All of us who are attached to the story of India dream of India which will be a great place to live and raise our families.  This essay is my small attempt in defining “India of my dreams”.

In 1990 or thereabout we had a mali (Gardner) working in our garden in Phaltan. He was the only breadwinner of his family. One day he came to us and said that he wants to go for 2-3 months on a holy pilgrimage. I told him that he will not get any money during this time and asked him how he will manage his finances and also asked him why he is going.

He said he was going to get “Man Ki Shanti” (mental peace). His reply stunned me. He was a poor man, yet he realized the importance of happiness and contentment.  

It is this India that I dream of, where every citizen will strive to get “man ki shanti’. “Man Ki Shanti” is not a cop out but a very powerful desire to put the priorities of life in proper perspective. I feel that when we all will work for increasing our happiness then it will create a holistic India.

Our happiness is a sum of two things: personal happiness and better environment. When both these things are achieved it results in happiness and contentment.

Basically, one becomes happy when one is secure and is at peace with oneself.  This sense of security comes from becoming spiritual.

Spirituality is concerned with matters of spirit.  When we think deeply and for a long time about anything whether it is an idea or an object then the brain has a tendency of focusing on it like a laser and in that process the object vanishes from the vision field and only its germ or the spirit remains. It is this deep thinking on anything which makes us spiritual; reduces our greed; provides internal security and gives us a sense of peace and happiness.

This helps us focus on bigger and better things, reduces anxiety and stress levels and creates positive outlook towards life.
    
Creating better environment is what I call nation building. It is the enabling environment which makes us feel happy to live in, work in and just be a part of it. This environmental happiness also gives us a sense of belonging, makes us feel proud of our surroundings and gives us a sense of ownership.

If we create a happy and pleasant environment for our work and living, then we will make India a great place to live. Each one of us should therefore work towards improving our immediate environment so that it becomes nice and cheerful.  Then we will be genuinely proud to be a part of it which is the India of my dreams.

India is endowed with plenty of land, good weather, intelligent and hardworking people. What is lacking is leadership to guide and inspire the citizens to work for higher cause.  This is what Mahatma Gandhi did during his war for independence. Working for independence based upon the noble path of non-violence was the cause which united Indians to work selflessly.  

Each one of us therefore have a duty to educate children and young students regarding ethics, sustainability, and spirituality.   

Thus, I feel that when all of us work for higher cause of creating happiness and well-being rather than dividing the country by fear then we will unleash the creative force of Indians and help make India a great and pleasant country to live and work in. That is the India of my dreams.   

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