Himanshu Acharya writes – Gujarat deserves more from NRGs
Himanshu Acharya writes – Gujarat deserves more from NRGs
By Himanshu Acharya
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 20 October, 2009
Dear Non-Residential Gujaratis & NRIs, this article is for them who have gone to foreign countries thinking that let go to foreign, earn some handsome amount in dollar or pound etc & will be back within 5-6 year and then live life peacefully and serve relatives, society, Gujarat. But unfortunately the same could not be returned in 10-15-20 years.
Common picture of contributions
There is no doubt they are doing for their village, their community up to some extent, but totally insufficient, otherwise there would be no poverty, illiteracy there in particular community, society. Main thing is that NRG/NRI is only interested in making one Decorated Gate at Village Entrance or bench in village garden or chawk in the name of their mother/father or beloved ones.
* When their precious time is required for encouraging young generation, they do a make a Clock Tower in their village and name it after their beloved ones and get satisfied.
* When their experience is required in guiding the community or society to perform best, they give chief guest speech and appearance and feel proud.
* When their expertise and money is required to build some assets like schools, central gober gas plant or any long term useful thing for the their own Village, they are happy in making Entrance Gate in Village and name it to their family members.
Society-centric approach needed-some directions
So people have to think their selves, in which direction they want to go, self-centric, family-centric OR society-centric. They all have guts and now money power to do so otherwise they cannot live in foreign country till date. So main thing now is to think beyond towers, Entrance Gates, benches and target on maximum employment generation with maximum gain to villagers. Few examples, what they can do;
* Make central Gober Gas Plant in their home village/town and surrounding 5 villages. So that there will be constant energy and fertilizer source for future, and for maintaining same employment will be also generated. Now in almost all the villages houses have cattle so it will be easy also. They need to search/research latest development in this field, import the same to their village and see it implemented and well maintained.
* Promote the local specialty business/art internationally and make more employment and prosperity. Use their foreign contacts to promote the local business/art. Adopt local SAKHI MANDAL and made them good village level business houses just like you have promoted your business in foreign land.
* Use combination of contract farming and organic farming and install latest technology in farming and make everyone involved in it more and more happier. Don’t just make farm house in villages make it farm mandir by above and also add dairy farming component in it.
* Think for whole village, community and ultimately whole society. Promote the education more and more, start from your own community and set the example. Think beyond mid day meal school schemes and design your own schemes for local school full attendance and enrolment. Government will surely support you in such things now under PPP model.
* Make whole village floored with kota stones just like 100 years back instead of RCC.
Something to think
There are many such things which can make whole Gujarat better to best. Only thing needed is your support with intention like to do something for society and that also without any expectation.
Tell me, do you find following things there?
o morning tea at tea stall where 2-3 newspapers are there and people discussing the current topics with extra joy.
o Eateries where early morning you can take phaphda, jalebi, samosa , kachori or ganthiya and people queue up for the same.
o Office friends and area friends with whom you can sit at the night or weekends and discuss how’s life going, troubles, support etc. You can play with them, arrange some local celebrations etc.
o Family relatives with whom you can share your past good memories & enjoy each and every occasion starting from God Bharai to till Besna.
o Government support in each and every thing starting from online birth certificate to become entrepreneurship with human touch, very liberal approach now, they change the laws accordingly.
o Temples like Dwarka, Somnath, Ambaji, Dakor, Shamlaji, Pavagadh, Junagadh, Ashapura, Matano Madh, Pipalav, Vadtal, Bochasan, Palitana, spread across Gujarat and tourist places like Ambaji, Abu, Mandvi, Div, Pirotan islands, saputara, Nal Sarovar, Zanzari, Narmada Dam site, Kutch Rann and many more.
o Don’t you miss festivals lime Utarayan, Vibrant Gujarat (it is now festival in Gujarat) , Holi, Shivratri, Gujarat Din (1st May), Janmashtmi, Rath Yatra, NARVATRI, Diwalli, Annakoot. Taking blessings of our elders in each festivals etc.
o Don’t you like to be a part of special Gujarat Government celebrations like 26th January, 15th August and 1St may(Gujarat Din) which are now celebrated other than Gandhinagar. Now it is celebrated in different District Headquarter each time and you will be really amazed to see festive mood during that period in that particular District. Don’t you want to see successful Vibrat Gujarat Summit, Krishi Mahotsav (every May month), Kanya Kelvani Mahotsav, Vibrant Navratri, Kutch Sharodatsav, Ranotsav, Modhera Sun Festival, Vadnagar Tanariri Mahotsav, Vibrant Navratri celebrated by Gujarat Government. Please note Govt has now whole year calendar full of activities for every department.
Now don’t compare all above things with mere things you are getting over there, like;
* Cleanliness far better from Gujarat, but tell me didn’t you played in same mitti, sand in your childhood. Cleanliness is necessary, but not a must thing, sometimes it is required to learn something. Now Guj Gov has initiated Nirmal Gujarat abhiyan and it has received good response.
* Second point you will tell that here in foreign you earn some good amount of money; but at which cost; you all know the answer. Just accept it now.
* Other point is good Government support system; It is now available here also, just come and feel it. Better life is also available here today, just visit Amdavad today and feel the changes.
* Now you will tell it is very hot in Gujarat; yes it is true, but we don’t have control over it, then also situation is changing little bit due to large scale Govt Initiatives like checkdams, boribandh, tree plantation, mangroves, open canals etc.
Now there are no more points you can tell me, and I have so many things to tell you. So just don’t think much, just give a chance to your heart over your mind and decide accordingly. Money is not the driving force you mind and your good intention is the only driving force in you. So don’t wait for enough money, just get necessary money and go for your goals with which you had left the Gujarat. Don’t wait to convert million into billion, come here and get joy (santosh or satisfaction) worth trillions by making more and more employment, educations to all.
So people who have read till this line will definitely think about it and try to do the same, but here I would like to tell you that do not only try, just make it confirm. Your decision will surely give fruits within short time. Trust my words and your heart both and see the extraordinary results. This is the best time when Gujarat is celebrating Golden Jubilee.
Please Note: I am also an IT engineer. I also aspired to do something for my community, society after earning something. I had got chance to go foreign countries, but I had given preference to my family & society. I accept that with healthy money backup it is very easy, but without it, it is not that much difficult main thing is intention. So I waited for some years and now finally chosen the second way till I create first one. I will do this kind of indirect work and motivate and lead others who can do that right away. By doing this my ultimate intention is to serve my society, Gujarat and finally India.
Author can be reached at himanshu.acharya@gmail.com
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I am a NRG. I appreciate the passion you demonstrate in your writing, however, I think your message is misdirected. If you take a step back, this type of message should be directed at local resident Indians to channel their resources locally – why are NRGs and NRIs being targeted for your anger and frustration. One thing we should do is promote organic growth and support and not look externally – whatever we get from overseas is gravy.
Instead of focusing on preparing and breaking LIMCA records, we should encourage our youth to focus on innovation – aimm for NOBEL prize instead. I agree with you that instead of creating opportunities for doctors, engineers, etc. – we should support the agrarian economy and related activities. Villages and its residents are being totally ignored at the expense of city dewellers.
When local – domestic population develops respect for its country, this is the best solution rather than pointing finger externally. This creates a misunderstanding and raises false hopes. I think you could do the country a big favor by challenging the domestic leadership and intellectuals. Finally, nobody deserves anything – unless it comes from within.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Himanshu,
Nice article. I feel if NAMO will read he will appoint you on some good position like mayor or governor
so you can work well for Gujarat.
Himansu,
You are misguided. People home is where they live. NRI and NRG home is where thet live as well. If You want to build sanitation plant in every village, people living in the village need to be active. They can not look for hand out. People in the village should actively participlate to promote their town and should demand to government to create development projects for their village. I think you will lot better working within political system that Gujarat has.
MR. HIMANSHU, MOST NRGS HAVE DONE PLENTY AND YOU KNOW IT..
THE TROUBLE WITH WE GUJARATIS HAVE THAT WE ALWAYS EXPECT MORE AND MORE …
WE DO NOT USE OUR ASSETS PROPERLY…
YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH “KAM CHORI” IN EVERY WHERE ….
THOSE “KAM CHOR” WILL NEVER SURVIVE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES ONE DAY…
THE PEOPLE WITHOUT MORALS AND ETHICS WILL HAVE TO SUFFER…..
NUMBER OF TEMPLES DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE HAVE MORALS AND ETHICS….
MR. HIMANSHU, PEOPLE WITHOUT NATIONAL PRIDE WILL BECOME SLAVES….
JAY SHREE KRISHNA…
mr himanshu. the idea of expecting things from others, donations from others itself is a crime. why not become self sufficient. I see gujaratis doing great progress in all areas of life. If you know economics you must also know that the amount of money that i have sent back for home renovation or taking a car is in a way contributing to economy. this money gets circulated among the carpentars and mechanics.
Also dont forget,
M.K gandhi was an NRG.
Sam Pitroda is a NRG who revolutionized telecom sector.
the article is based on a perception that people wanted to return back to gujarat after 5-6 years. that is wrong. most people want to live india/gujarat for usa for forever. they never think of coming back except in their retiremend age.
Simple economics teaches that when a NRG spends 20-30lakhs in marriage..that money is being circulated in the economy. this in a way is huge stimulus package.
Dear NRG friends,
Some more thoughts
@KENT: I accept that NRGs has done many things, I only try to give it proper direction so that it can be useful to villagers as well as future generation. You rightly said that temples don’t show morals or ethics, it shows cultural richness of our society. People with national pride at only heart is also slave, it should be in our action/work so that this pride can be increased further and further and our society also elevates. When you the problems, why don’t you try to change it. Use your knowledge and experience till date you gathered in foreign land to make people efficient, optimum use of our assets and creating more assets. And finally expecting more and more from our brothers/sisters is not bad thing.
@KIRIT: Govt is doing at its best today; there is no doubt about it. But I asked for your help only to expedite that and to make it more efficient and more useful by your experience and knowledge gained during past years. Gujarat has used PPP(public private partnership ) model in its current growth model, so give your portion well and feel satisfied.
@BAKUL : there is no question of anger or frustration, I have answer for each and everything, but my main interest is to generate more and more employment with maximum joy. So if you like organic farming, please promote it. This is not the pointing fingers externally, this is call to join the change, if you want to do something, do it right away.
Ultimately, this article is all about to do something for society without any expectation or questions. Finally “thinking good is good, doing good is better, but being good is best”. So we have to now leave behind first one, go for second one aiming third one. Just answer one question how many people have been benefitted by your efforts till date?. Debating is not our object, our object is some fruitful thing. Really this one is very good learning experience.
I would like to ask straight to Himansu what you have done so far for Gujarat apart from writing this article?
You are another victim of syndrom where you always think what others have to do for society.
Seems like NRIs are easy target without knowing that NRIs are 2nd largest remitance community globally.
Himansubhai grow up and see yourself first in the mirror before wasting space.
Good luck:)
Kamlesh Savaliya
London
I would agree partly with you Himanshu that not a great amount of development has reached villages yet. Even in the cities, the percentage of people living below poverty line and in unhygienic conditions is very high. Non-resident Indians and particularly Non-resident Gujaratis have done some developmental work and I understand your passion and appreciate your appeal that NRGs can do more.
Having said that, I want you to also look upon the fundamental problem in Gujarat as well as India and that leads us to the arguments posted by people here. I agree with most of them because if the developmental work has to be done in villages, it needs to involve people living in villages. NRGs can bring their money in but people need to work for their own betterment and development.
You have given a complete emotional touch to your article stating examples of NRGs missing their festivals, culture, friends, family and food. Yes, we all miss that and these are the things that strengthens our attachment to our native soil and bring us back. All the things that you have mentioned including cleanliness, heat, government support and income generation are no big deal when we visit Gujarat. The thing that matters the most is the attitude of people.
I will tell you my own example. I am doing my last year of residency now and income of resident physicians are not that great even in USA. I sent some money to an institution in Ahmedabad which works for the underprivileged children and I was assured that whatever reason I am sending them for will be taken care of. I sent money only because it is very difficult for us to physically come there and work because of time constraints. With this goodwill gesture, I would expect that the money that I sent would be used properly for those children. When I went to India after 6 months and inquired about what happened with those money and whether they were used for the purpose they were intended to, no one gave me a clear answer. I asked the children about them but it was difficult to get the information from them as they didn’t know much about it. Finally, one of my friend who was remotely affiliated with them told me that they distributed money among themselves.
If this is the attitude of people, then how would you expect other to help them? Do people believe in honesty, morals, work ethics? The answer sadly is most of them don’t. Government support, the less you talk the better it is. Because I know that in 2007, to get one official document, I had to pay (bribe) 1000 Rs extra and still had to wait more than 10 days when all that was required was one sign and stamp. Just to collect that one document, I had to drive from Dharnidhar to Civil Hospital daily for 11 days. Do you think I like to bribe people? I had to do it because I had 21 days total to stay in India and I had to fly back. It was the same BJP Government and same administration at that time.
I am not generalizing that all people are bad, neither I am saying that things haven’t improved but until people themselves become active for their own betterment and until Government doesn’t take the public-private partnership initiative with the local people who are wealthy enough to support development, all other attempts are futile. Yes, NRGs can contribute but if there has to be a development, it has to come through the efforts of local government and people residing in the area. If you seriously think that development hasn’t reached the villages yet, which we know is true, then why do we always see the rosy picture presented to the public.
Our ultimate intention is also to serve the society and ultimately India. But that does not happen when people who have power misuse it, when people have no attitude for hard work and when people depend on others to help them.
Thanks
Hello Guys,
What NRG and Modi company did is raise the bar of living standard, they expanded limits of city, so villages became part of city and and all those farmers become millionaires,they loose interest in farming and now we have to import vegetables and lentils from other state. Middle class having big difficulty who has to live in city to do their jobs in service sectors, can’t afford a 2bedroom apartment, schools and living standard.
The farmers stop farming dreaming, one day he will be millionaire, so why waste life farming, All this NRG will bring businesses to Gujarat and govt will give them land, why don’t govt help the local people(middle class) to get 2bedroom apartment at affordable prices (not cheap).
NRG invest money in real estate, they buy lands (65% NRGs are belongs to framing family), then city limit expands they become more reach, so its not that NRG is helping Gujarat, they are making more money in India then where they are now.
Yes, some NRG does good for their villages, we have to appreciate that, but sometimes they have to follow where their help is landing to, they get their name on school, but did that school doing well, do the teachers come and teach?
I talked lot about middle class, now lets talk about poor people, who is helping them? NO ONE
I request Mr Modi to develop some Non Profit Org, so NRG can give money and ask question How Money Spends and Who get benefits.
I hope Mr Modi should come with Middle Class Mahotsav, Poor People Mahotsav. We sould have SOCIAL BALANCE MAHOTSAV, so all Gujarati has same proud like NGO, Modiji and businessmen.
Rajiv
change the rat politician…….india need revolution…………..if we bring all money from swiss bank we rock……why nrg better off because they work hard and mainly the government which provide healthy atmosphere to run any businesses in u.k. n u.s.a.
ASK SIMPLE QUESTION TO ANY INDIAN IF HE IS JOBLESS…HE WOULD BLAME GOD WHILE IN U.K OR U.S.A PEOPLE BLAME GOVERNMENT.
IN INDIA THE BENEFIT OF DEMOCRACY REACH UPTO THE POLITICIANS.INDUSTRIALIST AND DHARMAGURUS WHILE THE COMMON PEOPLE IS STILL STRUGGLING………………….WAKE UP N RAISE UR VOICE
FORGET ALL WHAT HAPPEND IN THE PAST,NOW NRG HAVE TO DECIDE WHATTHEY HAVE TO DO FOR GUJARAT,ACCORDING TO CURRENT POSITION 20LACS NRG OUT SIDE INDIA,AND ALMOST 25 LACS GUJARATI IN OTHER PART OF INDIA,IN WORLD NO COMMUNITY SPREAD LIKE THIS FIGURE,IF WE CONSIDER 20 LACS GUJARTI IN THE WORLD THEY PAY ATLEAST$2 PER HEAD EVERY YEARFOR GUJARAT,THE AMOUNT WILL BE ALMOST 18CR,SEE THE MIRACLE,NOW THE MAIN THING IN WHICH AREA UPDATION IS REQUIREMENT IN VILLAGES,SEE ALMOST 40%GUJARAT POULATION RESIDE IN MAHANAGARPALIKA,NAGARPALIKA,I THINK THEY ARE ALMOST GOOD FACILITY LIKE LIGHT,ROAD,WATER ,NOW FOR REMAINING FOR 17000,VILLAGES IF NRG DECIDE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES LIKEWATER,ROAD,HOSPITAL,SCHOOL,NO DOUBT GOG PROVIDE THIS FACILITY ALREADY BUT NRG CAN PROVIDE BY UTILIZING THEIR FUND.MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO ALL NRG MAKE A CHARITY FUND FOR GUJARATPOLICE,ARMY PERSON FROM GUJARAT,IF SUPPOSE POICEMARMY PERSON LOST THEIR LIFE IN ROITS,OR ON BORDER,PROVIDE HANDSOME AMOUNT TO THEIR DEPENDENT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE,THIS YEAR GUJARAT LOST ALREADY 3 ARMY PERSON,I DONT KNOW WHAT GOG HAS GIVEN TO THEIR FAMILY,BUT IF NRG SPECIAL CREAT SPECIAL CHARITY FUND FOR THEM BY PAYING JUST$2 EVERY,THEY CAN MAKE MIRACLE,APART FROM THAT GUJARAT HAVE ALMOST 15%TRIBAL POPULATION,2%FISHERMAN(MACHIMAR) POPULATION MAKE SPECIAL FUND FOR THAT,GO BY SPECIAL PROFESSION,SEGREATE THEM AND THEN PROVIDE FUND.
No, it is the other way around…
It is the NRGs who expect more from Gujarat, otherwise all their money is going to go into a Swiss-bank black hole drain.
TO SHREE HIMANSHU ACHARYA
YES I DO AGREE WITH SOME OF YOUR THINKING.BUT
NRI AND NRG ARE NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT BE THINKING. EARLY ONES LEFT, NOT PLANNING TO SETTLE IN FOREIGN COUNTRY ,BUT MOST OF THEM WENT EMPTY HANDED WITH DEBT ( TICKET,TUTION AND OTHER EXPENSES). WORKED AND STUDIED AND SENT MONEY HOME. HOW THEY LIVED THEIR LIFE I HAVE WITNESSED AND I BET NO ONE IN THIS GENERATION WILL EVEN DREAM TO LIVE. DID WITHOUT CARS IN BELOW FREEZING TEMP, WITHOUT GUJARATI OR EVEN INDIAN FOOD, NO SOCIAL LIFE, NO PHONE CALLS TO PARENTS OR SPOUSES FOR YRS.SOME 7-10 YRS. HALF OF THEIR LIFE SALARIES SPENT FOR FAMILIES,FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN INDIA TO HELP WITH DEBTS, MARRIAGES,SCHOOLS AND STARTING BUSINESSES, WHICH NEVER RETURNED TO THEM. PROBLEM WAS GOVERNMENT AT THAT TIME TO GET ANYTHING DONE SMOOTHLY.THEY LEFT THEIR SHARE OF LAND,PROPERTY,HOUSES THAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO BUY,FORGET ABOUT ANYTHING FROM PARENTS. JOBS THAT THEY LEFT SOMEONE ELSE OCCUPIED, PROPERTY SOMEONE ELSE USED, MONEY THEY SEND WERE USED BY FAMILY OR RELATIVES OR SOMETIME FRIENDS.YES IF USED WISELY IT WOULD HAVE HELPED MORE BUT EXCHANGE RATES WERE NOT LIKE WHAT THEY ARE TODAY. MOST OF THEM SILENTLY CONTRIBUTED FOR WHATEVER THEY CAN DO WITHOUT EVEN ASKING. BUT IN SHORT THEY STRUGGLED BIG TIME. THEY HAD NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. ONCE YOU STEP OUT OF COUNTRY YOUR OWN START TREATING YOU AS FOREIGNER AND SOMETIME YOU WONDER HOW WELL YOU WILL BE ACCEPTED BACK IN SAME SOCIETY. FRIEND OF US STARTED BUSINESS WHILE STILL IN USA WITH BROTHER IN INDIA. WHEN HE RETURNED BROTHER HAD CHEATED HIM BIG TIME AND HE LOST HIS JOB IN USA AND LIFE TIME EARNING AND SAVING IN BUSINESS IN INDIA. WHAT YOU GOING TO DO ? TAKE BROTHER TO COURT ? FAMILY WILL NOT TAKE FOREIGNER’S SIDE BCZ YOU ARE PERCEIVED RICH EVEN IF YOU ARE POOR. EACH ONE HAD THEIR OWN STORY AND EXPERIENCES IN CORRUPTED GUJARAT THAT FORCED THEM TO MAKE DECISION TO STAY. NOBODY WANTED TO SETTLE IN FOREIGN COUNTRY IF THEY DID NOT HAVE TOO. BUT THE POPULATION THAT HAS SETTLED OUTSIDE HAS HELPED AND IF THEY ALL HAD STAYED AND TAKEN JOBS IN GUJARAT THAT MANY LESS JOBS YOU MIGHT HAVE THERE. OF COUSE IN MODI’S GUJARAT EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO RETURN. TELL YOU THE TRUTH THE ONLY PERSON THAT WELLCOMES NRIS WITHOUT PERSONAL GAINS IS MR. MODI IN GUJARAT BETTER THAN YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS….BEFORE HIM CORRUPTION HAD MADE PPL BLIND,SELFISH,THIEF TO THE POINT THAT MANY WERE FORCED TO LIVE IN FOREIGN COUNTRY. THEN CAME THE DOLLAR CRAZE AS EXCHANGE RATE ROSE AND EVERY PERSON WANTED TO LAND IN FOREIGN LAND BY HOOK OR CROOK. THEY CONTINUED THEIR CORRUPT WAYS EVEN ON FOREIGN LAND AND WHATEVER THEY SAVED BY NOT PAYING TAXES, TUTION, OR FAIR WAGES THEY BROUGHT THERE TO BUILD TEMPLES,GATES AND MAKE BIG NAME. INDIA OR FOREIGN COUNTRY—IF A PERSON WANTS TO WORK AND ACHIEVE AND CHANGE SOCIETY IT’S POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUTSIDE MONEY. LISTEN TO MR. MODI’S SPEECHES—-HE NEVER ASKS FOR MONEY.HE ALWAYS SAYS THERE ARE PLENTY OF MONEY AND PROGRAMS, JUST JOIN HIM,SUPPORT HIM,HELP HIM WIN AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO. WHAT NO ONE HAD DONE IN 60 YRS OF INDEPENDENCE HE HAS DONE IN 9 YEARS. HE DID NOT BEG FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN EDUCATION, UNITY, AND VOLUNTEER TIME THAT YOUTH IN GUJARAT AND INDIA HAS PLENTY. IF YOU SUM UP NRI HAVE GIVEN UP MUCH MORE THAN THEIR GAIN. BUT THAT’S LIFE.
jai shri Krishna!
Money is NOT the problem for Gujarat, neither is the brain power, what we lack is enough will power to stick to our ethos. We fail to do our home-work (as done by AB.Vajpayee) and fail to follow the fundamentals strictly.
Modi-bhai is trying very hard to challenge the chamchaagiri culture.
For a macro-level change and for fulfilling the promised way of ‘Hind Swaraj’ , He HAS TO succeed in dethroning the self-destructive Congress/Gandhi obligation business, that has been imposed onto the masses by the corrupt media.
Our indifference and our mistaken identities, has killed innumerable patriotism, civility, and unity in diversity, while pushing us back (in terms of our sustainability, our potential, and our purchasing power) by a century through a mindless haste.
The BIGGEST BIGGEST problem faced by our villages is our dwindling purchasing power abilities. And that is single biggest contribution for the lack of teeth among common farmers to perform well.
Suddenly, our politicians are brainwashing them into socialism/capitalism/’aam aadmii/’garibi hatao’/'muslims first’ tactics, and giving them a false dreams to get bigger share for the pie, which is completely unrealistic and the majority ends up being depressed.
Our purchasing power went down, because first people blindly kept on voting for the Congress politicians for 65 years, who diverted all the aid and world bank loans into their personal accounts, thus devaluing our rupee on account of external debt trap. The inflation arising from increase in outsourcing of our western lifestyle is the prevalent factor for our dwindling purchasing power now, but nobody wants to change, people like Himanshubhai only want others to change.
Only a pure volunteer force running under principles of Ram karseva to stir our conscience (as was done during Satyagraha, Sarvodaya, Navnirman, movement), can bring us out of the dark maze.
I am frequent but passive user of deshgujarat.com blog and hardly reply to any post. I appreciate your care for society, love for motherland and even a reasonable attempt to spread it through deshgujarat.com. I understand the state of mind when any responsible person sees chaos all around even after 60+ years of independence. When rationally analyzed, your article is based on presumptions, few views, emotions and even bit opiniated and here is why.(don’t get it personally. The purpose is not to criticize but to inject more fuel to the ongoing conversation and draw attention of others.)
1. When I visit Ahmedabad/Gujarat, I really ignore issues like corruption, hot climate, bad attitude/habits of people. It’s ironical that under “Nirmal Gujarat” initiative government promotes awareness about cleanliness but you won’t find trash bins in public places.
2. I agree that Ahmedabad and Surat have much improved infrastructre and many projects are undergoing. Good infrastrutcure can’t be the only reason for moving back to Gujarat though it fascilitates better life. How about law enforcement? Can any ordinary person expect justice and leave peacefully without political influence. Even as an ordinary citizen, you can get respect and justice in US. No political influence will work here.
How about value of human life, disciplined system and emeregency care? It’s beyond comparison and everyone knows that.
3.You can’t expect improved society by just donating money and creating infrastructure, gas/sewage plants etc. Society/country is all about peole who are part of it. To see better society, we have to create more jobs, turn unorganized labor into organized, adopt advanced agriculture technologies. And all these can’t be done without conquering basic issues including poverty and illiteracy.
Merely donating money won’t help otherwise Govt has tons of money to do that.
4. You didn’t go abroad coz you wanted to do something for India. I appreciate that you want to do something for India. But by not going abroad what did you do so far for your country? Or at least do you really have any detailed plans for near future? Ideas and intentions are pioneering step in any task you undertake but detailed implementation plan is equally necessary. So go beyond ideas.
5. About organic farming: I already have a detailed plan for organic farming and creating jobs in agriculture sector to incorporate it in organized economy. I tried to purchase small piece of agriculture land in Gujarat but I couldn’t as I am not farmer.(Most real estate developers are farmers and they acquire agriculture land, convert it to “Non Agriculture’ and starts construction. What a farce!!! What’s the purpose of farmers’ land protection law if it defeats the purpose!!!). Then I tried to acquire semi waste land from government on 50 years lease and oh my my…too many formalities!!! I accomplished but still didn’t get any positive outcome.
6. I certainly miss festivals and local atmosphere in US but we celebrate Navratri, Diwali and all other festivals here. i even played ‘Garba’in open streets till 3 O’clock in night in Jersey City and I have lot of family members and friends are here so I enjoy my life here. To cut the story short, person enjoys the place where he has company to enjoy, no matter what the place is.
And don’t you know, ‘Jyan vase Gujarati, tyan vase sada kaal Gujarat’.
7. and last, why only Gujarat? I am Indian first and Gujarati later. There are plenty of people both inside and outside Gujarat who need ideas, help, finance and much more.
I am always ready to contribute with my knowledge, finance or any damn thing(you just name it!!!) for India on any day.
But show me the plan. Please come up with some concrete and I am more than happy to help.
Jai Bharat!!!
Mr. Parshva Vora, I completely agree with you. If you read my argument, I have pretty much written the same thing what you have written.
@ k
Can you please write in small letters instead of writing everything in capital? It becomes really difficult to read after few lines. Thanks.
This is an interesting article that I read couple of months back from Dr. Gunvant B. Shah. It was about complete development and not the development of infrastructure only. For those who don’t know Dr. Gunvant Shah. Dr. Gunvant B. Shah. He was born in Rander (Surat) on March 12, 1937; was educated in Surat and Baroda.
Worked as Lecturer and Reader in the M. S. University of Baroda, Baroda (1961-72); Visiting Professor to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (U.S.A.) in the year 1967-68; Professor and Head, Department of Education, Technical Teachers’ Training Institute, Madras (1972-73); Professor of Education S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Bombay (1973-74) Professor and Head, Department of Education South Gujarat University, Surat (India)
Chancellor International Association of Educators for World Peace (Gujarat State) President Indian Association for Education Technology.
He was a Vice-President of the Study Group on Economics of Media Technology, UNESCO Paris (1974), Attended International Seminar on Microteaching, University of Lancaster, U.K. (1975)
Represented India at the UNESCO Seminar in Leipzig, East Germany (1979)
Was a member of the Delegation to East Germany sent by the University Grants Commission (1979), Made a lecture tour of Zambia and Kenya (1980), Resource Person in the Twelth World Conference of International Council of Correspondence Education Vancouver, Canada (1982) and gave lecture in U.K., U.S.A., Japan and Thailand en route
Writes lyrical essays, poetry, novels in Gujarati. Published many books literary and educational.
Was a consultant to Asian Development Bank (Manila) for education in Bangladsh(1984-85)
Visiting Professor in Arizona State University, Tempe (U.S.A) in 1985
Was awarded Ranjitram Chandrak, The highest honour in Gujarati literature (1997).
Founder of a youth movement Panchasheel in Gujarat.
Spends his time in reading, writing, reflecting and self-actualizing.
This is really an interesting article and talks about development. Development not only in terms of developing infrastructure but a Sarvangi Vikas. I think similar way if people change their attitude towards hard work, have high morals and better ethics, it will also be considered as development.
ગુજરાતના સાડા પાંચ કરોડ લોકો કાન દઇને સાંભળે. ‘વિકાસ’ જેવો લફંગો શબ્દ જડવો મુશ્કેલ છે. આ શબ્દને અર્થશાસ્ત્રીઓએ અને વળી પર્યાવરણપ્રેમીઓએ પોતાની રીતે મચડયો છે. ભૌતિક વિકાસ અને માનવીય વિકાસ વચ્ચે કોઇ આંતરવિરોધ ન હોઇ શકે.
વડોદરાના જયપ્રકાશ નારાયણ માર્ગ પર નવા મોલ બને તેથી વડોદરા ડેવેલપ થવા લાગ્યું છે, એવો ભ્રમ ન સેવાય. એ જ રીતે સુરતમાં ફલાઇ ઓવર્સ બને કે અમદાવાદમાં રિવર ફ્રન્ટ બને તે જોઇને હરખાઇ જવામાં ઉતાવળ રહેલી છે. વિકાસનો ભ્રમ પણ મોટું આશ્વાસન પૂરું પાડનારો છે. આ વાત સાચી ખરી, પરંતુ બધા જ ભ્રમ સાવ જ તથ્ય વિનાના નથી હોતા. ‘વિકાસ’ શબ્દને સમજવા માટે છ અંગ્રેજી અક્ષરો યાદ રાખવા પડશે : ‘GDPHDI.’
વિચારનો એક ચકરાવો મારવો રહ્યો. જાણીતા અર્થશાસ્ત્રી રોબર્ટ ચેમ્બર્સે ૧૯૭૦ની સાલમાં એક મૌલિક વિધાન કર્યું હતું : ‘મારી પાસે જો પૈસા હોત, તો મેં તેનો ઉપયોગ રસ્તા બાંધવામાં કર્યો હોત. જો મારી પાસે વધારે પૈસા હોત, તો મેં વધારે રસ્તા બંધાવ્યા હોત. જો મારી પાસે પછી પણ વધારે પૈસા બરયા હોત, તો મેં પછી પણ વધારે રસ્તા બંધાવ્યા હોત.’ આ વિધાનમાં રહેલી મધુર અતિશયોકિત સમજવા જેવી છે.
અર્થશાસ્ત્રીઓએ ‘ગરીબી રેખા’ વિશે ઘણી વાતો કરી છે. ભારત જેવા દેશનો સઘળો પ્રયત્ન ગરીબી રેખાની નીચે જીવતા લોકોની સંખ્યા ઘટતી જાય, ઘટતી જાય અને છેવટે શૂન્ય થઇ જાય એ દિશામાં હોવો જોઇએ. ગાંધીજીએ ગરીબીને ‘હિંસાનું સૌથી ભૂંડું સ્વરૂપ’ ગણાવ્યું હતું. આમ ગરીબી નાબૂદ થાય તેમાં પણ અહિંસાનું જ અભિવાદન થતું હોય છે. આ એક એવો મુદ્દો છે, જે અંગે મૂડીવાદીઓ અને પર્યાવરણવાદીઓ વચ્ચે કોઇ મતભેદ ન હોવો જોઇએ. ઇન્દિરા ગાંધીએ ગરીબીને ‘સૌથી વધુ પ્રદૂષણ કરનારી’ ઘટના ગણાવી હતી. હવે આ બે કહેવાતા શત્રુઓ વચ્ચે મેળ પડે તેવી વાત કરવી છે. શું ભૌતિક અને માનવીય વિકાસ વચ્ચે સમન્વય શકય છે?
અર્થશાસ્ત્રીઓએ જાડી ગણતરી માંડી છે. એ ગણતરીમાં દમ છે. નવા નવા રસ્તા બાંધવા માટે વપરાયેલા રૂપિયા દસ લાખને કારણે ૩૩૫ જણ ગરીબી રેખાની ઉપર આવવા પામે છે. જો રૂપિયા દસ લાખ સિંચાઇ પાછળ ખર્ચાય તો ૬૭ જણ ગરીબી રેખાની ઉપર આવે છે. જો રૂપિયા દસ લાખ શિક્ષણ પાછળ વપરાય તો ૧૦૯ જણ ગરીબી રેખાની ઉપર આવે છે. જો રૂપિયા દસ લાખ રિસર્ચ એન્ડ ડેવેલપમેન્ટ (R & D) પાછળ વપરાય તો ૩૨૩ જણા ગરીબી રેખાની ઉપર આવે છે.
જે લોકો ઝૂંપડપટ્ટીમાં કે ગામડે જઇને ગરીબોની સેવા કરે છે તેઓનું લક્ષ્ય એ હોવું જોઇએ કે એમની સેવા કાળક્રમે બિનજરૂરી બની જાય તેવી પરિસ્થિતિનું નિર્માણ કરવું. કોઇ પ્રદેશ કે સમાજ વિકાસ પામ્યો છે, એમ કયારે કહેવાય? એ પ્રદેશને કે સમાજને લોકસેવકની જરૂર ન રહે ત્યારે જાણવું કે વિકાસ થયો છે.
બંબાખાનામાં આગના બનાવો અંગે જતા ટેલિફોનોની સંખ્યા ઘટે ત્યારે બંબાખાનાના સ્ટાફને ખોટું નથી લાગતું. જો સમાજમાં અસંખ્ય પરિવારો વ્યાયામ, પ્રાણાયામ અને ઘ્યાનનું મહત્ત્વ સમજે તો મેડિકલ સ્ટોર્સ પર જનારા ગ્રાહકોની સંખ્યા અવશ્ય ઘટે. આવું બને તે ‘વિકાસ’ ગણાય. ટ્રાફિક સેન્સ અંગે વ્યાપક લોકશિક્ષણ અપાય તો અકસ્માતોની સંખ્યા ઘટે. આવું બને તે પણ ‘વિકાસ’ ગણાય.
એચ.આઇ.વી.પોઝિટિવ હોય, એવા લોકોની સંખ્યા ઘટે એ પણ ‘વિકાસ’ ગણાય. વૈજ્ઞાનિક મિજાજનો વિકાસ થાય અને અંધશ્રદ્ધા તથા વહેમનું પ્રમાણ સમાજમાં ઘટે, તો તે પણ ‘વિકાસ’ કહેવાય. દહેજ, ગુટખાસેવન અને ધૂમ્રપાન જેવાં અનિષ્ટોનું પ્રમાણ ઘટે, તો તે પણ ‘વિકાસ’ કહેવાય. હુલ્લડ, ચોરી, લૂંટફાટ અને બળાત્કારનું પ્રમાણ ઘટે, તો તે પણ ‘વિકાસ’ કહેવાય.
વિકાસ કઇ ચકલીનું નામ છે? ભૌતિક અને આર્થિક વિકાસની અવગણના ગાંધીના નામે પણ ન થવી જોઇએ. વળી કેવળ સ્થૂળ વિકાસથી જ હરખાઇ જઇને માનવીય વિકાસની અવગણના મોડનિર્ટીના નામે પણ ન થવી જોઇએ. આખા ને આખા માનવીના જીવનની સમગ્ર ગુણવત્તા વધે તેમાં ‘વિકાસ’ શબ્દનું સૌંદર્ય રહેલું છે. એકવીસમી સદી આવા અખિલાઇથી શોભતા વિકાસ માટે અનામત રાખવાની છે. પછીની વાત પછી!
અર્થશાસ્ત્રીઓના ત્રણ પ્રિય અક્ષરો છે : ‘GDP’ યાને ગ્રોસ ડોમેસ્ટિક પ્રોડકટ. બહુ સમજ નથી પડતી, પરંતુ એટલું સમજાય છે કે એ આર્થિક વિકાસના માપદંડ સાથે જોડાયેલી ખાસી તગડી સંકલ્પના છે. એની અવગણના કયારેક રોમેન્ટિક ઢબે કરવામાં આવે છે. ગાંધીજીએ ૧૯૦૯માં ‘હિંદ સ્વરાજ’ પુસ્તક લખ્યું હતું. બસ, હજી ઘણા લોકોની પિન ત્યાં જ અટકી ગઇ છે. સાંભળો : તેઓ કાર, ટ્રેન અને વિમાનમાં પ્રવાસ કરે છે. તેઓ મોબાઇલ ફોન વાપરે છે. માંદા પડે ત્યારે તેઓ મિલ્ટનેશનલ કંપનીઓમાં બનેલી એલોપથીની દવાઓ લે છે. તેઓ એકસ્પ્રેસ હાઇવે પર ટોલ ભરે છે.
તેઓને ત્યાં કોમ્પ્યુટર છે અને ઇન્ટરનેટ પર તેઓ સંદેશા વાંચે છે અને રવાના કરે છે. તેઓની કારમાં એસી છે. તેઓના ડાઇનિંગ ટેબલ પર સનમાયકા ચોંટેલું છે. તેમના બાથરૂમમાં પ્લાસ્ટિકની ડોલ છે. તેઓના ઘરમાં રિફાઇન્ડ નમક વપરાય છે. એમના ચશ્માં ગ્રામોધોગમાં તૈયાર નથી થયાં. એમના દાંતના ચોકઠામાં વપરાયેલું દ્રવ્ય એનિમલ ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રીની ‘નિર્દોષ’ અને હિંસામુકત પેદાશ નથી.
એમનાં પગરખાં ગામના મોચીએ બનાવેલાં નથી. હા, તેઓ ‘હિંદ સ્વરાજ’ પુસ્તક વાંચે ત્યારે ખાસી રાહત અનુભવે છે. દંભ જ રાહત આપે છે, સત્ય પજવે છે. (ગોપાલકષ્ણ ગોખલેએ ‘હિંદ સ્વરાજ’ને ‘એક મૂર્ખ માણસના સર્જન’ તરીકે ઓળખાવેલું. મનુભાઇ પંચોળી (દર્શક) પણ એ પુસ્તકના તીખા ટીકાકાર હતા.) કલાસકિલ ગાંધીવિચાર આજે પણ ભૌતિક વિકાસ સાથે સતત અથડાતો રહ્યો છે. ગાંધી-વિનોબા ઉદાત્ત અરાજકતાના પ્રેમમાં હતા. રાજય ક્ષીણ થાય અને મટી જાય તેવું તેમનું સ્વપ્ન હતું. એમ બને એ જરૂરી નથી. ગાંધીજીએ આપણી સ્વતંત્ર વિચારશકિત પર કયારેય પ્રતિબંધ મૂકયો ન હતો. સમયનો પ્રવાહ રિવર્સ ગિયર વિનાનો છે.
હવે બીજા ત્રણ અક્ષરો HDI (હ્યુમન ડેવેલપમેન્ટ ઇન્ડેક્ષ) ની વાત કરીએ. આવા માનવીય વિકાસની સંકલ્પના પાકિસ્તાનના અર્થશાસ્ત્રી સદ્ગત ડૉ.મહેબૂબ ઉલ હક તરફથી વિશ્વને મળી હતી. તેઓ જનરલ ઝિયાના શાસનમાં નાણાપ્રધાન પણ હતા. માનવીય વિકાસના આધારસ્તંભો છે : શિક્ષણ, આયુષ્ય, આરોગ્ય અને વિજ્ઞાન.
મહેબૂબભાઇનું એક વિધાન જાણીતું હતું : ‘અડધી રાતે જયારે ફળિયામાં કોઇ ભૂખ્યું બાળક રડી ઊઠે છે ત્યારે લશ્કરના જનરલ ટેન્કો ખરીદવા વિદેશ પહોંચી જાય છે.’ આ વિધાન ઇન્દિરા ગાંધીએ કોઇ પરિષદમાં પોતાના નામે પ્રગટ કર્યું ત્યારે ઊહાપોહ થયો હતો. ઇન્દિરાજીનો વાંક ન હતો. ગરીબી જેવી બીભત્સ બાબત બીજી કોઇ નથી. મનુષ્ય સુખપૂર્વક અને શાંતિપૂર્વક જીવવા ઝંખે છે. સુખ અને શાંતિને ભોગે થતો વિકાસ ખરેખર તો રકાસ છે. ભૌતિક વિકાસ (GDP) અને માનવીય વિકાસ (HDI) વચ્ચે સમન્વય ન થાય તો ગરીબી મટે પછી પણ જીવનની ગુણવત્તા ન સુધરે એમ બને.
ગુજરાતમાં નેનો ભલે આવે. ગંજાવર મૂડીરોકાણ થાય તેનો હરખ થાય એમાં કશું ખોટું નથી. આવા ભૌતિક વિકાસ (GDP) ની સાથોસાથ માનવીય વિકાસ (HDI) પણ થવો જોઇશે. કદાચ હવે ગુજરાતે માનવીય વિકાસ દ્વારા જીવનની ગુણવત્તા પર વધારે ભાર મૂકવો પડશે. આદિવાસી વિસ્તારોમાં કન્યાઓ નિશાળે જાય તે માટે થતો પ્રવેશોત્સવ, નેનો કાર આવી તેટલો જ મહત્ત્વનો છે. આદિવાસી વિસ્તારમાં રસ્તા, વીજળી, ઇન્ટરનેટ, સેલફોન, શિક્ષણ, આરોગ્યસેવાઓ અને પાણી પહોંચે ત્યારે કદાચ લોકસેવકની જરૂર નહીં પડે.
આગ હોલવાઇ જાય પછી પણ બંબો ત્યાં પડી રહેતો નથી. માનવ-ઇતિહાસમાં પહેલી વાર સન ૨૦૦૮માં દુનિયાની શહેરી વસ્તી, ગ્રામીણ વસ્તી કરતાં વધી ગઇ. ગામડાં હવે રૂઢ અર્થમાં ‘ગામડાં’ નથી રહેવાનાં. ગરીબી યુદ્ધની જનેતા છે. એ મનુષ્યતાને અપમાનિત કરનારી દુઘર્ટના છે. આવતીકાલે વિરાટ સૂર્યશકિત માનવીની મદદે આવવાની છે.
પૃથ્વી પર જોવા મળતું પ્રત્યેક છાપરું સોલર પેનલ બનવાનું છે. ગ્લોબલ વોર્મિંગ ઘટે તે માટે ઘરનાં છાપરાં સફેદ બનવાનાં છે. એરપોર્ટ પર બધા રનવે સફેદ રંગે રંગાવાના છે. દરિયા કિનારે પથરાયેલી લાખો એકર જમીનની રેતી પણ સફેદ રાખવી પડશે. એ ઘટનાને ‘આલ્બેડો ઇફેકટ’ કહે છે. અરે! કરોડો મોટરગાડીઓનાં છાપરાં પણ સફેદ રાખવાં પડશે. સૂર્યકિરણોનું વ્યાપક પરાવર્તન ગ્લોબલ વોર્મિંગ ઘટાડશે. વિમાનો પણ સૂર્યશકિત વડે ઊડવાનાં છે. એક વિમાન એ રીતે ઊડયું હતું.
એક જમાનામાં શિક્ષણનું વાહન ધર્મ હતું. આજે યુગ પલટાયો છે. હવે ધર્મનું વાહન શિક્ષણ બનવાનું છે. આવું બનશે ત્યારે નિશાળને મંદિરનો, મસ્જિદનો અને ચર્ચનો દરજજો પ્રાપ્ત થશે. આવતીકાલનો શિક્ષક વિશ્વશાંતિનો રખેવાળ હશે. હવે એક સાથે ‘GDPHDI’ અક્ષરો વાંચી જુઓ! આ નવી બારાખડીને વિકાસની સરગમ કહેવાનું યોગ્ય ગણાશે. શિક્ષક હોવું એટલે શું, તેની ખબર શિક્ષકોને જ ન હોય ત્યાં સુધી ગરીબીને નિરાંત છે.
Jai Shri Krishna!
Must watch this, it can answer a lot of questions raised in the article and in the debate.
It is time we shred all the different organizations sprouting around at the drop of a hat on fictitious lines…..
There is only one organization we all belong to and that is Maa Bharati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4xFCdOYTv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6s1R9iBjw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ZHak1lEr8
So long as ALL NRGs can hold onto their heritage of Bhakti at their home…. Performing Suryanamaskar to naturally earn credits/wealth thus alleviating personal poverty, and performing satsang to alleviate mindless haste, onlyh then will their (NRGs) kids will survive and Gujarat of course will survive naturally.
Remember, believing in Vasudaiv Kutumb can overcome all evils.
Hi All,
After having long debate about help to Villages in Gujarat and India, It seems that NRI and NRG are doing good enough and GOG also doing well nowadays, people of gujarat are doing well for betterment of their society and their family. But now I have some questions which I would like to ask to all Villagers, Indians and all NRI and NRGs?
How Much money do villagers spend on schools and education in Villages?……I have very bad experience about this. I went to my village and wanted to donate some money to School to set up small library and laboratory. But when I put up proposal for that to my family in Villages they refused my idea saying that its government responsibility and they forced me to donate that money for building small temple. In my village we have 13 different kinds of temples. Villagers have 3 times big function in a year where they get together and have food two times in a day for 3 days for a single function and they spend lacs of money on it. They have Navratri and brings Party and have lot of money to spend on decorations and all. They have money for all these things but they dont want to spend money on library, school, laboratory and education and all.
WE ALL HAVE TO THINK ON IT AND SHOULD COME UP WITH BEST SOLUTION FOR OUR BETTER INDIA.
JAY HIND.
Hi All,
http://ekalindia.org/ekal_new/index.php
This is an organization where you can donate money and it is being used for only education for poor people in India and good thing about this programme is that whatever I donate I get all money back from my government when I file tax return at the end of the year as per the government law. I been donating them since 3 years and I am getting all reports about my money where it is being used and how it is being used. I went to India to visit a small school who they have built for poor people. Very good thing about this is that only 10% of money is being used for administration purpose. I have donated money and I just told them to build a small school in small village without putting my name on it. If any one want to put their name of their parents name or loved ones then they also can do so and they can personally visit every year to check progress of the programme. I did so much search before donating my money on internet, on government database, by personally visiting many charities and organization but after all this is the best organization where you can feel that you have done something for our Mother India.
Jay Hind!
Vande Mataram!
Hello, every one,
This is very intresting debate. The most important thing is that we care for Gujarat and India.
It will be beneficial to all of us now that we all act on what is good for Gujarat and India.
I do my part and atleast tell all my friends that I lve in foreign country but my heart is in India.
“fir bhi dil hai Hindustani”
We all have trmendous potential. I do my part and I know and my “BHAGVAN” knows what I have done for my India.. Take care .We are here on this earth for only so many years…..
jay shree krishna….
Dear Friends
Its great to hear such views and we should appreciate everybody’s grieviances!! I am not from Gujarat and nor a Gujarati but appreciate the Progress of Gujarat and happy for every Gujarati.
I feel there are many issues like Population growth which needs to be handled…I hope Modiji comes out with a massive plan/programme or mahotsav on this issue……population is the cause of all problems – law, order, corruption, crime, competition etc etc.
Every individual has a responsibility to contribute to society in whichever way possible….!
Most Importantly we need to have strong laws/stronger implementation of law and public order maintainence by Police.
We spend a lot of money on religion and ‘name’ purposes….if the cost for religious purposes is brought down to minimum for 10 years a lot of funds can be used for welfare and then we can increase spending on religion…i am suggesting only a pause on it!!
We need to develop a platform to come together and do work on all these issues for next 5-10 years…we will get good results hopefully.
Finally Modiji is doing a lot for the state and we only need to support him!!
forget NRG. Shri Narendra Modi is doing more work the any of NRG. but what he gets? the people of gujarat didn’t bother to vote him. can you publishe how many gujrati vote for narendra modi dispite he is doing so great.
in india they look for some one work as mahatam ghandhi. when they have to do little bit they don’t do it.
they are not ready to give up their little bit.
what do you think ? their are not any people who doesn’t have money? what they are doing with their money?
i am sure there are plenty of gujarati who has more money then NRG. what they are using of their money and power?
jo upnoke madad nahi kar sakat hein usko toa bhaganve bhi madad nahi kar sakta.
i have plenty of idea if inidan really want their help.
1. how many gujarati has produe of their own thing? every one is belive that be wester is the greate thing.
how many people of gujarat do the reading? our people are so much lack in reading.. they don’t know any knowldge of world.
how can you expect better result. i am just talking about gujarat. forget about india where 52% live in slume.
let celebrate with cake and chrishmas..
have a happy chrismas to all wester gujaraties.
i have same experience. i have donate almost 2 hunderesdes books in local schood. what what the resule? they even not distibute those book to any of student since more then one year. people of india don’t like give up any thing. every one want more then other. how? they don’t know.
hum gulam hain gulami pasand hein. rajiv ghandhi and sonia ghandhi our god.
most stupid people live in india. our indian are made for slavery only.
the question is how many local gujarati read this debat (artical) i can see almost all comment are from NRG and non of local gujarati reads all these comment.
can you publish who many people visit deshgujarat from all over the world. i am sure 70% are must be NRI.
and rest of 30% i don’t know why they visit this web site.
thanks desh gujarat to publish this kind of artical. but could you please comment what is the effect on local gujarti on this kind of artical. i am sure all local gujarti are behind criket , salman khan, aishwari rai and sex
Private NGOs is a big business in India now. Do a little, show a lot!
Do a lot of paper work, collect many pictures of poor kids holding books in hands, beggers taking ‘raashan’ packets and claim millions from NRIs, Foreign aid institutions for all charity work.
Ideal example is recent exposure of NREGA scam. 40,000 crores of rupees were stolen by politicians and government officials on the name of NREGA. How many rural people got employment ? It came in the newspaper one day and was burried under the carpet next day. Everyone forgot ……
Everyone talks about charity and help but when one gets a chance, everything goes to own pocket….
So everyone help yourself through hard-work and country as whole will prosper. There is no free lunch.
WE are a group of persons, members of Lions Club, Rotary Club, Bhart Vikas Parished, INO, MSB and Varisth Nagrick Sansthan & other NGO’s working in the field of Water harvesting, Soler energy, Global warming, Medicanl plantation,, Neturopathy and Bio gas & Gobar gas plants.
We are looking foward the NGO’s Persons, Institution and Soceity which can extand the joined hands with us for the noble cause.
Hi Promodji,
I would like to join your mission. Please let me know your contact details or your club’s.
Thanks
Himanshu
When you become NRI or NRI or go abroad, you don’t go there for your country or village in most of the cases. You go there only for your own purpose as a human, many for thier caste (patel/bania/sha/baj khedawal brahman or audochya sahastra or nagar or anavil or vohra patel or khoja … etc) and money and to to avoid or escape from local enemies of daily life and many to enjoy FREE SEX with white skinned prostitutes and enjoy free available pornography and endulge in and fulfil SEXUAL fanacies and buy SEX toys. You go there by hook or croock, you bribe to get required documents and at many times falsified documents, if you happened to get officer from your own caste (patel etc) then you will even get questions-papers of universities leaked to you and you could fallsify even distinctions on degrees without merit! When you reach foren, you find that bloody no white cares that you are a ;formidable’ patel/patidar or punjabi or ‘thakur’ or ‘rajput’… No one there to respect or even listen to your stories and give a damn as you were a charutar patel back in India or any such bullshits… You start missing India !!! You wonder why this white/european.goras don’t even wish to look at you (majority of indian, not all) and for them all you are is “from india’! They pity you as you coming from a poor/dying/Third World country.. he he he…! Yes, you earn dollar hardest way them those goras, and you don’t understand while it is extreme hard for you to buy even a decent second-hand car, goras have Mercs and BWM for each one of family, your rich is poor to them while they live in million dollar mentions, you are sharing with five deshi dubbus.. And you thought yourself as a king home (mari to prime minister sathe olkhan chhe and tu to mara pappa ne janto nathi etc..) but here a 12 to 15 year olf teenager is more criminal and powerful than all your pappas and dadas put together… The revealation comes that somewhere soemthing is not right in your wholeexistance.
And charities/missions/programmes/drives/melas for kalyan… we know what they are very well. Nice good good talks on stage and “ben….d” and “madar……d” and “tari …. …..du” etc just five feets away from the public munch (especially typically very low and loose moral in the region called Gujarat. Still this will be very less in Kathiawar/Kuc=tch because deeply rooted respects in conservative people there) But in Gujarat (Surat/ahmedabad/Mehsana/Baroda/Bharuch/Godhra…) such cheap behaviour,profanity and offensive language on your back (back-stabbing) is normal… I have seen and been ashamed at how those so called Lions and Rotors of Lions and Rotary clubs or average person in Gujarat shows no respectful behaviour BUT yet this is very mind when compared to Punjabi and North-Indian behaviour, how Sindhis profane.. So literally “slave” mind
I am going to ask Oxford dictionary to add one word their: NRGphobia. You will be first victim of it on the record.
The author has gone nuts about NRGs.
Well Himanshu,
You have gotten a lot of response – earful to some extent. Any ways you have stirred up a lot of emotions.
Let me ask you – where do I get the information to VOLUNTEER my services for Gujarat Govt.? I have a lot of background in major project developement like mass transit, transportation, power indstry (fossil and nuclear) and can handle any responsibility at top management level in Gujarat Govt. Let me know what you can find out.
Dear Dineshbhai
I would like to tell you that you can contact NRG Foundation, NRI Division, Government of Gujarat. It is running a Project called “Vatan Seva”. Further you can consult Dr. Adesh Pal, Director, The UGC Area Study Centre for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan. The centre helps government to design the policies for the growth and development of state. It organises every year an International Conference for having the new ideas on policy matters from eminent NRGs/NRIs. This year, the centre is going to function the conference on 2-4, Jan 2011, at Saffrony Holidy Resort, Ahmedabad-Mehsana Highway. For further details you may contact the Dr. Adesh Pal. His cell no is (+91) 9376725925. Thank You a lot for looking towards your homeland.
Hitesh