My six months long visit to the US is coming to an end and time to head home to Palampur. During this period I received lots love, care, and affection from my son Abhinav and daughter-in-law Ritu . A wonderful time that I had visiting places in their company and also in the company of my two sisters who are also in the US. This is my third visit to this country in about ten years. As always it has been a very enjoyable trip having experienced a bit of autumn, summer, and a bit to fall too. And a variety of food to eat and lovely places to see.Every time I go back I carry happy memories that last me till my next visit. What wonderful people, working hard, being honest and so law abiding. They work hard and have means to enjoy the fruit of their labour. It is not, as if, there are no poor here but they also manage to eke out some kind of living. And then there is the Social Security available to the citizens. Like in any other democracy elsewhere the law bestows rights to the people and expects them to shoulder responsibilities too. Social and civic obligations are discharged in a routine manner.
Both India and the USA are referred to as the big democracies of the world, one is the biggest and the other oldest. Let us have a look at the constitution of the two countries. The US constitution is around 30 odd pages long adopted in 1776. It has seven articles and 27 amendments to it. The first ten amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. These define the liberties that the citizen enjoys and are secure from infringement. Its simplicity is admirable. The First Amendment "prohibits making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing the freedom of press, interfering with the right of peaceful assembly , or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances." The framers of the American constitution had the foresight to adopt a constitution that is relevant even after 225 years ! The individual's life and liberty are valued and protected. Nobody, even the high and mighty are above the law. Sometimes back a US president had to resign his office because the offices of the party in opposition was broken into with his tacit approval. US coins bear the inscription "In God We Trust" and every body is free to practice his or her religion and religious practices with hindrance from any quarter, public or governmental. In comparison the Constitution of India is the longest written constitution with 395 articles and 8 schedules. Citizens are promised liberty, freedom of speech and other such freedoms, 'Secularism' is professed. But these are observed more in violations. Dictionary defines the word Secular as 'Not concerned with or related to religion.' However, the political masters have given the word a totally different meaning. The religious feelings of various sects are played upon to garner political power or create dissension among the followers of different faiths for political gain. Many laws enacted during the colonial period still find mention, probably to be used against political opponents or to deal with inconvenient dissent. Relatives and cohorts of the political satraps are above the law. An innocuous comment referring to some political personality or event can easily bring you in conflict with the law and may result in incarceration. So much for the various freedoms that are promised. One's dietary preference, based on religious leanings, may result in death. So much for religious freedom. One can go on ad nauseam.
I digress. It is so easy to get carried away in such matters. While returning home from such sojourns one is invariably tempted to material goods that appeal to our taste or helps improve the physical comforts. These come at some cost to us and plays havoc with the free baggage allowance allowed by the airlines. It is a matter of personal choice, to each his own. Won't it be appropriate if along with the material goods and pleasant memories of the stay we also carry with us a resolve to be more respectful of our laws and better awareness about our social and civic responsibilities and discharge them with sincerity ? It is a thought !
Both India and the USA are referred to as the big democracies of the world, one is the biggest and the other oldest. Let us have a look at the constitution of the two countries. The US constitution is around 30 odd pages long adopted in 1776. It has seven articles and 27 amendments to it. The first ten amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791. These define the liberties that the citizen enjoys and are secure from infringement. Its simplicity is admirable. The First Amendment "prohibits making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing the freedom of press, interfering with the right of peaceful assembly , or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances." The framers of the American constitution had the foresight to adopt a constitution that is relevant even after 225 years ! The individual's life and liberty are valued and protected. Nobody, even the high and mighty are above the law. Sometimes back a US president had to resign his office because the offices of the party in opposition was broken into with his tacit approval. US coins bear the inscription "In God We Trust" and every body is free to practice his or her religion and religious practices with hindrance from any quarter, public or governmental. In comparison the Constitution of India is the longest written constitution with 395 articles and 8 schedules. Citizens are promised liberty, freedom of speech and other such freedoms, 'Secularism' is professed. But these are observed more in violations. Dictionary defines the word Secular as 'Not concerned with or related to religion.' However, the political masters have given the word a totally different meaning. The religious feelings of various sects are played upon to garner political power or create dissension among the followers of different faiths for political gain. Many laws enacted during the colonial period still find mention, probably to be used against political opponents or to deal with inconvenient dissent. Relatives and cohorts of the political satraps are above the law. An innocuous comment referring to some political personality or event can easily bring you in conflict with the law and may result in incarceration. So much for the various freedoms that are promised. One's dietary preference, based on religious leanings, may result in death. So much for religious freedom. One can go on ad nauseam.
I digress. It is so easy to get carried away in such matters. While returning home from such sojourns one is invariably tempted to material goods that appeal to our taste or helps improve the physical comforts. These come at some cost to us and plays havoc with the free baggage allowance allowed by the airlines. It is a matter of personal choice, to each his own. Won't it be appropriate if along with the material goods and pleasant memories of the stay we also carry with us a resolve to be more respectful of our laws and better awareness about our social and civic responsibilities and discharge them with sincerity ? It is a thought !
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