Child labor...

The most fundamental reason for child labor is our poverty. Laws don't help. Poverty has to be abolished first. We're not callous -- we love our children. But we don't have an option. We don't want our children to be ragpickers -- We want 'em to go to school. We're into space exploration but we don't have toilets in our rural areas. What've we been doing since Independence? Our priorities are seriously misplaced. Something is intrinsically wrong with our five-year plans. Our channelization of resources is undoubtedly erroneous. We've to focus -- zero in on our grass roots problem areas first. We don't vote for the right leaders -- We didn't vote for Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu -- in case of Andhra Pradesh. That's a colossal mistake. We behave like serious retards when it comes to choosing our leaders. We fail to recognize the right people. We're hysterical about cricket -- but we shrug off child labor. We watch Indian Idol with unbelievable chauvinism and fervor but we perceive poverty as an ubiquitous necessary evil. We think that abolition of poverty is Governments' or NGOs' work. We alienate ourselves. We've an ivory-towered attitude. We prostitute our vote for a saree or a mobile phone. Our conscience has conked out long ago. We vote for inapt leaders -- zombie leaders -- and expect 'em to turn out to be miracle workers. Our ideals are debauch and promiscuous -- morally and otherwise -- movie actors and actresses. We need a stint of rehabilitation -- We need to brush up our ancient lessons of virtue and morality. Our problems are interconnected. Our problems are like ten-headed Ravana. Our only Brahmashastra against it is sustained and resilient hard work. The privileged amongst us should adopt the underprivileged. If we'd eradicate poverty -- then the other million problems associated with it'd also be eliminated -- would subside concurrently. This'd be done on a war footing -- on a national scale. Eradication of poverty should be our number one priority.

Perseverance is our magic wand. Sheer doggedness would turn us into miracle-men. No Messiah is coming. Nevertheless, we're so morally debased that we murder our savior.

Nevertheless, we've to start afresh. Deriving our lessons from honeybee or ant colonies -- the only exception would be that there won't be any hierarchy. No queens or slave-drivers. Our zeal to change our own destiny would be our prime motivation.

This is time for introspection. This is time to molt out of our lethargy and indifference.

Compassion for fellow countrymen. Unbiased and unconditional. Singling out a particular day for compassion won't help. It'd be lived every day.