So its the 15th of August again. Feels like yesterday, when I was in KCG sitting in an near empty OPD. Its been 61 years since our ancestors managed to oust the foreign near dictatorial government. Unfortunately, now we have a near dictatorial government formed by our very own people, disguised as a democracy. It sounds eerily similar to those intricate defense mechanisms which I've been reading about of late in Microbiology, developed by invading organisms to fool the immune system! Our politicians are recognized as 'self', so we don't take any real action against them! :D
Is the concept of freedom and independence really something which you can cherish by unfurling a flag? Do the 3 colours and the spoked wheel encompass all aspects of what we need to embrace? Is there something we're missing as 'free Indians'?
Let me give you an example. I was coming back to India after a 3 month stay in the UAE. In the Sharjah airport, we were all herded towards one side by the airport security officials just before the initial baggage X-ray check; the security wanted to ensure that a clear passage remains for flight crew and other officials at this otherwise congested area. Within minutes, a large Arab dude shows up with some 6-7 young jocks, all sporting the same jersey, and tells the security official that they need 'just 5 minutes' for their clearance. Not surprisingly, they agree, and the seemingly small group quickly turned into large thirty-something mob of purple. The Abu Dhabi Lakers waltzed past us substandard humans in a quick shot 15 minutes. Nothing all that unexpected really. Its foreign soil, and the locals favoured their own kind. Probably a human rights violation, but its only natural.
A few hours and a crappy cibatta sandwich later, I was in India! Home sweet home! The land of the free! The Bangalore airport was one of the best ones I've seen in our country. Everything was sparkling and new, except for the rusty and still disgruntled airport officials. At the immigration check queue, everyone was fairly orderly, except for the occasional guy trying to casually sneak past drowsy co-passengers. That's when it happened. Some white guy just walked across the side and, while the immigration officer looked on, came up straight to his counter and gave him his passport, grinning. All the officer did was grin back, and meekly accepted the document. I just looked at the yellow line at my feet, and chuckled to myself, feeling quite let down at the irony of the situation.
What I infer from this is, we Indians are treated like crap abroad not just because the others think that they are superior, we ourselves consider ourselves inferior!
Maybe its time we open our eyes and tell ourselves that we can only gain respect from others if we have any for ourselves. After all, quoting a song (which became popular school morning prayer):
Humko mann ki shakti dena, mann vijay kare..
Dusron ki jay se pehle, khud ko jay kare..
Dusron ki jay se pehle, khud ko jay kare..
A simple translation to English would be:
I'll leave you guys to think for a while on that note..
Jai Hind.
Give us mental strength, so that we can overcome ourselves.
(So that) Before attempting to conquer others, we may conquer ourselves.
(So that) Before attempting to conquer others, we may conquer ourselves.
I'll leave you guys to think for a while on that note..
Jai Hind.
you have way too much time on your hands to belt out awefully long posts with the flag of india.. I did survive it though :).
ReplyDeletemore than believing in ourselves, i guess we have no faith in being Indian. the pride of being indian is pretty much lost, if u ask me...and maybe this is why we end up culturally confused idiots.. and yea the bangalore airport rocks :P
ReplyDeleteWhenever we question our faith in India, or are in doubt of our pride in being an Indian.. we must realize that India is defined by its people, by you and me. And not 'them'. So we must realize whatever it is that may be bothering us, it is in OUR hands to fix it, cause we are India.
ReplyDeleteI hate the passive, blame-the-whole-world approach that we tend to have when it comes to our country's problems. I think its time we face the fact that we are very much a part of this country, AND its problems.
@phoenixrising
You said you'd want to be a politician.. why don't you go ahead and set some things right! I won't be so passive and will do something from my side as well; I will vote for you! ;)
LOL i would love being a politician... but being good at it? nope... no ways! for starters I can be extremely bitchy yet horribly sentimental. And plus i am considered emotionally unstable which is definitely not what India needs (btw who eevn defined emotionally unstable? emotions themselves are relative, go figure!)
ReplyDeleteAnd about Indians not doing anything for their country, we are'nt assertive enough. We earn in dollars and cringe paying taxes. Its patriotism we lack
I would'nt agree with you a 100% Those countries really are superior to us.We might as well accept it and DO something other than cribbing?Besides this is all about the dough isnt it?
ReplyDeleteI guess I come from the ignorant class.So hopefully you will agree with me and not take the arguement further:D
I would love to do something but I think indias still a young country we do need time to grow.Where was america or any of the developed nations of the world 60 years after their independance?we are going to stay like this for as long as we dont eradicate poverty and find educated people to rule the country.until then we will be inferior!