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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's Speech in Hyderabad

The former President of India DR. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 's Speech in
Hyderabad . *


Do you have 10 minutes?
Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is
yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,
The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.


YOU say, say and say.. What do YOU do about it?


Take a person on his way to Singapore . Give him a name - YOURS. Give him
aface - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your
International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the
roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground links as
they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road
(equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road ) between 5 PM and 8 PM.. YOU
come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over
stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status
identity... In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?



YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai .

YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah .

YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London
at 10 pounds ( Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are
billed to someone else.'

YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then
tell the traffic cop,'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I
am?)..... I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.'

YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage
pail on the beaches in Australia and New
Zealand

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo ? Why don't YOU use
examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ??? We are still
talking of the same YOU.

YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but
cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road
the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and
appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here
in India ?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay , Mr.
Tinaikar , had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the
streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said.
'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the
authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the
officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the
pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after
his pet has done the job. Same in Japan . Will the Indian citizen do that
here?' He's right.... We go to the polls to choose a government and after
that forfeit all responsibility.



We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do
everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative.. We expect
the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage
all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick up a stray piece of
paper and throw it in the bin..

We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to
learn the proper use of bathrooms....

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and
toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.


This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to
the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to
women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud drawing room
protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse?

'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone
forgo my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of ? Very conveniently for us it consists of our
neighbors, other households, other cities, other communities and the
government.. But definitely not me and YOU.

When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system
we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into
the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along &
work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the
country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to
America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York
becomes insecure we run to England . When England experiences unemployment,
we take the next flight out
to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and
brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape
the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system.. Our conscience is
mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great
deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing J.
F. Kennedy 's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA
AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Lets do what India needs from us.

Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or
junk mails.

Thank you,

Dr. Abdul Kalaam

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