AN IDEAL CITIZEN

 

Not gold, but only men can make A nation great and strong Men who for Truth and Honour's sake -Emerson Stand fast and suffer long. We as students are often advised by our teachers to try to become ideal citizens. Leaders, teachers and preachers all tell us to become ideal citizens. Now citizenship means membership of a state or of a nation. As citizens of a state we have certain rights and duties. A good citizen exercises those rights in a responsible and intelligent way. Rights may be defined as powers by exercising which the good of the individual as well as of the society is ensured.

 Rights are conferred on man because of his moral nature. Every individual must have certain powers of free thought and expression to develop his personality. Human personality cannot blossom without certain basic freedoms. An ideal citizen is a great national asset. He loves the country of his birth or adoption from the core of his heart and remains ready to sacrifice his life rather than bring a blot upon its fair name. In times of peace and war, he acts as a true patriot. His every action is guided by the desire to work for the welfare of the native land. He is a bitter enemy of the enemies of the nation. An ideal citizen is more conscious of his duties than of his rights. He knows that rights and duties go together. He respects the rights of others as much as his own. He follows what late President said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, and ask what you can do for your country.”

A good citizen respects and obeys the laws and institutions of his country. He does not tolerate them as a necessary evil. He has respect for law in his heart. He is ever ready to fight for truth and justice. He has no sympathy for convicts and criminals. He strains every nerve to uproot the forces of disorder and chaos. He lends his helping hand to the government in maintaining law and order in the country. Another quality of a good citizen is that he is kind and helpful to his fellow countrymen. He lives like a good neighbor and respectable member of society. He is fair and square in his dealings. He is broad - minded and above petty considerations of caste, color and creed. He is impartial and objective in his judgment.

A good citizen takes active participation in social and political affairs of the country. He makes a proper use of his franchise. He takes keen interest in the national problems and tries his best to contribute his share in solving them. He is a man of action and believes more in doing something practical than merely brooding over it. He is most conscientious in the discharge of his duties towards his family, his society and his country. An ideal citizen is conscious of the glory of his country and tries his best to enhance it. He does not remain lost in ' getting and spending ‘. He does not believe in hoarding, black - marketing and corruption. He hates all those people who indulge in anti - social and anti - national activities. He does not want to feather his own nest at the cost of his countrymen. He does not fall out with the people in the name of language, religion and province. He is a great social worker who spends the major part of his time in serving the teeming millions of his country. He is always sincere, straightforward and frank. He is progressive, hospitable and courteous.

 An ideal citizen is cosmopolitan in his outlook. For him, no men are foreign and no country is strange. He does not hate people belonging to other nations. He considers himself a citizen of the world. But it is a pity that the number of ideal citizens is very small. This world would become a better place if there were more ideal citizens.