CITIZENS, WAKE UP !

CITIZENS, WAKE UP !

We need to have a sense of proportion when we rejoice over our feeble achievements at the #Tokyo2020 #Olympics. We ought not to forget that we are the second-most populous country in the world and with our resources, both in material terms and human terms, we ought to be right at the top of the medals' tally which we are not. We are languishing in the 66th position and making history indeed with our delectable wins. This is no damning of the sterling achievements of individual athletes in solo performances or in concerted team effort but is a reality check on us overall as a nation of little commitment and easy contentment, the standard behaviour of the darkened consciousness in inertial animal acceptance of fate. Our athletes who have done us proud and do us so every time, do so despite the terrible national constraints they face in terms of lack of adequate governmental support, lack of world-class sporting infrastructure and a surfeit of crass commercialism going by national culture today. The irrational hyperexcitation that goes on in the national social environment, the never-ending frivolity, the low-quality cinematic culture that has permeated civic consciousness and is degenerating the polity, and the abysmal sell-out of our social culture to commerce have reduced us to a nation of irresponsible traders with scant respect for either learning or excellence in any worthwhile endeavour that does not yield immediate pecuniary profit. In such an atmosphere sporting excellence is an impossibility. Individuals overcome these constraints through self-genius and determined effort but nationally we are a far cry from perfection. Our very attitude in laxity, an indolent easy contentment, and vain excitation coupled with commercial craving of a lowly sort do not make us out in the comity of nations as a self-respecting nation worth the call.

The world will disrespect us if we do not wake up to self-respect ourselves. We became a Dominion in 1947 and a Republic in 1950. China became a Republic in 1949. Look at the difference in national attitude and achievement of the two countries. China first prepared for the Olympics from 1949 to 1980 before they participated for the first time in it in the Moscow Olympics of 1980. In their initial stint they won 5 gold medals and have never looked back, going from strength to strength with every Olympic Games. And we? Simply rejoicing? Mere profit-making and exploitation of the people do not make a nation. Citizens, wake up!

Written by Sugata Bose