TOO MANY HOLIDAYS HAMPER OUR PACE OF PROGRESS
For almost every past leader who played some significant role in one or the other sphere in our country, holidays are declared. Declaring holidays has also become a political game. Some of the holidays are of national significance, so can’t be done away with, but we should consider to avoid unnecessary holidays. We wish to pay true homage to those great leaders and in memory or reverence of them holidays have been declared who worked hard for our social and economic well-being. Is it proper to enjoy holidays sitting at home in reverence of those who worked day and night to make this country strong, progressive, prosperous and peaceful? Paying respect and homage should not be associated with declaring holidays.
As far as upholding the noble examples set by these great leaders, can be well done in far better ways than declaring holidays, causing wastage of time hampering work and lot of unavoidable harassment to those innocent people who suffer because of such holidays.
Progress and prosperity of a nation depends much upon the working culture and attitude of its work force. How can we think to shy away from work when the progress of the nation is at stake and can be achieved by only hard work?
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”
“Aaram Haraam Hai”
“Work is Worship”
All the above slogans are not merely slogans but ethics of work, the value of hard work to achieve the goal, the sacrifice needed to gain something important, are inherent in these words.
We must realize that a closure of even a day causes a huge loss to the exchequer, slows the pace of progress in this fast competitive world. In a country facing many acute problems like population explosion, poverty, water scarcity, energy shortage, unemployment and many more. Closure of offices for more than 50% of days in a year, simply means retarding the pace of progress and delay in solving the problems faced by our own people. It is to be realized that we are responsible for shaping our destiny although the choice between comfort and hard work is really a tough one. In this age of IT revolution, space exploration keeping the offices closed for such a large number of days is untenable and unjustified.
India is endowed with a great heritage, our sacred religious epic the Gita and Mahabharata, remind us about the value of Karma, performing Karma without expecting results. If the message of the ‘Gita’ is galvanized into the modem values of progress, hard labour, toil, to yield the essence of human existence, we get one thing that is ‘work’, work selflessly as duty towards the society.
Even after 64 years of independence, our country still remains muddled in basic problems of water scarcity, housing, routine breakdown of electricity etc. Holidays, which stop the work, close our units. A effect none but ourselves, our society, our country adversely. Holidays in government departments, public offices, schools and college, may not seem to attack us directly, but can an agriculturist, a daily wage earner, the defence force, the eternal Sun, Moon, think of pairing holidays even for a day. Imagine a situation if the ‘Sun’, goes on one day holiday, if the ‘Wind’ does not blow for a day, our existence shall be in peril.
It doesn’t mean that ‘holidays’ are not necessary. Holidays are required for reinvigorating, recharging and refreshing of a worker. To keep a man fit leisure is the basic requirement but again too many holidays make one lazy, bored and unhealthy.
An idle mind is devil’s workshop. Keeping yourself away from work for seven days regularly, just sitting idle, doing nothing concrete, on eighth day you shall not be able to work as fresh as you would have worked earlier one or two days holidays. Too much holidaying makes a man dull, lazy and slumberous is a medically and psychologically tested fact. If the life should go on smoothly, all things are bound to happen by a certain discipline. Birds make nests and lay eggs, according to seasonal cycle and migrate to other regions where climate is good, bees collect honey, ants, the busiest never resting creature, collect food for winter. Every creature is putting all its efforts for prosperity and livelihood in a disciplined manner and does not enjoy holidays as the most intelligent creature, man, does.
In this time of globalization, liberalization and open economy we can’t afford holidaying on this or that pretext. We have to realize that for rapid progress, to brighten India in real terms, it is our sacred duty to work hard to the best of our capability. Nothing but work pays. ‘Work is Worship’ should be followed in words and spirit.