Anyone remembers Gettysburg?

“Politics begin as 1984 riot file goes missing," "100 files related to Netaji to be released," "Sunanda dies of poisoning: AIIMS," "Man accused of gang-rape lynched," "Woman who threw ink at Kejri gets bail,” "People losing faith in democratic institutions: Speaker Mahajan," "Dress code to curb obscenity at Goa carnival," "Modi government most anti-intellectual" etc.

These are the news items on Nation page in The Hans India on January 23. The only two items, which console readers a little bit, that too with a question mark are: "Grafts down as nuts and bolts tightened: PM," and "Hail your effort" (President greeting the achievers of the programme of Beti Bachao.”

Preparations are agog to celebrate the 67th Republic Day (26th January, 2016). The pledge taken by the Members of the Constituent Assembly in the name of "We the people of India" has been repeated numerous times without numbers. Founding Fathers of the Constitution must have derived inspiration from the Gettysburg Address, delivered at the Soldiers' National Cemetery by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863.

History records the occasion – victory of the Abraham Lincoln's Army in the Civil War. Lincoln's carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, was one of the greatest and most influential statements of national purpose. In just over two minutes, in merely 271 words Lincoln reiterated the principles of human equality espoused by the declaration of Independence: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, … that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

During my interview for an American Visa, the Officer at the Counter at the Consulate in Chennai asked me: "What are the places you propose to see in the US.” I said "Gettysburg ......... " He did not allow me to name the second place: "Sir, for the first time, I am hearing 'Gettysburg'. You will get your Visa within 48 hours." It was waiting for me when I reached Kurnool after a couple of days.

Many teachers of mine told the class: "If you happen to visit the US, do not miss to visit Gettysburg." Only one or two of them might have seen it. Now how many from the academic fraternity know Gettysburg? I visited Hodgenville in Kentucky State, the birth place of Lincoln in June and Gettysburg in July 2008. In both the places I could not find a single Indian.

A few days earlier I was in Niagara Falls; about forty per cent tourists were Indians. We are more attached to pleasure than democracy. It is not as though good deeds are not being done now. But we are more prone to dig the past, more than necessary to make a mockery of the democracy and not to learn lessons from them.