Turning voters into citizens

Seated in the midst of lush green surroundings in the quiet and picturesque village of Raia, MARG’S Jawaharlal Nehru Centre (JNC) research library holds an intellectual treasure of around 1000 books. The library has selected 70 works of Nehru donated by Mrudula Mukherjee and 100 collective works of Mahatma Gandhi donated by Nirmala Sawant. Apart from this, the library even has Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography in 15 Indian languages. These written words inspired the world and changed modern history bringing positive changes in the life of people.

JNC also houses the Institute for Citizenship and Civic Sense Education which aims at nation building by making good citizens out of students.

“We aim to transform voters into real citizens,” says veteran freedom fighter Gurunath Kelekar, the managing director at JNC and the mastermind behind MARG (Movement for Amity towards Roads in Goa). Conceptualised by Kelekar and resourced by like-minded people, JNC focuses on the idea of making good citizens out of children and youth.

To make this a reality, Kelekar has been working for the past three years. The students are a great source of strength to the country as they have ideals, energy and power to work, and if rightly guided, they can render valuable service to the society, feels Kelekar.

“We have already kickstarted the mission,” he asserts. JNC plans to bring a new thought of citizenship which will inculcate reading habit in younger generation and develop the students into good citizens. “It is an initiative that will help us create not just voters, but sensible citizens who will, in turn, lead our country towards progress. Our initiative started with the formation of civic clubs in higher secondary schools and colleges in Goa. Until now, 10 such clubs comprising of 30 students each have been formed in South Goa. The mission will soon be extended to high schools too,” declares Kelekar.

These civic clubs will not be affiliated to any political party, religious or spiritual organisations. They will only focus on the formation of character of the students,” briefs Kelekar. Formed with the consent of the principal or headmaster each civic club will have a teacher as a co-ordinator.

At JNC, the Institute for Citizenship and Civic Sense Education will prepare a curriculum and arrange books, literature, videos, films etc. There would be prescribed books/material based on which the educators of the institute will train the students in citizenship.

“This house is being offered to us on lease by Reginaldo Lourenco, MLA of Curtorim, while some like-minded friends contributed in the renovation and an educational institute donated Rs 2.5 lakh to purchase books,” informs Kelekar who started MARG Trust in 1995 and registered it in 1999.

With government supporting financially, the MARG movement ran smoothly for over two decades. But now the monetary support has been withdrawn and MARG finds it hard to sustain. Also, the three pillars out of four that had started MARG have passed away - Vasant Karapurkar, Madhukar Mordekar and Vasant Malaye.

“Only I am left,” says Kelekar, 87. Age is catching fast but Kelekar who was actively associated with the freedom struggle, the Konkani movement and then MARG, still has the zest and zeal to make a new beginning.

He admits that there was little change in the mentality of the people. “Speeches don’t change a thing,” he retorts. After much introspection, he finally arrived at the conclusion that MARG needs to change focus. Why have we not become citizens yet, even after six decades of independence, he wonders. “In India, we need civic sense. MARG strived hard to improve people’s behaviour on the roads but while people behave differently when at home, they go completely chaotic when on the road."

He recalls that it was in 1870 in America that students were taught citizenry by the book. Once a kid becomes a citizen, he automatically behaves well and with compassion. The booklet inspired him to ponder over the thought - one has to be a good citizen to be able to help in nation building. However, there is no institute in India that teaches civic sense to the people.

“In order to fill this gap, we are proposing the idea of turning citizens out of people while making them aware of their rights and responsibilities, to provide them with information of the social and political world, to teach them to care for others and be polite while expressing opinions and arguments,” he mentions.

One has to shape young minds in their receptive age. The importance of reading the newspaper should be imbibed at a young age. The art of writing, conducting or addressing public meetings and maintaining an office will be taught too. Knowledge of the country, state and United Nations will be imparted. Students will be encouraged to read biographies of renowned persons and books on general knowledge. Children will be encouraged to think of India while thinking of Goa and taken to different departments, social organisations and corporate offices. Students will also be taken to visit inter-state and intra-state educational institutions and will be educated to avoid passing judgements, remarks and comments on any socio-political happenings. To register the JNC and run it professionally, Kelekar needs support from the government, corporate world and public. All must accept the responsibility to take this mission forward, he requests. The team is trying their best to find a sponsor to run the JNC and the library. We need resource persons and remuneration, manpower, and volunteers and the will to sacrifice for the nation.