We have ,both rights and duties in our life. Even our constitution guarantees us fundamental rights. But it also defines ,fundamental duties applicable to all citizens, in India. We generally are fully aware of our rights but ignore our duties.

Let us start from our homes. As children, we are fully aware of our rights and always fight for it. But, when it comes to our duties ,we either feign ignorance or fail in them. This is equally true, for parents and siblings in the family too.

Then, if we move to the workplace, the situation is not very different. Most employees ,are fully aware of their rights but plead ignorance, when it comes to their duties. I have come across, very few responsible union leaders at the workplace, who remind their members of their duties ,before they demand their rights.

As citizens in a democracy, we are fully aware of our rights. We demand them and also ensure, that we benefit from it. Sometimes, when a right is denied, we approach the courts ,to enforce a denied right by the state. However, when it comes to our duties, we are either ignorant or selectively forget them ,when we are expected to behave in a particular way.

I am not sure, if it is a psychological make up of a human being, in a democratic set up or it is a fundamental human flaw, as designed by the almighty. Why are we not responsible enough , to first do our duties before we demand our rights ,at every stage of our lives.

I wonder why ,unions do not voluntarily advise their members ,not to strike work in public services like hospitals or public transport, during a nation wide strike. They only relent ,when the government declares them as an essential service and enforces, by the dictates of law.

As citizens in the world’s largest democracy, why do the so called literate citizens ,especially in urban India ,not go out and exercise their franchise ,during a general election. On the other hand, we shout at the top of our voice , demanding for civic amenities, from elected governments, when they do not deliver.

Today, we read a lot of children ,demanding their right to succession of parental property ,even before their death. But, they are reluctant to look after their ageing parents ,as it interferes in their life comforts. They ,even admit them in old age homes ,to shirk this basic duty, as a child.

As we can see, as members of a family, employees of an organisation or citizens of a state, we are more than aware of our rights and demand their enforcement. On the other hand, we are reluctant to perform our duties ,with the same vigour.

Let us do our duties first ,before we demand our rights ,from today.

S Ramesh Shankar

5th July 2025

“Luxury is artificial poverty, simplicity is natural wealth”

The simplest things in life are possibly the most difficult to achieve. I was recently watching a TV show, where someone shared this quote. I found it interesting. Let me illustrate this ,with a simple example.

Many of us resolve in the new year, to go for a walk every day ,to maintain good health. It is so simple ,since you do not need any equipment ,nor anyone’s help to do this. But, most of us fail within the month of January itself.

A daily walk is simple and natural way to maintain our health. On the other hand, if we do not do any exercise every day and end up being over weight, we may be advised to go for a bariatric surgery to reduce unnecessary body weight, which is artificial and against nature and we may call it artificial poverty to reduce our weight.

Life is not very different. If we look back at our forefathers, they lived a simple life and were healthy, wealthy and wise. Today, we have all the technology in the world . In India, the middle class is prospering and have all the comforts of life. But our children are becoming obese and people in their forties ,are getting heart related diseases.

I am a great fan of technology and how it can make life more comfortable, for mankind. Even the latest fad of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can definitely make our lives more comfortable and predictable. But when we tend to make technology as the end in itself, rather than the means to an end, we end up struggling in life.

We need to continually invent new technologies and be in control of the outcomes ,for the welfare of mankind. However, if we allow technology to dictate our lives and become a victim of the same, then we may have to face the ill consequences of it.

Let me illustrate this with another simple example. The mobile phone is ubiquitous today. Most of us will find it difficult to survive without it . It enables us to remain connected with family and friends. It works like a watch/clock, calculator, GPS, bank and even as AI assistant, for all our questions in life.

However, if we stop having good conversations with our family members/friends and restrict communication to whatsapp or social media exchanges, it could lead to broken families and friendships.

Emails, whatsapp and social media do not have emotions, but people do. So, when we exchange messages through these media, many a time,we may hurt feelings of others or get hurt by others ,without any intent to do so. When two human beings interact face to face, such misunderstandings are minimised ,since you are able to clarify to each other ,based on the reaction of the other person.

We do not visit family or friends ,when they are in distress. We are happy to send them bouquets and smiley through social media. A person in distress ,may need a hug or someone to talk to. But, we do not realise the same, unless we ourselves are personally in distress.

Let us learn to simplify our lives and go back to basics.

S Ramesh Shankar

5th July 2025