The 2019 wish list

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The 2019 wish list

Sunday, 13 January 2019 | Pramod Pathak

The 2019 wish list

Usually these wish lists are prepared around the turn of the year. But the last year being a rather tumultuous one from many angles, it took around two weeks to conceive what to seek for in the present year. However, given the confusion that prevailed, this was inevitable. Moreover, the significance of 2019 is going to be of some magnitude. Most importantly, it is going to be the election year. And not just any election year, because elections have now become a regular feature of our democracy. Even the previous years, too, were election years, which always seemed to be like the proverbial straws in the wind. However, this year will witness a crucial election that may have a long-term impact on the country. We may come to that a little later. The wish list first. Let us wish there will be more of truth and less of half truths in the present year; the motivated social media campaigns that were packaged and sold, rather effectively. Those lies, damn lies, and statistics. The most unfortunate part was that the number of buyers rose. Hopefully, we pray for reason to prevail over unreason, peace and amity over strife and intolerance, and most importantly politics of growth over gimmicks. But will we get it? It all depends. Are the people still willing to live in fantasies weaved over falsehoods or will they exercise their logical brain? Let us hope that rationality will be the guiding force this year rather than frenzied rabble rousing ruling the roost. Strongly entrenched into the 21st century and wishing India as a global superpower in years to come, we have to realise that wishes are horses. In fact, you need to plan and organise, direct and control your resources, while thinking of a future goal. The roadmaps must be backed by strong will and scientific approach. As it is said, “Concepts without precepts are empty, precepts without concepts are blind.” It is not merely a philosophical proposition. It is a solid assertion based on sound reasoning. We need to think how we can take India where we want. From economics to education, from technology to agriculture, from polity to society, there is an urgent need to address issues that are being swept under the carpet. It’s a competitive world, a challenging world, a no-free-lunches world. Everything has to be earned, and earned by the slog rather than the song. We need entrepreneurs and enterprise, not cheerleaders and fence-sitters. There is still a long way to go. In words of Frost, it is miles to go. And we must go together. Against the odds, against the restraining forces that are of our own making, against the threatening cabal of our hostile neighbours. How are we going to cope with all these? And are we going all right? To put the record straight — we are not. So it is all about how we go this year that will decide the future course. It is against this backdrop that the 2019 Elections have that special significance. It will be the trendsetter. The all-important question will be what to do. I am reminded of an old school time lesson that my English teacher gave us as we were preparing to appear for the Senior Cambridge exams: “Think before you ink.” There cannot be a better proposition for the electorate. They must think what the right choice is.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com    

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