“There is so much corruption in the world. Our country is heading on a slippery slope downwards. All the notables are corrupt.” – We exclaim every day while sipping the cup of tea, laying on the couch, holding the morning paper in our hand. We have no right to question the system. If you really want to change the system, you need to step into the muddy waters of politics. ” said Mr. Paresh Rawal in the Bollywood movie ‘Nayak’ starring Anil Kapoor, while he was persuading Mr. Kapoor to join back politics to do the splendid work, he did by becoming a 1-day Chief Minister of the state. Mr. Kapoor finally agreed and the rest is the Bollywood happy story we are all aware of.

The above instance reflects how one has to really act to bring about the change one desires to bring in any environment. Mere talking, alleging the problems, whining about the consequences, does not bring about any changes. It merely adds up to the cacophony of the world.

Mahatma Gandhi rightly remembered as the father of the nation said – “Be the change you want to see in the world”. And was one of its true followers, living a highly austere life of simple living, high thinking, he showed the world the path to emulate. Ranging from Nkrumah of Ghana to Nelson Mandela of South Africa, everyone adopted the path shown by him to achieve their goals. Gandhiji, following his principles of Ahimsa and Truthfulness, achieved India’s independence through this. He showed that world bloodied revolution is not the only path to freedom.

Change is the only constant.
Life is a journey with a constant companion i.e. change. Change refers to departure from the status quo. Change is bringing an alteration in the existing state of affairs. Change transforms the present states. It may be positive change such as freedom from oppression or a negative change e.g – imposition of restrictions like bans.

If one does not change, it stagnates. It becomes moribund. Decadency sets in. It slowly decays and fades away. Civilizations, empires, adapt to the changing scenario. Monarchy had a dramatic fall in France by beheading of Louis XVI, while monarchy flourishes in the United Kingdom till today, rather it flourishes. Reason being French monarchy did not respect the changing conditions, tried to maintain status quo. While British monarchy after Glorious Revolution of 1688 ensured people’s desires and aspirations are fulfilled.

Even in the decolonization process, British made a progressive effort to grant independence accepting the ‘wind of change’. But colonizers like France in Algeria or Portugal in Mozambique failed to recognize the change and led to a bloodied end of colonization.

When you change, the world changes:
The fight of the 13 colonies of the Eastern coast of United States for independence brought about a chain of events in the world. American War of Independence (1765 – 83) ushered the concepts of equality, liberty, nationalism, anti-colonization and fundamental rights through Bill of Rights this inspired the French Revolution, which in turn inspired the freedom struggle in colonies of Latin America, Belgium from united nation of Netherlands etc. Just because the people of America decided they wanted freedom from colonization they triggered a domino effect. Nationalisms arose.

The Protestant Movement in Europe was a march against the tyrannical rule of church. They moved to dismantle the dominance of church. Fighting timelessly, they were able to establish an alternate religion which provided with freedom of expression and questioning. And not blindly follow the diktat of church.

Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha movement is the testimony how one step can bring about a sea change around you. The forgiving attitude of Nelson Mandela towards the white settlers who had tortured him for years, prevented a civil strife in the nation Mandela wanted peace in the country. He adopted an accommodation stand hence the whole community emulated And the country prospered.

Martin Luther King Jr. marched on to give his famous freedom speech for fighting for the rights of blacks and African Americans. He became the voice of the oppressed. And finally, the country had to adopt legislations criminalizing any kind of discrimination. The Blacks got their desired due.

E.V. Periyaiswamy started the Self Respect Movement to ensure that lower-caste people get their deserved rights. Through his constant struggle today AIDMK and DMK have become the flag-bearer of the lower-caste people in Tamil Nadu (though it’s partial truth). Similarly Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai, B.R. Ambedkar fought for what they believed in and brought about changes in the world they lived.

Malala Yousafzai said – ‘I am Malala’ and stirred the nation’s conscience. She stood for education and empowerment and even took a bullet for it at such a small age.

In the field of women empowerment, Billie Jean became the first woman to play and win tennis, breaking stereotypes. Amelia Earhart flew solo in an aircraft. Nawal Al Sadwi, a feminist sociologist, spoke against the patriarchal Muslim mindset for the sake of women. Toni Morrison, who recently passed away, spoke and fought for the pain of the Blacks and African American. Kiran Bedi became the first woman IPS officer of India. Women formed a ‘Wall of Women’ for their right to enter Sabarimala temple in India. Muslim women came out of purdah to demand justice against ‘triple talaq’. All of these examples show how women fought for the change by doing it themselves. And the world changed because of it. The world accepted women as equals, as deserving.

I, myself, strongly believe against using plastics. Hence I always carry my bag whenever I go out shopping. In case I am not carrying one and it can be carried by hand, I deny taking a plastic. And I am always looked at as if I am doing something strange. Initially, I was laughed at by my friends for being so unreasonably principled. Even the vegetable vendor would say ‘If I put chili, garlic, onion, everything inside the same bag, it will take you hours to sort’. To which I would bluntly reply – ‘It’s fine’. After days of this strange response from people, now the same people have become accepting. My friends have started carrying their own bags. My vegetable vendor asks the other customers to carry their own bags. And I silently beam with joy.

Hurdles to the change:
It is also true change is not always welcomed by all. People have a tendency to resist change. They are so comfortable in the existing position, they do not want to alter the situation. At times change is violently opposed e.g. the caste wars, Bhima satyagraha in India. There are various reasons for this resistance.

Societal attitudes may be such which resent change. For example, though Malala became an international figure, but back at home in Afghanistan, the scenario is more or less the same. Brahmins resent the upward mobility of shudras and Ati shudras. The beating of a groom for riding a horse is an example of such underlying resentment and desire to exert dominance.

The economic position of an individual, group