Building a Home – Builds a Nation!!

Nation or Country – what does this word trigger when we say or hear it, a big beautiful country, lots of happy free people, big infrastructural facilities, lovely landscapes and skyline, business city and huge buildings, a breath-taking country side villages, rich cultural heritage, holy scriptures and history, diverse languages, amazing folklore, unity in diversity, rich flora, fauna and animal species, famous rivers and oceans!! Well, I described the way any happy child would do because for a child her country is the best place, a safe place that we call home.

Now this place where we stay and roam freely our country that we call our home! Do we really understand the real meaning of this freedom? Do we really value the cost of this freedom that our freedom fighters, revolutionaries, brave soldiers paid for us so that we have a free future, peaceful life and sleep? They gave their lives their blood for us – sacrificed their family life, children, parents love. Are we being responsible for the freedom we have? Veer Savarkar, Netaji, Gandhiji, Rani Laxmi Bai, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad and many more who gave their lives to transform our lives from slavery. There is a lot of difference between breathing and breathing freely – just like the difference between a caged bird and free flying bird! Did you know among the 5 top bravest battles bought in the history of this world, India stands second!! The battle of Saragarhi northern western frontier of India where 21 Sardar soldiers defended our motherland against an onslaught cruel 10000 Moghul invaders and managed to drive them away!! I get goose bumps while writing this. We are a land of brave self-respecting people who have immense love and passion for our country.

You must be thinking what I am trying to drive at… Let me come to the point. Does our present generation even know all this, do they value their freedom? I can challenge many don’t even know who the President of their country is. Are we as parents doing the right thing? How are we instilling strong values, principles and discipline into our kids? Well honestly, I feel we are falling short of explaining to our kids the importance of this freedom they have…simple reason we are all busy with our schedules be it career or home, and the disgraceful fact is we ourselves are not aware or alert on many things about our country, history past or present. We just want to give a bright future to our kids, so we are giving them everything in a plate, be it the latest gadgets or clothes – our kids have it all!! And that’s why today’s generation seldom feel the need to hear the stories of sacrifice. I think its high time and we need to change the equation because that’s the need of the hour.  

The pillars of any democracy on one hand are its Farmers/ Agricultural Revolution, Industries, Infrastructure and Economic Advancements, Environmental Accomplishments, Prompt Social Justice system, Innovations in Power and Energy, Ground-breaking Healthcare, Women Empowerment, Upliftment of Lower class and unceasing Education Skill Expansion. On the other hand, as dutiful citizens we should pay our taxes, abide by the law, vote intelligently, perform civic and social duties without negatively affecting the society. Help needy people. Defend the country if the need arises. Contribute and give back to the society at large.

Having said this – how do I look at inculcating strong community and patriotic fondness values early in our children, starting from HOME for a better future. A solid generation will help build a strong NATION.

Responsible Freedom:

• By responsible freedom I mean firstly understand that the FREEDOM we have is not come FREE to us. Lot of brave and courageous freedom fighters and soldiers even today have laid their lives to give us this Free Country. Children should be taught the value of this freedom they have and hence behave responsibly. Reading good stories from History about the Braveheart’s is a good idea, today we have many movie’s based on soldiers and patriotism, we should go watch it with kids – it can be a great parent child bonding time as well.
• Teach them the pride they should have for their profound and incredible country. Teach them simple but affirmatively the importance of cleanliness and keeping their surrounding clean.
• The importance of following civic rules like not jumping traffic lights, no littering. Reinforce the importance to learn the National Language, even if you are settled abroad which is the biggest hinder at times I think – we lose the touch of our Motherland.
• Teach them the importance of sacrificing some luxuries in life for the benefit of others be it elders in the family or siblings; forgiving others, gratitude and kindness, these values control the ego/arrogance and makes children humble and grounded.
• Gardening/ planting trees and pottery are activities I think we should indulge our kids along with ourselves. It teaches the most basic principle of life “balance”, the right amount of water helps the plants/ trees grow and mould a good pot, whereas excess of something as simple as water can spoil the whole show!
• Have chat sessions on current affairs and ask children to give them their views, how do they feel about various topics currently happening around the world, we will be amazed at the out of box thinking abilities they have. We should also be aware of the hot topics like Raffale Deal etc …such discussion builds the confidence of our kids on how to speak in public.  It slowly builds a patriotic feeling, a sense of pride towards one’s own country.
• No wastage of food, water and energy. This is one of the basic principles one should inculcate early into our children. People around the world are still struggling to fulfil these basic needs.
• Visiting Aerospace museums, Art and history galleries whenever possible when on vacations or otherwise. These are windows to understand our kids’ inclinations.
• Proper use of internet. Internet is a pandora’s box of information. If used wisely I think it is a good source to satisfy the curiosity of our kids. They get the answers of all their innovative ideas on how to do it and where to find the materials for example if it’s a science project. It is simple nowadays then the olden times. This makes the kids more independent, resourceful, a good facilitator and an inventor. No wonder kids in school are coming up with awesome innovative inventions these days!! We should always try to enhance these entrepreneurial skills, because doing a job is one thing but providing opportunities to others in start-ups or inventing something to help the society is a boon!
• Subscribe for children yoga classes, spiritual discourses occasionally, such camps are very helpful to develop focus, increase concentration and help in anger management. In the long run we can increase the number of such camps. Such balanced children will grow into responsible citizens and help the country grow towards a bright future!

Community Service and Social Sports:

• Community service helps build a strong character of an individual. It helps make our children emotionally strong and stable individuals, they realize that helping one another in small social service activities increase bonding with other people, feel their pain, it teaches how to keep yourself aside and put other feelings first to help the needy.

This feeling of comradery is very important only then will they learn to love selflessly and passionately, they become more self-aware and mentally strong to handle adversities in life when they see how so many people in today’s world still struggle in daily lives to get a meal.

• Through social service kids learn to smile even at the hardest hour. They develop a sense of gratitude for what they have. They learn how to spread cheer around. Else the gadget invasion is making our kids lonely, weak and self-centred.
• Similarly, sports builds team spirit and teaches you that even if you lose one day the next game can be won. Nothing is the end of the world and getting bitter helps no one. Victory is getting up after every failure and barging towards the finishing line. In simple words sports builds an attitude of never giving up! Be it any sport please encourage outdoor activities these interactions have positive psychological results.
• Once again, I would like to say, through writing I am trying to influence the good in you and how in small ways we can be helpful to our country and the place where we live. We owe this to our society and all the people who have sacrificed everything for our wellbeing. We must be part of a positive change and we must start this chain!!
• I leave you with a small patriotic poem. Keep healthy. Always smile Molly😊

Our’s is a land of sages, known for bravery for ages,

None can with it compete, its culture non can beat,

Whatever caste or religion, all live here in unison,

With rivers, sweet fountains, Its land of high mountains,

All its green forests are pretty, and are sources of prosperity,

Let’s for it work hard, for its safety be on guard!!