August 2017
Blessings
For
India!
D.Jason, Missionary, BYM
India is a land of rich cultural heritage and varied
languages. It is a land of immense spirituality. Three
major religions Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism
were born here. The people are religious and Indian
culture requires mutual respect for one another. It is
for this reason, the ancient Rajas who ruled most
parts of ancient India were hospitable to the
foreigners who came to India. need for spirituality lies in her very fabric. The need
to attain Mukti (Salvation) and the need to be
transformed into Paramatma (Supreme Soul) is the
cry of every traditional Indian. It is for this reason, the
rivers overflow with people and pilgrimage sites
witness crushing crowds. People are in search of
something greater apart from the existential life.
The Moguls who conquered most of India
understood the cultural complexity of the landscape
and allowed it to thrive. The European invasion on
India made drastic changes in the social, cultural and
economic spheres of life. The British were successful
in eliminating all other European powers from Indian
soil. They wanted an unified India under the British
rule so that doing business would be easier. But their
aggressive measures resulted in the Indian National
Movement and the modern India was born on August
15, 1947. Thank God for Mahatma Gandhiji who led
most of the freedom struggle against the Britishraj
and for Dr.BhimraoAmbedkar who gave India one of
the best constitutions in the world. On the other hand, there is a young generation
who crave for meaning in life. They try to make it up
with education and relationships. But very soon they
feel the empty-pinch of life. It is for this very reason,
India has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
According to statistics, for every 3 seconds, a suicide
attempt is being made and 12 people kill themselves
every hour. Not only that, Indian roads kill more than
1 lakh people every year. The rich-poor divide is
increasing in an alarming rate and the crime rate is
surging. Though we have improved in literacy, the
unemployment rate is sky-rocketing. Morality is
redefined by the upcoming new generation. They
have rejected the traditional Indian family culture
and have chosen a 'Relative Morality', which does not
differentiate between good and bad. Moral education
in India is on the down slide. The Naxal problem
(insurgent groups which do not believe in
democracy) in the Central-East India poses a threat to
national integrity. The borders remain tense.
National disasters kill more people in India.
India' s Current Struggles
Ever since India was born in the year 1947, the
nation has come a long way. The literacy rate has
increased and the country has made progress in the
fields of science and technology. India today boasts
of having an indigenous space programme and the
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is growing, making
it as one of the fastest growing economies of the
world. But all of these developments are producing
an one-sided effect. Although Modern India is
developing in terms of education and economy, the
This is the state of modern India. She is
wounded and bleeding; and she is crying. She is in
need of Good News. Are you hearing it's cry?
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