Monday, November 3, 2008

part 2 of 2...

Perspective changes when one witnesses the unexpected. These guys have preserved in all their modernness, an India and Indian-ness that we, living in the country, haven't! Its been taken for granted at times, or just hasn't been thought of as important enough to cherish in our day-to-day lives. The "chalta hai" generation, as Nishant put it quite aptly, is too casual about most issues. Be it something cultural like this which might still be trivial, but even the few blasts a couple of days back in Assam and Guwahati, a few blasts in Mumbai before that, a few in Gujarat, Delhi, Bangalore.. and life goes on as usual!

There are always going to be the ones who actually get things done, and ones who crib about how fucked the system is! But its not going to be easy, it requires sacrifices, one at a time, people have to give up this materialistic maze that they live in and get things done! To clean up the system, to get our roads made, to get into the political veins of the country, to improve social security; India has a GDP of 2 Trillion $$ today, but so does Brazil, S.Korea, Russia, MEXIfuckinCO! with 1/10th or 1/20th the population which relates to 10 or 20 times the amount of money for each person. The U.S has a GDP of 12-13 trillion, with a GDP per head at 45,000$ ... India is at 650$!

I have not included China in my list here, we do NOT compare with them, they are not a couple of years ahead, but many many years ahead in terms of development that has already taken place in their country, we have years before we can catch up.

I realize that if not duty, the capability or opportunity doesn't exist for every Indian to fight the system. The average Indian has too many daily issues to be going out fighting the system, he'll only end up warped into it further. Here's the predicament...

Well, for starters, since I initiated the topic based on the "Indian-ness" of a few ABCDs, there is another point to stress on. It is of my opinion that only the exceptional ABCDs have managed this balancing act. These fortunate ABCDs have parents who have excelled in their professions, most probably they were the older generation who studied either Medicine or Engineering before settling in this country. Not only this, these Indians who settled abroad must have struggled during their initial years, the only difference being, that this struggle did not include bribing the policeman, worrying about whether their children would get infected due to contaminated water or sitting in the dark as the electricity just went out. There probably are just as many ABCDs who dont really give a damn about Bharatanatyam or Kathakali, or even about who wins their next election. Just like the average ABCD doesnt give a damn, the average Indian is too caught up with daily issues to be able to celebrate our "Indian-ness".

My itch is with the those exceptional Indians who are IN India and who should be trying to do something for this country. I hope I do not end up as the one who just cribs about how fucked the system is, but actually do something to make it better.

The only catch here is... who decides whether they are the chosen exceptional ones...?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I dont agree with the concept of chosen ones, and I dont think that we will be able to change a system by ranting against it. The concept of giving up the "materialistic maze" also requires some more analysis I mean starting a company may influence just as much positive change as an NGO might. Changing the "system" is to tall an order, each of us needs to find our calling whatever that may be and strive to create value by pursuing it with all we have, anyone who can honestly tell himself that he is doing just that is worthy of your title of "chosen one."

šØǕŧhρaŴ said...

haan amrut, whatever you've said.. is almost exactly what i've tried to convey, i guess its always left to open interpretation, as the chosen one could be the chosen one due to various reasons :) ... i am not trying to preach anything, neither am i ranting, that is also clearly mentioned in the final part of the blog, probably just frustrated about the state of affairs...

Mayuri said...

Well i totally agree.... its about the general change in the attitude of the present generation.. call it self centered or non patriotic.. we just never do anything for the country anymore.. everything is for ourself,and those few who do manage to take an initiative end up disheatrened due to the rampant corruption wihtin the system.......it is hard to imagine that we live in the same India that drove away an empire without raising a hand.is it the generation or is it a general 'westernisation' of the society i cant say.....