65. United Villages of India

With cities succumbing to resource chaos and countries falling to mounting debts, it is high time the focus returns to villages - where life is still celebrated in its myriad manifestations with distinct rhythm and discreet harmony. One is reminded of Mahatma Gandhi who had said: `the true India is to be found not in its few cities, but in its seven hundred thousand villages'. Without mincing his words, Gandhi had further added: `if the villages perish, India will perish too'.

Oblivious of the dramatic decline of capitalism across the world, the growth-obsessed politicians and planners of our times are pushing villages on the brink. While the draconian `land acquisition law' will drive people away from their natural habitation, scheme to provide `employment guarantee' will provide hands-to-mouth existence for those who get evicted. The notion `less the number of villagers, better the growth prospects' is taking the country on a path of self-destruction.

Capitalist model of growth has crumbled all across, taking a heavy toll on its constituent nation-states. The fate of `United Nations' is hanging in a balance for long and the future of `United States' is anything but in dark. The nation-state theory of global governance has seemingly outlived its existence. Mahatma Gandhi was averse to the theory of nation-state and had instead argued in favor of a confederation of self-governing and self-reliant village communities.

Only be restructuring and renaming the country as `United Villages of India' can the future of the country and that of mankind be assured.