Is Cultural Bankruptcy staring us?
Disclaimer:- We are all sure when we know little; with knowledge, doubt increases.
Our country has progressed all round, over the years, and is sitting on an enviable economic boom pedestal. National stability, ever increasing industrial production, infrastructural activities, such as building highways across the country, progress in enhancing the reach of metro rail work in all metros, and major 'A' class cities, tangible say in international relations, keeping aside rhetoric, secured borders with the neighbouring countries, have made economists and politicians worldwide sit down and look for strengthening relationships with India.
However, when you look back in the last 40-50 years span, we find no major religious, social reformist movement in the country. The likes of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lokmanya Bal GangadharTilak, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Jyoyiba Phule, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Baba Amte, Dr Radhakrishnan, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Maharishi Aurobindo, Maharishi Raman, Rabindanath Tagore, Mother Teresa, Dr B R Ambedkar, Swami Vivekanand, Osho Rajneesh , Satya Sai Baba, to name the few notable names (sorry, if I missed on few other prominent names worth mentioning here) were probably the last breed of well known luminaries of strength and character the country witnessed. They individually and collectively, contributed enormously to socio-economic fabric we Indians belong to and are known for in the world.
Since those times, with my limited knowledge about Indian ecospace, I find none other than Dr. Homi Bhabha, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Sethna (Atomic Energy), Shree Jaya Prakash Narain, Anna Hazare, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (Green revolution), Dr. Verghese Kurien (of Amul fame, who ushered in white revolution), Sri A P J Abdul Kalam (Rocket man) , T N Seshan (Former CEC, known for election reforms, and who firmly reined in discipline in political parties) Sr. E. Sreedharan (Metro man), Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Sri Jaggi Vasudeva, Dr P. V Narshima rao (learned, humble and visionary}, Dr Manmohan Singh (who ushered in economic liberation), Shri Narayana Murthy (IT Man) - the last person of prominence who ushered in IT revolution in the country), and the likes in IT enabled sector, (and few other prominent revolutionary whose names I might have missed out) have left their indelible marks. Add to that a few names from art, literature and cinema, who have profound impact on the way we think and we try to live, such as Ramdhari Dinkar, Satyajeet Ray, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bismillah Khan, to name the few.
These were the men of character, integrity, guts, conviction and were visionary, and stood tall on their own. Many of them were highly learned, knew many languages, and contributed immensely to cultural value our dear country eschewed over many centuries.
Where are we Indians heading to then, with all the names and fame, but missing on anchors who could shape India over next 50 years. We are already in to 24 years in the current century in offing, and I am unable to recollect any name of significant substance ( sorry if I am unable to recollect any worthwhile visionary in existence to look up to).
There apparently appears to be huge vacuum.
Any takers?