On this Republic Day, as we salute and celebrate the making of the Constitution of India, I remember the 2001 earthquake, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where many tall buildings fell, some of them face down like a pack of cards.
The reason for the fall? Weak foundations!
Today as loftier and lankier buildings speck the Indian skies, one finds that before these skyscrapers get started, the deeper go the foundations and much labour and lots of material is used to make the foundation so solid, so strong that the building above, which will soon rise, can climb to glorious heights, resting assured on a sound, sturdy and secure base.
Later, we, the public, marvel at the alluring architecture, beautiful balconies, soaring height and glamorous design.
But..
All this progressive work or design will only remain if the foundation is sound.
What happens if after some years the residents bring in a new contractor, who struts around with his fifty-six inch chest and says, “We need to fiddle with the foundation!” Sounds foolish isn’t it?
“I can make the building even more beautiful! It will be the envy of the world!” he shouts.
“How?” ask the majority of the delighted residents.
“By changing the foundation! Moving away this load bearing pile, taking out a column and using sand, sticks and stones!”
And the majority of the people, dreaming and envisaging a transformed edifice, agree.
You and I can only imagine what will happen as the contractor starts his work!
We are living in such a building right now. A building called India! Built on a Constitution, strong, robust and durable! Over the years, this building we live in has stood tall and formidable compared to the ones built around us: Buildings constructed by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, all erected around the same time, but which fall again and again and again.
Ours stands tall!
And then one day we hear the contractor’s cry, “I have changed the foundation!” he shouts, “No beams, no pillars, only sand, sticks and stones, like how structures were put up in our glorious medieval times!”
“The building is shaking?” whisper the residents.
“Keep dreaming, keep dreaming!” mutters the contractor smiling at his assistant.
And the building shakes and totters as Mr Contractor and his assistant change the very foundation that has kept us strong, sturdy and strapping, till now!
On this Republic Day, as we remember the 2001 earthquake in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, other stories have started and which model we have to emulate, many tall buildings fell, some of them face down like a pack of cards, let us vow to keep our time tested Foundation called our Constitution intact…!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Nation has passed successfully through Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.So don’t worry people of nation are determined for maintaining republic Bharat.
Excellent piece Bob . Thats what’s being shaken : the foundations .
Very well said Robert Sir, if one tries to fiddle with the foundation, worser catastrophe than a natural disaster will takeplace. Lots of pain has been taken to make the strong foundation.
Straight shot in shot!!
The Truth is sometimes bitter. Most of us voted for change…a nation free of Congress. NOW we have traders and corporates who have sold every pride of Ondai, the soul of India….
Alas…Rise India Thy millions lead….
Bharat was a king’s son in the story. Yet India is being called by his name and the idol is female since she is worshipped (not in truth or in spirit). Fallen angels are misrepresented as deities. Evil spirits enter the idols.
Today, we are celebrating 75th Republic Day. The day we adopted our Constitution (Foundation) which acts as the glue and binds us together, no matter who we are. If we fiddle with our Constitution, we are sure that we will be in trouble as the Holy Book says in the book of Judges: Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged upon the Philistines for one of my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and he leaned his weight upon them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were in it. So the dead whom he slew at his death, were more than those whom he had slain during his life. A tragic end when he misused his strength to satisfy his desires instead of saving his people being a judge. He destroyed not only himself but others with him.