Mere pyare Deshwasiyon,
Oh no! This is not your Prime Minster calling you. It's his and your mother. Bharath.
How are you my children? Or, may be I should not be asking you this question. Because I know you all are in great hardship. Don't worry, even this too shall pass.
Every cloud has a silver lining. I don't know whether to feel happy or sad because you, my dear children, needed this pandemic to realise your own strength, the strength of your country and learnt to appreciate your motherland.
Very surprisingly in these dark days you have realised the worth of your inner strength as a country.
When some of you speak demeaningly about your motherland I used to feel very sad. No. It's not for myself. Because I, as a mother can always overlook the follies of my children. I feel sad for some of my children - who stay with me, who are passionate about me and who worship me - who felt sad when their mother was being insulted.
Every country has dirt, dust, hunger and poverty. But unfortunately because of colonial mindset some of my own children projected me as a land on snakes, and snake charmers. Even now unfortunately my own children, when they visit me from their new found homes, click the pictures of cows on roads and people travelling on the top of buses. Because they can't and dare not click the photos of drug addicts, drug mafia and the homeless thugs pushing guns in their back in "their" contries.
Why is this so? Is it because my children wear sarees and dhotis which has been projected as a sign in backwardness and poverty? Or is it because my childrens' mind has been so submissive to the Western onslaught and imposition that the West is the best, that they have lost their confidence to defend or stand for themselves?
I have tears in my eyes when I see my children walking miles and miles in this pandemic with a hungry stomach, carrying their little belongings in paint boxes, an humble cloth tied over their face and determination and fighting spirit in their eyes. They may not be wearing N95 masks or may not be able to afford the best of sanitisers, but they have remained strong. They, with their inner strength and immunity have fought the disease so far. Let them be blessed for ever.
As a son of this soul what have YOU done to alliviate their poverty? Their misery? Other than having inferiority complex about your own mother and brothern, don't you have any responsibly towards your own country and the country men? Then who gives you the right to pass comments about them? If you yourself don't learn to respect and have a sense of pride about your mother how do you expect others to respect her?
Look at the irony of the situation, my children. You used, misused and abused what you all had received as free gift, this earth, this nature and this environment. Today you are the prisoners of your own misdeeds because of your greed.
Until recently my children, who have always stayed with me and who have always stood by me had this inferiority complex. Looking at their own dirty narrow roads and dusty environs, they would wriggle their hands helplessly. Because the world and even some of my own children projected their countries with the images of a statue of Liberty or a Leaning Tower and hiding their dirty slums and ugly culture.
They never knew that even others have slums, dirty colonies, cockroaches and rodents giving them company while they studied. Or a gun being pushed in their back by a homeless hunk when they walked on roads.
But be it in psunami or cyclone, my children never fought for food because there has never been a shortage with their "Sasya Shamale" Motherland nor have they gone to anyone with begging bowl in their hands.
If I have wrinkles, it means I have lived. If I have narrow ancient by- lanes, it means I have a rich heritage.
My dear children, learn to appreciate others but first love your motherland. Even if the neighbours have a palace, it's not yours. Be thankful to your culture, heritage and mother. You will have a right to criticise her only when you stayed with her and put in efforts to nurture and cherish her glory.
Every good has a bad, every day has a night and so is your motherland. Please try to respect and appreciate her.
Nature is the greatest leveler and you are learning this lesson very hard. My beloved children save your mother before it's too late. Because you have only one motherland - yours.
