What I can do…

               

                      We come across various problems in our daily life like corruption in government offices, environmental degradation, misbehavior with girls, child labour, poverty etc., we just feel pity or curse the authorities and move on. Quite rarely anybody thinks about taking a stand or doing something against such problems and very few of those thinkers turn their thoughts to action. Max Lucado, a bestselling author quoted in his book Outlive your life “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something”. Here comes the importance of what an individual can do to make our world a better place to live in. In fact, what I can do.

                        An Individual can make a huge difference to this world. Many people believe that they don’t have what it takes to make a difference to the world. They believe only people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and the likes, are capable of making a difference. The truth is, every one of us is put in this world to contribute and make a difference to the world in our own unique way. It need not be anything out of the world. It just needs to be something we do with the intention of ‘doing good’.

                         It need not be an enormous task. I already have what it takes to make the world a better place. Making a difference to the world may seem like an enormous task, but it is in fact the collective effort of everyone to make small contributions with a lot of heart. The size of the contribution is not what matters most. The key here is to have the heart to do it. Mother Teresa once said “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” It clearly indicates that our contributions need not be big ones always, smaller ones also matters a lot.

                        My contribution is never too small. If I think that everything has been taken care of by somebody and our contribution is not going to make much of a difference, then we are wrong. In fact, it is my responsibility to seek ways to contribute, large and small. I don’t have to be concerned that I am only capable of making small contributions. What counts, is my sincere effort.

                       Lord Buddha tried to enlighten us by saying” Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Happiness and love are the two greatest gifts we can give to the world. Too often, we’re too indulged in our own gratifications that we forget there are people in this world whom we can make a little happier and feel more loved. As the saying goes, “To receive, you must first give.” The more we give, the more we’ll receive. Let us remind ourselves that in order to receive more happiness and love, let’s spread more of them first. Peace in the world is good for all and war is equally poor for both the parties no matter who wins or loses. War brings only death and destruction. I can make peace at least at a smaller level but may be an individual like me who holds higher authority thinking in the same way can make peace in the world. If Mahatma Gandhi would have not taken the initiative in the direction of using non-violence for Indian Independence, the struggle would have taken much more time to succeed and would have resulted in much bloodshed. So it was ultimately that one individual that mattered. The world needs love and brotherhood and we can start it at least on a smaller scale. Someone has to start, and I can do that. I can share love and happiness with people around me.

              Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement. I can change the world by helping one person at a time. One of the ways to help someone is to empower the person. One of the ways is to be generous in giving praise and encouragement instead of criticism. By praising and encouraging the person, you’d have helped him/her to accomplish what he/she is meant to be, and that would lead to more value being added to the world. I can inspire at least one person and in turn he can inspire another and so a larger chain can be formed and we together can bring a greater change in this world

              As former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli quoted “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” My aim is to look for the bigger good. A person can know his capabilities only when he gets properly educated. Education is that tool which helps a man to discover himself truly and I can work for educating people around. As it is said, give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. By educating a person I can make him sell-dependent.

                If I have time to whine and complain about something then I certainly have the time to do something about it. All the whining and complaining in the world is not going to make a difference to the world. It will only drain us of our precious energy from doing things that do make a difference. Instead of whining and complaining, we need to use the time more productively by engaging in activities that matter. When it comes to making a difference, nothing matters more than taking actions. The things won’t change by complaining about the problems or by cursing the authorities, it will by taking actions. The actions I would take, aiming at solving these problems.

                  A good example has twice the value of good advice. Other than doing things to make a difference, we should also seek to influence others to start doing things that make a difference. And the best way to convince other people is to lead by example. Start doing whatever is within my ability today. Start showing more concern and love to the people around me. I can lead the way to change this world. My actions will act as an example for others to act in the same manner. I can start putting more effort in my work to increase the value output. My every effort will count, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, it will inspire others and they will in turn inspire more people around. This would make my effort count. So I have to just do something, and do something good.

           A short story by American Anthropologist Loren Eisley always inspires me and tells me that, I alone can make a difference.

         Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean." "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!" At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,
"It made a difference for that one.”

            It’s not always important that I contribute to the society at large, my contribution to a single person who is in need of my help matters a lot. My contribution will always be helpful to my country. No matter how small it is or in which field it is.

            Today our country is facing major economic problems, value of our currency has depreciated to a large extent in the international Market. The main reason being, imports are much higher than the export. The decreasing value of rupee is of major concern to the country. To improve our rupee’s situation in the international market we need to decrease our imports to protect our foreign reserves and also try to increase it. I can help by stop using imported items and go for Indian brands for my needs. I need to make others also work in the same direction so our contribution matters.

                Only after the last tree has been cut down. The last river poisoned. The last fish caught. Only then, we’ll find that money cannot be eaten. Environmental degradation in the present scenario is the biggest thing to worry about. The whole world needs to put a stop to activities which are contributing to it. In this aspect an individual matters a lot and contribution of an individual are paramount in this direction. I can plant more trees, follow the three R’s, Reduce Recycle an Reuse, conserve water and fuel. There are many other important ways which can help in lessening the degradation. We need to save our mother Earth. To save it my small contribution matter a lot.

                    We all know the biggest problem of India at this precise moment and for last many moments and maybe also for some coming moments. It is corruption. Corruption is eating our nation like a termite and to protect it there is no terminator. Major scams are happening every day, some are getting public others still a mystery. How money gets sanctioned for development of the nation in the office files but not a single building block is properly laid for it. It may now seem how I can help in such huge matters of corruption as a pitiful student. Some may say go to the people fighting for corruption and help them in creating their agitation and rallies. But in my opinion corruption won’t go by doing such acts. The reason being the roots of the corruption are deep down in our society. It needs to be uprooted from the lower levels of our society. The feeling comes deep within us. If corruption needs to be removed firstly we need to stop instances of corruption in our daily life. I can contribute in a significant way by stop supporting any kind of bribery or illegal commissions. Corruption will gradually end at the top level too if it is removed at the ground level. I may not help at the top level but I certainly can at the ground level and I will definitely do everything possible to save my country from it.

                  As a student of law, there is much more I can do in the current scenario. The laws are well made for every single problem of the society. The need is of just proper implementation and enforcement. Lawyers perform a critical role in the promotion of social order by the administration of the law in a manner which answers the fundamental requirements of justice, namely fair outcomes arrived by fair procedures. I have to work to make justice available to one and all. After graduation I would like to work in this regard by taking up matters involving infringement of rights of people who have no legal aid available to them due to their financial status. Some people believe that politics is only for the corrupt and criminals but on the contrary I think you cannot change the system without entering it. If I got a chance I would like to enter the parliament one day and become the part of the law making body.

                   I know I cannot be a superman but at least I can follow the words of the greatest man I have known, Mahatma Gandhi has said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” I have to work in the direction, in which I want to bring the difference. I just need to work for good and the change I want will follow.  So I will just say one should never underestimate the power of three words I, Me and Myself.