
belonged to a poor family, why did
he need financial help? A
self-respecting guy might have taken
this gesture as an insult to him.
Was adding this clause of 100$, an
attempt to demoralize or humiliate
the roommates, who lacked real urge
to help? Mr X was a friend of the
author's roommates, not of the
author himself, does courtesy say
that he should have mentioned
signing a 100$ check? Was there some
hidden wish to become 'great'?
Another case of ego than any genuine
concern? Being a roommate, the
author's role was limited to the
suggestions about making space or
shifting to a new house, adding
money to it was not 'practical'. And
the result was obvious. Even if they
would have helped Mr X for
whatsoever selfish reasons, they
were irritated and ultimately it was
Mr X who suffered.
And what is Kumod trying to do,
satisfy his ego by questioning the
practicality of author's approach,
and evading from the question of
taking action for the state? Mr
Ravi, it is not me who has these
questions against you. I know you
are a good person who wishes to do
something for the state and is
actually taking steps towards it.
Your idea is to motivate others as
Bihar needs collective work of all.
But, these questions will be raised,
if one does not take enough care in
his approach. I want you to succeed
in your mission. However, even with
utmost care, you cannot stop
questions and that should not
discourage you.
And it's good to see that you kept
your promise of writing articles.
One personal request, please do not
take politician's name with national
leaders and saints in parallel. I
hope you will not take my 'chhidranveshi'
comments as a personal offence.
Please keep writing. You are making
my job easier. - Kumod Jha - Feb.
03, 2006
I
think Ravi should get off that horse
(idea) now and write on another
topic. If someone steps in dog poop
one time, the next time one should
avoid stepping in it.... right ? -
Aarcee - Feb. 03, 2006 |
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