We're Indians, and proud to be, the reason though, remains a mystery. Unless, of course, we begin banking on the rich culture and traditions that are all but lost now. A portrait of India, will most certainly involve dilapidated roads and a profile of our beloved nation is incomplete without the mention of the ultra-efficient government.
Yet...yet...do note that there is a yet...there is something, something that we notice everyday, something that's the very heart of the Indian life, something that defines the very India in which we live, something that's the root cause of the unfathomabilion problems we cry about, something that yet....goes unnoticed.
That "something" my friends, is we, our mental attitude, our lifestyle, our habits, or anything remotely associated with us.
I'd call that mindset "Commandments of Indian Life". Picture this.
1. Okay. You're travelling, who doesn't have to ? There's a banana in your hand, it gets over. No good thing is there to stay. You're still travelling. Where does the peel go ? Of course, outside, the roads, our very own roads. They're built with out money, it's our birthright to litter on them. Go, India. Ok, let's say that a few did have a conscience, they didn't litter the roads. They find a spot, some place which already has a heap, so there goes the banana. The molehill slowly becomes a mountain, an Indian Signature.
2. Now you've stopped. You travel to stop sometime. Where does the vehicle go ? Of course, in the center of the road. After all, we built it. F*** everyone who has a problem. Who'll call us a true Indian if we don't screw the traffic management.
3. Now let's rewind. You're planning to go out. There's a Sumo, capacity-driver + 2 co-passengers, and 3 each on the other two seats. That brings the total to 9. But we surely can fit in 12-13. 3 can easily make way for 4. Similarly, squeeze in the front and the rear. Presto, you've got 12 sitting. Now Bunty can sit in Momma's lap and Shunty can sit in Grandma's lap. That gives 14, the magic of Indian arrangement.
4. Now' let's go to traffic lights. As a kid, I always used to wonder why we're told to cross the roads on Zebra crossings, and what would prevent a driver from hitting us on one of those crossings. A while ago, I was told that when the light goes red, drivers are supposed to stop before the zebra crossing, and that's when a pedestrian can easily cross. But that'd be a dream come true in India. It's been a few years since I've seen a situation when no one jumped a light. Even if they don't, stopping before the zebra crossing is the last thing on their mind. Any day, observer carefully, motorists will be sprawling over the crossing, and the more adventurous ones will have already covered half the distance towards the next road. Why don't you move on as well ?
5. Then there's the timer. When it reaches 5 seconds, motorists will slowly begin moving towards the next road or will have already crossed it by the time. Why did you wait for 25 seconds if you had to jump the signal ?
6. And then there's the tendency of breaking rules. Indians simply cannot live without that. One won't be surprised if he hears the converstation "Hey buddy, there's this new law out, let's break it".
7. If you see a stranger, he'll be conpletely stone-faced until a friend or a relative calls him and he has to wear a fake smile and laugh in a manner that puts Navjot Sidhu to shame. I mean, does it hurt to keep a calm and relaxed attitude instead of staring at people as if they were the killers of your only son.
8. Now imagine you've got a call on your cellphone. The most persistant tendency is to go to roof or get to the road and speak loud enough to let people know what that person did to you, where is that person's wife's uncle going on summer vacations, or simply to show he receives phone calls. Why can't you keep your converstations to yourselves ?
I'd have written a few more "commandments", but unfortunately, my stomach's rumbling, so I'll have to take your leave. So get a phone, go on the roof and scream loudly for we're Indians, in spirit, blood and soul.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The winding and twisting road....
So it's a crucial juncture for tenthies...or at least that's what parents have to say....Though if you grope somewhere in an honest corner of your heart, you have to agree that they couldn't be more right.
So, we'll now be pushed outta the protective walls of school to the brutal world outside. Exposing our tender brains to the merciless competition. And of course, the way Indians are reproducing, it's bound to be ball-cracking. You have thousands..scratch that...lakhs...thwarting you on your way to the peak...and a rank in top 2000 is just not good enough for these people. To add to the woe, parents feel they'd rather die of shame.
Adding to the woe is uncertainty....which way ? The world economy is in imbalance...it doesn't seem that the once 24 karat gold IT Industry is gonna be the champion after this, having already expanded to it's peak. There'll be new sectors leading the way...you dunno which...is it biotechnology ? Seems likely, especially with the DNA technology, which is well poised to be in the nex-gen PCs.You're at crossroads, there are so many directions to choose from, the lights are off, you don't know which will lead to the peak...or whether you'll be able to survive the race in the 1.15 billion strong nation ?
The way I visualise it, it's a winding and twisting road, you never know what it has in store for you, you're walking, rather driving, seeing that most people are getting their vehicles in +1, irrelevant though...as I was saying, you're moving along this dark and uncertain road, not even sure if it does lead to the apogee. An ill-designed curriculum, rather a faulty education system adds to the woes. You're supposed to study 12+ hours...wouldn't it be kinder to add another year to higher secondary system ? And you don't get good teachers in schools...how in hell's name are you supposed to have clear fundamentals ?
As if this wasn't enough...our generations will be left to cope up with the problems our ancestors have been heaving us with. Population, as I said, is the root cause. We have energy crisis, resource crisis, water crisis, economic crisis, crises crises crises. Why didn't they give a damn before burning all the coal that their offsprings would have to burn their asses to get any heat or electricity for that matter.There's a limited money out there, and with so many trying to lay their hands on it, only the super-duper-ultra-fine will be able to get good. It's more of poker than chess, all you can do is have faith on your luck.
So, we'll now be pushed outta the protective walls of school to the brutal world outside. Exposing our tender brains to the merciless competition. And of course, the way Indians are reproducing, it's bound to be ball-cracking. You have thousands..scratch that...lakhs...thwarting you on your way to the peak...and a rank in top 2000 is just not good enough for these people. To add to the woe, parents feel they'd rather die of shame.
Adding to the woe is uncertainty....which way ? The world economy is in imbalance...it doesn't seem that the once 24 karat gold IT Industry is gonna be the champion after this, having already expanded to it's peak. There'll be new sectors leading the way...you dunno which...is it biotechnology ? Seems likely, especially with the DNA technology, which is well poised to be in the nex-gen PCs.You're at crossroads, there are so many directions to choose from, the lights are off, you don't know which will lead to the peak...or whether you'll be able to survive the race in the 1.15 billion strong nation ?
The way I visualise it, it's a winding and twisting road, you never know what it has in store for you, you're walking, rather driving, seeing that most people are getting their vehicles in +1, irrelevant though...as I was saying, you're moving along this dark and uncertain road, not even sure if it does lead to the apogee. An ill-designed curriculum, rather a faulty education system adds to the woes. You're supposed to study 12+ hours...wouldn't it be kinder to add another year to higher secondary system ? And you don't get good teachers in schools...how in hell's name are you supposed to have clear fundamentals ?
As if this wasn't enough...our generations will be left to cope up with the problems our ancestors have been heaving us with. Population, as I said, is the root cause. We have energy crisis, resource crisis, water crisis, economic crisis, crises crises crises. Why didn't they give a damn before burning all the coal that their offsprings would have to burn their asses to get any heat or electricity for that matter.There's a limited money out there, and with so many trying to lay their hands on it, only the super-duper-ultra-fine will be able to get good. It's more of poker than chess, all you can do is have faith on your luck.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Vande Mantram
So it is the 26th of January, and I'm getting all patriotic, so what could be a decent outlet for all the pent-up nationalist feelings.....umm.....the blog that nobody reads ! Alright, well, lets see here, Republic Day brings with it nothing special. I mean, who are we kidding it's like any other day, except that there's all the more less reason to go to school. Just look at the flag get hoisted, and stand up for the national anthem.....yata yata yata, the whole routine. Well, does anybody care really. Not anymore they dont anyway. I know I dont. And I am not the traciest bit ashamed. Which probably speakes volumes for the indifference that has become so widespread that it has made the ultimate indifference, the indifference and ingratitude to the achievement of sacrifice, not that different. I know I've long forgotten the things that did take place on this very land. The incredible sacrifices, the now-unimaginable then-regular feats that were too darn many and common to even take worthy notice at that time. And now, all that remains of them are foggy memories, and unclear projections of the load of crap people went through. Those people had gotten accustomed to dying for India. Nobody dies for nobody, let alone doing it for an ambigous idea of a non-existant nation. They choose to do so, all by themselves, no pressure or forced recruitment of any sort. They fearlessly did crazy things with a spirit that has gotten extinct in a epidemic manner. The truth isnt concealed, defintiely not. We all do know what shit the freedom fighters and revolutionaries underwent, and how they toiled for the future India. An India that hasnt quite retaliyated to their dreams. A nation with citizens not knowing the diffrence between the Independence day and the Republic Day. An India not having the slightest clue as to what the processions led by chants of "Vande Mantram" really stood for. An India that's forced people to dash to foreign lands, amongst the same people against whom the entire war was waged. Its non-laughably bad. I'm gonna do straight-shooting here - it's an India I'm not proud of. That's that. I mean, no arguments about the absolute hugeness of the preciousness of our history, but what have I done ? What have we done ? A generation is slumbering......bah..and let me just do some admitting, big time, I'm most probably going to take the shortest route outta this country. Yeah, pretty much. Try to get a humble job outside somewhere. Now how do I credit myself, eh. How ?? I dont have the balls to stay in and do something. Yeah, I dont. Perhaps I do, but in this moment of time, I'm not going to be allowed by basically anybody to go down that hunting road. It's just a matter of not being able to pick the bones out, not of being haunted. And thats why even at the end, I have no resolutions. I have no conclusions. I am unpatriotic. I am paralyzed and blinded by loud and louder happenings. I am not brave enough to be grateful, since I do know that there's a huge responsibilty that that requires. It requires backing that gratitude up, with goods. And I honestly, am too startled by my own incapabilites. But then again, that's the same for all of us.
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