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India, a Super Power..!

By Robert Clements. Dated: 2/19/2019 11:41:05 PM

Many have this false notion, India can become a super power, if it has the most sophisticated army in the world, the best aircraft and aircraft-carriers and most impactful missiles! And even as we spend more and more to achieve this, come the cry of millions: "We need food in our belly!"
"Don't worry we will soon crush the enemy with our multi-billion dollar missiles!"
"We have no money when we fall sick!"
"Just look at our troops and their equipment!"
These must be the cries heard in North Korea, where a government spends its last cent on defense and developing nuclear warheads to keep America at bay, and its citizens in fear.
Is that what you call a super power? Would you call China, with its billion or more, who would all be shot dead if they showed dissent, a super power?
I believe our idea of being a super power is gone awry by being fed with too many military floats and screeching aircraft in our Delhi parades. It is time to showcase not sophisticated weaponry or military might on these days, but be a showcase to the world of citizens treated equally, with no bills passed against people of a particular faith, with courts dispensing justice quickly (when there are enough judges and courts) and with food habits of one section not being imposed on all its citizenry. It is time to show that the least of our citizens like the poor and disabled are being given equal opportunity to excel.
Then and only then will be become a super power.
When you and I live together in harmony, recognizing each other as fellow citizens, whatever be the god we worship, food we eat, and colour our skin is, then we have become a super power.
If our women can wear what they want, go where they want, and with whom they want, without menfolk in anti-Romeo squads, pretending to protect them and stop making reservations for them in buses and Parliament, then we are a super power.
If you and I are allowed to disagree with government policies without being dragged to jail for dissent or sedition using prehistoric colonial laws, then we are a super power.
When legislators see there are enough courts to bring justice, instead of trying to bully by restricting courts and judges then we have become a super power.
When we can proudly show such floats of courts, carefree women, and people of all faiths worshipping without fear. When we can show the poor, no more poor, and the handicapped with equal opportunities, then and only then will we be a super power.
Till then, stop being fooled like the North Koreans and Chinese, instead, let's build a super power, that is a Super Power..!
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