BOB’S BANTER

Swatch Bharat..!
Something I see so often in America and Europe as I travel through a city in the mornings is the owner of a business establishment opening his shop himself, cleaning and even sweeping the porch and dusting his furniture. There is sense of pride as he carefully wipes the door handles and makes the brass shine, as he cleans the glass and polishes the doors. Here in our country, we have a peon to open the shop, another sweeper to clean the front and other employees to do all the other work we don’t want to do.
The other day a carpenter was busy at my home, making new windows for a bedroom. He worked along with his assistant whose job it was to bring the wood from the terrace, hold the nails patiently while his master hammered them, bring the tea for their frequent tea breaks and other jobs.
The second day he turned up alone, “My helper is sick,” he said.
“I guess you’ll have to do the work alone,” I said.
“No,” said the carpenter, “I’m going home.”
“You can’t,” I said, “there’s so much to do, and you can do it alone!”
“I can’t carry the wood from the terrace? I can’t hold my nails? Do you expect me to get my tea myself?”
“But you’ll lose a day’s wages,” I said looking at him helplessly as he packed his tools.
“That’s okay,” he said, “goodbye!”
Many years ago, a rider came across some soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log without success. Their corporal was standing by as the men struggle. The horse rider asked the corporal why he wasn’t helping.
“I am the corporal; I give orders,” barked the man.
“In that case I’ll help them,” said the rider.
He dismounted from his horse, pushed with the men and the heavy log was moved. The rider then went to the corporal and said, “The next time your men need help, call me.”
“That we will,” said the proud corporal with a sneer, “who are you?”
“Your Commander-in Chief!” said the man as he rode off.
After he left, the corporal and his men found out that it was George Washington, who became the first President of the United States!
Do we need a George Washington to change our attitude too? I have seen filth and dirt lying in front of somebody’s front door and everybody holding their noses and waiting for the sweeper to do the needful. Till then the filth lies untouched.
How long, till we take the broom and clean the place ourselves? Are we all like that proud corporal or like George Washington? Swatch Bharat can only happen when we, not the sweeper starts cleaning the country..!
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BOBS BANTER

Swatch Bharat..! Something I see so often in America and Europe as I travel through a city in the mornings is the owner of a business establishment opening his shop himself, cleaning and even sweeping the porch and dusting his furniture. There is sense of pride as he carefully wipes the door handles and makes the brass shine, as he cleans the glass and polishes the doors. Here in our country, we have a peon to open the shop, another sweeper to clean the front and other employees to do all the other work we dont want to do. The other day a carpenter was busy at my home, making new windows for a bedroom. He worked along with his assistant whose job it was to bring the wood from the terrace, hold the nails patiently while his master hammered them, bring the tea for their frequent tea breaks and other jobs. The second day he turned up alone, My helper is sick, he said. I guess youll have to do the work alone, I said. No, said the carpenter, Im going home. You cant, I said, theres so much to do, and you can do it alone! I cant carry the wood from the terrace? I cant hold my nails? Do you expect me to get my tea myself? But youll lose a days wages, I said looking at him helplessly as he packed his tools. Thats okay, he said, goodbye! Many years ago, a rider came across some soldiers who were trying to move a heavy log without success. Their corporal was standing by as the men struggle. The horse rider asked the corporal why he wasnt helping. I am the corporal; I give orders, barked the man. In that case Ill help them, said the rider. He dismounted from his horse, pushed with the men and the heavy log was moved. The rider then went to the corporal and said, The next time your men need help, call me. That we will, said the proud corporal with a sneer, who are you? Your Commander-in Chief! said the man as he rode off. After he left, the corporal and his men found out that it was George Washington, who became the first President of the United States! Do we need a George Washington to change our attitude too? I have seen filth and dirt lying in front of somebodys front door and everybody holding their noses and waiting for the sweeper to do the needful. Till then the filth lies untouched. How long, till we take the broom and clean the place ourselves? Are we all like that proud corporal or like George Washington? Swatch Bharat can only happen when we, not the sweeper starts cleaning the country..! [email protected]