There are occassions when one wonders how India will change or where will the change start from? Two days back, over dinner, Atul put forth a question that if you were the PM and had the liberty of changing one policy or making one reform, what would be it? There are so many issues. I could not come up with a firm answer, but primary education was on the top of my mind. I believe that the thinking of the common man in India should change.
Lot has been said about the youth driving the nation’s GDP growth.True. But is the youth really concerned about the nation? Is it aware of the nation’s troubles. The sad part is the disconnect between India and its youth. Last weekend we visited Shivsamudra falls. We had to walk down around 50 stairs, the foot space of some stairs was too little to be safe, in fact dangerous. The fall could be fatal. Yet there were hundreds, with lots of enthusiasm, walking on the stairs. Many locals visit the falls and spend good time in the water. The city people could be easily distinguished. They were watchful of each step, of their dresses, of how deep they went inside the water. The locals were all merry. It was a nice place but we still didn’t enjoy it. The question that came up was, this is India and we were not at ease with the place and the people? Have we grown up so soon?
The very next day I had to visit one of the most corrupt offices in our country. I feel guilty that I had to opt for the easier route to get my work done in two days. As I waited for my job to be completed, I made notes of the thoughts that occured to me:
The Sunday trip to the Brindhavan gardens, arranged for school students . It was probably a municipal school, the kids were bare footed. They were very excited. There was not just one such group but quite a few.
Instant gratification desired by the youth of today. They want money, more money, fame and status. They want to grab everything they can lay their hands at. They talk a lot about the problems the country faces, when in reality they are disconnected with the Incredible India.
We are not India, we might drive the GDP growth to double digits but we are not India.
People know the price of a rupee today, but not its value. Lavish expenses are the order of the day. Austerity is miscalled miserliness. In our childhood, simplicity was respected; today it is deplored…I read this piece in an editorial.
The rich in India splurge money because they can. They involve themselves in activities which enrich their status and boost their ego. The poor try to make every penny count for the scarce opportunities they can avail. The rising working class, try to ape the rich, paisa vasool is their aim and make hay when the sun shines their motto. Their search for happiness seems to be directionless.
I recieved a forward, couple of days back. I am not sure if the content is true, but I find it to be reality today. Lord Macaulay addressed the British parliament in the early 19th century “I have travelled across the length and the breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such high caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is so good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”
I love my country but I am not sure if I can say the same about my countrymen. I know I have little right to write this, what have I done to make a difference? A year later I hope to be back on Indian soil, I trust my belief that I will make a difference.
P.S: There still exist a few honest Rickshaw-wallas in Bangalore. I was charged the correct fare for travelling from Forum to Airport road past 9 PM. He returned the change too, two bucks. I gave him a warm smile and thanked him. If only he had to step out, I would have hugged him 
