As a Global Citizen, Describe Your Vision of Making a Positive Difference. How You Can Contribute to Your Country, Your World?

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” As a global citizen, describe your vision of making a positive difference. How you can contribute to your country, your world?

I am proud to be an Indian; a citizen of such a country which is so rich in its tradition, culture , values and deep rooted spirituality which connects one billion despite religious, cultural, geographical and linguistic diversities. India is my identity and the very essence of my existence. Whatever lands I may traverse, I shall always be known as an Indian.

Today with modern means of communication and transportation the world is shrinking and we are becoming ‘global citizens’ imbibing a global vision. But this privileged civilization is unaware of the ignorant, deprived and exploited segment of the society that still strives only with a single focused vision- survival.

After coming to Singapore as a student a year back, disparity between the two countries struck me hard. A small island with limited resources has progressed to extent that India despite being huge and well endowed cannot even dream of. This compelled me to deliberate as to what hampers India from harnessing her huge potential. The problems that plague India are over population, illiteracy, poverty, corruption, unemployment and ‘garbage’ all interlinked problems one leading to the other. The magnitude of the problems reinforced itself upon me when I compared the comfortable life that the so called poor people in Singapore enjoy in comparison to the majority of the poor sleeping in the open on the roads and slums. For millions it is a struggle to manage even daily bread. Survival is their creed. Apart from awakened empathy, I find it hard to reconcile to the untapped potential of valuable man power and work force.

The real challenge lies in breaking this vicious circle and to make a beginning somewhere. The only solution seems to lie in education. Education is that potent weapon that can fight and win the battle against poverty and related miseries. Only educated masses can make any nation march on the path of progress and growth. I remember that the little boy of our maid who was enrolled by my mother in a school is now pursuing higher studies to make a difference to his own life his family’s too. I used to teach the poor children at school in the evening and felt elated to teach them.

As now I am on a reflective trail I can envisage clearly that education is a powerful tool to change the face of any society. I want the global vision to penetrate the darkness of ignorance with a focused plan of action. To take up any endeavour finances and personal dedication are imperative. Equipped with technical education and scientific thinking I plan to start an NGO to set up a chain of schools for those who cannot afford formal expensive education. I envision preparing a flexible module of teaching to suit the practical conditions of the poor people conducive enough to make understanding easy. Local help of like-minded people can prove an asset to motivate parents to send their children to school. Free and practical education surely can succeed in igniting minds. I am sure I can motivate resourceful people to partake of my endeavour. I dream of an educated India with rays of dawn creeping into the nooks and corners of the global village which right now seems many light years away from the mainstream of global village.