WHAT MAKES INDIA...INDIA?

While we may be politically enticed to base India's growth on everything that it has achieved till date in the technological realm, sphere of human resources, increment in its employment level and all the outwardly manifested objective criteria of development, what ultimately makes India, India is the richness of its diversified culture and the rootedness of our history within the folds of tolerance. Tolerance might not be the word unassailable enough to denote the profundity that the human expressions carry within themselves. Early in the morning when people gather around the famous spots for engaging in ostensible local bavardage what they really end up doing is striking the chord of mutual adjustment in the difference of opinion. No matter to which religion you may belong, affectionate hugs are exchanged with all on the day of Eid and the entire community gathers together to unitedly demolish the evil within on the day of Diwali. India is not just India for its staunch position on democracy but because of the indefatigable fearlessness that resides within each citizen to be vocal on every issue whether political or social. What makes India, India is not just the lavish employment opportunities made available but the contentment that finds a spot in the spirit of every human who does a mediocre job according to our standards but never shows a tinge of dissatisfaction on his countenance. What's the provenance of such level of reciprocated fondness, this unfettered reverence for each other's cultural values, this invincible bravery and of this deep sense of spiritual gratification? Let me take you through a journey. A journey so simple and yet so marvelous in its contribution in not only building a nation but building my own country - India.

Ravenshaw University - where we don't just conduct mock parliaments but recognize the budding talent of the future legislators.

Although mock parliaments are a part of our regular exposure to policy making process in India, it is indeed astounding to mark how I came across the best future law makers of our country not in these spectacular grand events but in the everyday debate sessions held within the confines of the classroom. The other day in one of my classes on comparative politics I saw a spellbinding debate ensue between the lecturer and one of my batchmates. It was on the eternal validity of any constitution, the expectation of political obligation from people to laws that are vulnerable to the onslaughts of changing time and the momentousness of rational amendments that meet up the needs of the day. Neither the student was judged for being too audacious to put forward his opinions nor was the lecturer judged as being conservative for his belief in the wisdom of the prehensile constitution makers, for at Ravenshaw what matters is the freedom of expression. And because of the natural devotion that everyone has towards this right we as students have been naturally encouraged to understand as well that every right comes with a set of duties and limitations that we need to uphold with as much of dedication as with which we use our rights. This University is not just generating legislators who make laws but also know how to make these laws practiceable.

Ravenshaw University - where we don't have janitors but people who teach us the larger meaning of life.

The other day while I was walking down the stairs, I saw one of the aged female janitors of our department moping the floor. I don't know for what reason but somewhere I felt a sense of sympathy materialize within me towards her. So, the next day out of a tingling sensation of curiosity and care I just asked her how she was doing and the winsome smile that preceded her verbal response to this question in a way oozed out the most reassuring expression of a tacit and certainly placid conviviality. She was simply happy. A celebration always took shape within her every time anyone from the teaching faculty or any student asked her how she was doing. Not a single time have I seen on her face a visage of unsettlement for doing a meagre task because for her the quality of her job didn't lie in the job itself but in the sense of belongingness that she held dearly within herself towards the department, towards us, her kids who bothered to ask her about her life. At Ravenshaw we are taught even beyond the premises of our classroom by unobtrusive personalities like her who so effortlessly teach us that happiness is a matter of choice and that sometimes contentment as a feeling can be far more superior to exuberance.

Ravenshaw University - where we just don't demonstrate strikes but exhibit the power of students in shaping their choices in university life and simultaneously showcase the power of a family.

Whether it might be the denial of smartphones into the library, or the encumbering regulations put on university hostels, a lackadaisical attitude has never been the option for the students. Students have never stepped back from fighting for their rights. They slog day in and day out, take the risk of receiving the backlash from the authorities and still then they haven't ever backed down because it takes courage to endorse justice in ways that makes injustice feel outrightly ashamed for its ramifications. These demonstrations have certainly been the grey areas where the authorities try to serve the interest of the students in the best possible way and where students demand more freedom in deciding what works the best for them. Nevertheless, the best part of the story is just like India has been the flagbearer of the family values, this University has been an epitome of valuing relationships that go beyond blood. No matter what the conflicts might be we have always solved them together like a family, where the students and authorities have respected the compromises as mutual grounds of understanding, where no one is limited in that dome of ego and where everyone is willing to showcase empathy.

ITS NOT JUST A UNIVERSITY, IT IS A WORLD IN ITSELF!

This world doesn't only teach you how to coexist but also how to foster the bonds of fraternity in this coexistence. This world not only conducts pride month marches but also ensures every human gets what he/she/they deserve/s. This world not only gives you the academic strength to compete in future but also teaches you that it's your perspective which determines your strength and not just the books. This world is not only building nation but is spiritually galvanizing every individual who form this nation. Afterall what is it that builds a nation? It's capacity to establish itself as the biggest and the most productive economy or its perseverance in supporting every individual who is the means to the fulfilment of the former goal? Every resilient nation needs a resilient population to sustain its resilience and this University has been incessantly playing its role since 1868 in making this nation a collective reflection of the strength of each citizen.

Role of Ravenshaw University in making India

Every resilient nation needs a resilient population for sustaining its resilience and this University has been playing its role since 1868 in making this nation a collective reflection of the strength of each citizen.