For Development: Those who talk about the right to speak must also be prepared to listen

Hasmukh Patel

Ray was going to a flag salutation program at a school. After completing my office program, I had to travel a long distance to reach there, the program was kept later than usual time. I have already asked the institution to ensure that students do not wait for me in the heat. Still, when I arrived, the students were standing in the heat. It was winter time so there was no heat. The students greeted me with applause as I arrived. I was very embarrassed by my reception in this way, but it raised my own question. But my main objection was V. I. P. against culture. We tend to hold positions, wealth or prestige on our heads. As public servants, we the people are servants of the people and are responsible to the people, but when this happens, our minds are full of rye. What do we have to answer people? Are they going to ask us if we don't answer them? If asked, we don't like it and sometimes even express our distaste in a way that doesn't suit us. The program was in the district where, at the age of nine, I first saw a male passenger standing on a bus seat reserved for women. It was a surprise to me because this was not the case in the district where I lived. People in this district are very aware of their rights. At one time, when there was a shortage of cash in Gujarat, bus conductors would not give back 25 or 50 paise, but in this district even five paisa were given back. There was no difficulty in that. System becomes accountable when people are aware of their rights. Where people are aware of their own rights, they are more likely to respect the rights of others, because such a society has an environment of such awareness. The reason for this is that even in person-to-person transactions, the other person should be aware of his rights and demand them. This kind of awareness is at the foundation of democracy. It starts at home. But in our homes children are not given the opportunity to speak. If they speak, the child is not considered intelligent. As a result a person hesitates to express his opinion. This is especially so in the case of daughters and women. It is understandable that a society in which fifty percent people do not have the right to speak will not progress quickly. The right to speak does not mean that what we speak is true. Those who talk about their right to speak must also be prepared to listen, even to hear what they don't like. The French thinker Voltaire quipped: 'I may not agree with you, but I will give my life to defend your right to speak.' When we teach our children to wink and respect the 'big' men, they will not dare to speak against that 'big' or wrong in future. In such a society there will be no one to raise voice against vices. A society which does not raise its voice against vices must be prepared to become its victim. Such an attitude would be the first step of slavery. The British ruled India for almost 200 years but the people here did not accept them. Starting from the revolution of 1857 till the departure of the British from this country in 1947, the people of this country always raised their voice. This is a priceless thing that we all have a duty to preserve. Generations of a nation are formed in homes, streets and schools. If we don't give our children the opportunity to express themselves fully, we have to be prepared to fall prey to vices. Don't be surprised if you have to wear the shackles of slavery one day. }