“Should
Money, power and Respect be in the minds of youth if they really want to push
boundaries, to do some noble work for Ladakh?”
Recently
in an interactive session with the great personalities of Ladakh by 'Reach Ladakh' I asked this
question not because I should ask, if I attend such sessions or just for the
sake of asking.
But this is one of many questions that puts
be in a dilemma, perhaps typical dilemma of many youth.
The
question was particularly for Prof. Phunchok Stobdan because in his interview
to Reach Ladakh he mentioned “even
those people who are working for betterment of Ladakh are not enjoying a
respectful space in society”. When I asked that question, back in my mind I had
the picture of Ka Sonam Angchuk (SECMOL) who despite having tirelessly worked
for Ladakh has faced much criticism (false
criticism) from different sections of society.
Prof.
P.Stobdan on my question asked me back, the status of our one and only
Historian and Philosopher Mr. Tashi Rabgyas in our society. As far as I know
Mr. Tashi Rabgyas may not be enjoying the luxury of a millionaire, but he is
undoubtly having the timeless respect from many intellectuals including Prof.
P.Stobdan himself.
The
mere fact of him having acknowledgement and respect from many intellectuals in
Ladakh and outside is more than enough reason for his success and his great
work. Of course he is not enjoying the luxury of a money and power but at least
he is having a modest life. A modest life unfortunately is not in
diction of success of our current youth.
The definition of respect in a society is quite
a subjective matter; one could be deep and timeless respect for one’s untiring
work from right people (As for Mr.Tashi Rabgyas) and other superficial respect
based on one’s fortune and power from wrong people.
The
many cause of social evils and poor leadership in Ladakh is based on mass’s
poor idea of respect. It is because youths in general respect those people who
have money and power, the youth of today don’t give a damn about future of
Ladakh because they are too busy making instant money through whatever means.
Whether it is by opening bars or by opening snookers corners. It is because of
this mass short-sighted and superficial urge for respect we just care about the
ends and have nothing to say about the means.
Mr. Tashi Rabgyas is most respected and
successful person in history of Ladakh. And I think sooner we create a culture
of respecting those people who really works for betterment of Ladakh the better
will be the quality of youth and eventually future of Ladakh.
Sadly in our society forget-respect it is completely otherwise, we Respect the people
with money and power by whatever means they may have acquired it and condemn or
even stigmatise the one who worked untiringly and selflessly for Ladakh (Take
the case of Mr. Thupstan Tsewang and SECMOL Sonam Wangchuk )
The
exemplary works of SECMOL Ka Sonam Wangchuk and Mr. Thupstan Tsewang is of
course an inspiration for many, but it also a case many a times which deter our
youth from making decision to come forward and lead (Specifically our educated
youth).
It is in these obscured and short-sighted definitions
of Success and Respect, We are ready to cross any moral values seeking nothing but
self interest.
I
shall end with a note, it is high time that we re-think and re-define the
existing definitions of Success and Respect in our society.
