“Life is about the journey, not the
destination”. This is a popular quote (often
attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson) amongst motivational speakers, self-help and
mindfulness coaches, therapists, and teachers. I have spent a good part of my
life aimlessly wandering in the hinterlands of India. During these journeys I
have learned a lot not only about my country, people, culture, traditions,
treasures, and problems; but have also explored my inner self. I can therefore
relate deeply with this saying.
However, a grave situation could arise when
governments, businesses and other institutions begin to take this saying
seriously; not realizing that it is about self-help and mindfulness at an
individual level. Policy makers and institutions focusing on journeys rather
than destinations may frustrate millions, depending on them for governance and
livelihood, by causing avoidable agony and making their lives miserable.
Unfortunately, prima facie, our
governments have been taking this saying too seriously. Their planning process
appears to be focusing too much on means rather than goals. They have been
putting the cart in front of the horse, not reaching anywhere or moving
extremely slowly.
Let me explain with a few examples.
Constructing fancy buildings instead of
character and scientific temper
The government has set a goal of constructing
institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. Whereas, the goal should have been
making Indians educated and healthy, in order to help them in developing a
scientific temper (fundamental duty of citizens as per the Constitution).
Primary school is the place where you develop the
character and temper of a child. And unfortunately, that is the place which is
being ignored the most.
Merely constructing fancy buildings to produce
graduates with little scientific temper and lacking in basic sense of inquiry
does not serve any goal. A number of top engineering graduates pursue a
management degree immediately after completing graduation, and they aspire for
a banking job. This clearly shows that the selection process of engineering
institutes like IITs is completely flawed and does not serve the purpose. A
student who does not aspire to become a top class engineer to drive innovation
and inquiry, should get eliminated at the application stage itself.
Similarly, a fully equipped primary health
center in each village could eliminate the need for 50 AIIMS like institutions,
and make the country much healthier. Building AIIMS, when diabetes, cancer,
Vitamin B12 and D deficiencies, etc. have already assumed epidemic proportions,
makes little sense.
Awarding national awards to actors who have
been actively promoting consumption of tobacco, cause of thousands of untimely
deaths every year, while focusing on constructing AIIMS in every state clearly
indicate towards goal incongruence.
GDP is statistics not development
Celebrating the absolute GDP number and taking
comfort in a growth rate that is higher relative to other economies, is also
superfluous. The policy goal should be to improve the quality of life of every
citizen to a certain level of comfort and dignity. Statistics like GDP growth
should be left to the agencies monitoring the achievement of this goal.
Government focusing on GDP growth is purely a distraction from the primary
goal, i.e., “to minimize the inequalities in income, status, facilities and
opportunities (as per the directive principles of the constitution)”. The
government should monitor and report the progress in achievement of this goal
rather than throwing random and meaningless numbers like $5trn and $10trn.
Medal and sports
The government has apparently set a goal to win
a certain number of medals in the international sporting events like Olympics,
Asian Games etc.
The goal of the policy should ideally be to
promote sporting habits in the citizens, especially children, in order to make/keep
them healthy, and help them develop characteristics like brotherhood, team
spirit, harmony (as per fundamental duties prescribed in the constitution). Winning
medals is just a by-product of sporting habits, which a few young people, who
choose sports as a career, might win in due course. This cannot be a policy
goal in a country like India.
Temple vs Character
The government has celebrated the construction
of a grand Lord Rama’s temple at his birth place in Ayodhya, as one of its main
achievements. The point is what should be the policy goal – building temples or
building Lord Rama like character in the citizens of the country.
Lord Rama was anointed king of Ayodhya, but
left the throne for his younger brother to honor the words of his father. He
defeated Bali, but left the throne of Kishkindha to Bali’s younger brother
Sugriva. He defeated Ravana, but left his kingdom Lanka for his younger
brother, Vibhishana.
However, the outcome of the Ayodhya temple is
that the followers of Lord Rama have become aggressive in their pursuit of
taking possession of several other religious buildings for constructing temples
at the expense of social harmony, common brotherhood, and peace.
An ideal policy goal would have been to develop
Lord Rama like character in all primary school students, such that every
household becomes a temple. The temple at Ayodhya should be used as an epitome
of strong character not as an excuse for jingoistic nationalism.
These are just a few examples, where the government policies are like cart before horse. Everyone is enjoying the journey without going anywhere!!!
