A tribute

With all the vilification that happens about you and the misinformation which is spread, it is tough for anyone to forget you. 
But we do need to make an effort to try to remember you for the right reasons. 
For the visionary that you were, to take a nation burdened by the past and weakened by colonial loot and set it on a path towards development. We failed you many times- the people, the leaders. But in spite of all it, the foundation was so strong that we continued to grow. For standing tall and being futuristic in guiding us in spite of knowing that the nation cannot match up to you, we still aren’t even after all these years.
For being an Institution builder. The institutions that you established and envisioned still are the ones that we rely on. The fact that there aren’t many others apart from what you envisioned, makes one think of what it could have been if it wasn’t for your vision. 
For having the trust in democratic process and institutions. Being able to say “don’t spare me Shankar”, emphasises the importance of criticism in democracy. 
For having the priorities right in respect to the need for education as a right every one ought behaving and believing in scientific temper. A trait the nation – leaders and people alike, lack now. 
For being a true world statesman who set an alternate vision amidst a bipolar world, unlike the global trotter we have now. 
For outliving the romanticism of Freedom struggle and taking up the burden of nation-building, as all your pals from freedom movement gone before the reality of the state of nation kicked in.
Yes, it has not always been a success story, there have been ones we hoped you did better. For a man of your stature and influence- there are things that did have repercussions as we introspect in a later day. 
The wealth of knowledge that you penned down, not only the books but also your various correspondences are a treasure trove for anyone ready to spare the effort. I am still exploring. 
This age could have been great for you, with all the technology and know-how. We can only imagine what you could have envisioned and achieved, for you did achieve a lot in spite of all the handicaps of those days. But, it is also true we might not have been where we are if it wasn’t for you at that point in our history. 
I know you through the ones you wrote and the ones others wrote about you. There is a lot that I need to read, but the admiration for you runs deep. 
We are so accustomed to deciding and judging retrospectively that we fail to take cognisance of those times and circumstances. The failures of the current crop only show we would have been worse off if it was they. 
Conveniently flogged for sins of those who came after and the nation, we fail to realise what you achieved. As I recall someone writing “ we still live in the house Nehru built”. 
Happy Birthday Jawaharlal Nehru.