Another August 15..
India completed its 58th year yeaterday, an age when most of us would enter the peaceful period called retirement. But of course, India is far far from entering that stage. In fact, she has not yet started her magic yet. Yes - Indian magic is just starting to happen. We are on the threshold of a period where the magic is going to spread that much faster.
There is a curious tinge to the Independence day every year. We take stock of the previous years, sigh over what was wasted, what could have been achieved and look forward with optimism to what could be achieved in the future. As is the fashion these days, the Indian heroes of the years preceding independence were treated in extreme fashions - songs on them, their speeches resounding away joined with sharp critiques on how they failed their country, how every problem of this country may be laid at their doors. As an urban resident, it is obvious to me that while there are problems with the politicians, the policiies etc, the core fault lies with the so-called educated Indian, A complete lack of discipline, a complete apathy to social and national causes, a complete devil-may-care attitude that is becoming increasingly dangerous in the fast-developing Indian cities. I was on my way back from Indiranagar yesterday. The traffic was low, it being Aug 15 and hence a holiday. I was waiting to cross the road on the signal at CMH Road. After a long wait, the green signal for the pedestrians and the red signal for the vehicles came on. I started to cross but as I was doing so, a gent driving a Toyota Corolla decides that he is not going to wait any more and blazes away, just missing me by a few inches. Autos and two-wheelers were waiting patiently for the signal to switch but of course, the Toyota Corollas wait for none. What callousness !!
And you know what ? Its these very people who will complain in the same breath about the "corrupt politicians", the "infrastructure" etc. Boss - if you mend your ways, things will change too. Its because of "educated" people like us (see, I am honestly including myself) that India continues to suffer reverses.
So my final thought - India cannot change unless we as the people of this great country change ourselves to be more disciplined, to follow rules, to respect others' freedom. Lets try to inculcate in us what we desire in the New India we dream about.
Jai Hind
There is a curious tinge to the Independence day every year. We take stock of the previous years, sigh over what was wasted, what could have been achieved and look forward with optimism to what could be achieved in the future. As is the fashion these days, the Indian heroes of the years preceding independence were treated in extreme fashions - songs on them, their speeches resounding away joined with sharp critiques on how they failed their country, how every problem of this country may be laid at their doors. As an urban resident, it is obvious to me that while there are problems with the politicians, the policiies etc, the core fault lies with the so-called educated Indian, A complete lack of discipline, a complete apathy to social and national causes, a complete devil-may-care attitude that is becoming increasingly dangerous in the fast-developing Indian cities. I was on my way back from Indiranagar yesterday. The traffic was low, it being Aug 15 and hence a holiday. I was waiting to cross the road on the signal at CMH Road. After a long wait, the green signal for the pedestrians and the red signal for the vehicles came on. I started to cross but as I was doing so, a gent driving a Toyota Corolla decides that he is not going to wait any more and blazes away, just missing me by a few inches. Autos and two-wheelers were waiting patiently for the signal to switch but of course, the Toyota Corollas wait for none. What callousness !!
And you know what ? Its these very people who will complain in the same breath about the "corrupt politicians", the "infrastructure" etc. Boss - if you mend your ways, things will change too. Its because of "educated" people like us (see, I am honestly including myself) that India continues to suffer reverses.
So my final thought - India cannot change unless we as the people of this great country change ourselves to be more disciplined, to follow rules, to respect others' freedom. Lets try to inculcate in us what we desire in the New India we dream about.
Jai Hind
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