Ahmedabad, 21 December 2011

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled senior IAS officer of Gujarat cadre Dr. Rajivkumar Gupta’s book, ‘Public Discipline – From Thought to Action’, written in English as well as in Hindi, at a function here this evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi said that a sense of social responsibility alone can instill discipline among the public, authoritarianism can distort social values and take the society away from duty. Discipline should not be a felt as a burden. It should not shackle the society by strict rules, but bind the people within limits of realization

He said that observing discipline in a society should be a matter of habit. He said the concept of public and personal hygiene and cleanliness in the western culture is quite different. The concept of our respect for nation, society, mother-father, guru is linked to our duty. Religious functions establish faith and prepare mental makeup in religiousness. Discipline comes with a sense of responsibility.

When India became free, he said, it was our duty to serve and educate the society. But people started talking more about their rights, resulting into negative attitude like ‘what is mine’ and ‘why should I’. This led to distortion and indiscipline. It is time we have to come out of the degeneration. Family is the biggest factor to unite the society.

The Chief Minister complimented the author, Dr. Gupta, and the publisher Navbharat Sahitya Mandir. Dr. Gupta spoke about the salient features in his book. The function was attended by Ministers, IAS and IPS officers, literary glitterati and prominent citizens.

Modi speaks

-The biggest difference between us and the western world is the absence of our social hygiene and public discipline. Other countries go ahead because of societal discipline. We have very strong rules about how to handle our things, utensils etc. but the moment we are out, we spit on the road. The earth that we call Mother India, we go and spit on it! What kind of patriotism is this?

-One doesn’t need to be Bhagat Singh to love the country and be patriotic. For starters, just don’t spit on the road or throw trash.

-During the freedom struggle, Gandhiji had ingrained into our head that we have to make sacrifices for our country. But after independence our attitude has become that of demanding from the country rather than giving to it.

-We all think what is in it for me? If the answer is negative, our attitude immediately becomes, why should I care. This gives birth to indiscipline.

-We have lost out sense of responsibility towards the country.

-Public hygiene and discipline is must for any society/ country to prosper.

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