From: ramakris@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Balaji Ramakrishnan)
Subject: Where the mind is without fear
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 06:22:51 GMT


Friends, Indians and Countrymen,

Lend me your eyes.  I am writing today, not to waste your time but to provide
you with some food for thought.  I am no William Shakespeare so please bear 
with me.  A lot has happened in the past few months, many have lost their 
lives, and millions their sanity.  Today, India's is in a despicable state.  No 
Indian - Hindu or Muslim , BJPite or Congressman is I am sure proud of the 
state of affairs.   I request you all to spare a  moment and read the following
words written by one of India's most renowned poets once again.  In such times
there is a greater need for soul searching and defining what we really are.
Events are misleading.  Its easy to point fingers.  Are very still ready to 
fight for the lofty goals that Tagore has so beautifully expressed.  America is
where it is today because of the strong principles that were laid out by its
founding fathers such as Jefferson and Franklin.  Are there any such visionaries
amongst us.   India needs leaders, people who will lead by example, who will
stand up for their values.  We have enough unscrupulous leaders amongst us. 
How many of you can step forward to set such examples.  Its not a easy task,
but thats the challenge.  We need to be able to build confidence in people. I 
am willing to give it a try in my own way.  I ask each one you that is reading
to ask yourself this same question.  Are you ready for the challenge? What are
you willing to do?  There has been enough said about who is better than whom.
Lets not waste our time in such meaningless fights.  There are many different
ways to solve problems.  Let us all unite in purpose.  Our ways and mean may 
be different.  But let us all make one promise that we will play fair.  We 
will respect the ideas of everyone, even though we may differ from them. Let
us given everyone a fair chance.  Let us fight for rights as civilized human
beings, not as savages.  Let us show by holding hands that we want peace more
than anything else.  Let us show by working that we need prosperity more than
famine.  Let us not religion and caste and race deprive of us of our most 
fundamental right to live a joyful and wonderful life in harmony with all the 
others that live around us.  Five days from today India will be celebrating
her anniversary as a Republic.  I would like to request all of you that read 
SCI and believe India should aspire to be the country that Tagore describes 
to make a solemn pledge that you will in your own way contribute to the 
betterment of our nation.  Please stop fighting amongst yourself and using this
medium for spreading propaganda.  You all have the right think you own way,
but I urge you all to think objectively.   I hope these words of Tagore provide
you with some inspiration.  

    ***********************************************************************     
    *                                                                     *
    *     Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,       *
    *     Where knowledge is free;                                        *
    *     Where the world has not been broken up into                     *
    *                                fragments by narrow domestic walls;  *
    *     Where the words come out from the depths of truth,              *
    *     Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;  *
    *     Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way           *
    *                         into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;  *
    *     Where the mind is led forward by thee into                      *
    *                               everwidening thought and action ---   *
    *     Into that heaven of freedom my father let my country awake.     *
    *                                                                     *
    *                 ...excerpts from Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore   *
    *                                                                     *
    ***********************************************************************     

			-- Balaji