THE INDIAN IN ME.

Every passing year, at the time of Independence and Republic days and now even at the anniversaries of 26-11 like events , the newspapers are filled with patriotic articles. Some are provoking, some are revolting. With kids purchasing flags, school busy with their parades and flag-hoisting function, speeches going on everywhere, a sense of being INDIAN rises! And everytime there are people questioning as to why the INDIAN in us rise only during these special days and just to shut their mouth I chose an absolutely normal day to write this.

This time there are scores of absolute random thoughts lingering, which has so saturated my mind. I fail to understand what exactly I am feeling today and what I should be feeling. Be proud? Of what? Completing 63 years of independence few days back? And what about being slaves of terrorism, corruption, ‘ill’-literacy, poverty? Be proud of our culture, its simplicity, its purity? And what about dowry, sati-system, child-marriage? Want to cry, shout, change people’s mentality, repair the corrupt system. I want a good government and equally good citizens. And I feel utterly, butterly helpless…!

Remember 26/11? Silly question, it can NEVER EVER be forgotten, especially I, a Mumbaikar, can NEVER! The kind of revolt I saw here in Mumbai in the successive months was just mesmerizing! From kindergarten kids to aged people all came out. We, INDIANS, together voiced the anger and cries of the affected!

I am sure you would kill me for saying this, but in a way a 26/11 was necessary! It was an alarm call for all of us, the sleeping babies. The only grueling thing was the truth that 11 uneducated, trained bugs evoked the suppressed anger in us, could undress the Government’s negligence, could unite a nation with largest youth population! Though the number of voters didn’t increase, but for sure an awareness has been lit up, especially in the youth. Infact the recent “METER JAM” campaign held in Mumbai against all those misbehaving taxi and auto drivers is a good example. Initiated by just 3 young people, it went across a huge number. The campaign was so strong that our Home Minister was compelled to meet the pioneers and ultimately take up an action. Basically, now we know how to get our work done! We know to pressurize the government. The yo-generation is up and ready. But again the drawback is we lack perseverance. We have adopted the lets-be-used-to policy. The chod-na-chalta-hai attitude is what we need to work on.

Between, though, we blame the government how responsibly do we behave? Who bribes the traffic police? Who throws the Lays’ packet into the Juhu beach? Who rides without a license, without a helmet? First we complain of not having been provided with public dustbins and when we have them the garbage is never inside, its always around it. We demand good, polished and more number of trains and then enhance their beauty with our paan, gutka, eclairs’ wrapper! We ask for women’s and children’s rights and at the same time the rapist wander freely, kids get married in their schooling days. Yes, we are the educated-donkeys.


Problems, problems, problems! Its difficult to chalk a way out. When the literate group themselves show such ignorance, I wonder if education is the solution. Confusion, confusion, confusion! The only thing I am sure about is my dream of living in a developed India would always remain a dream…

Did you find this article unorganized? Does it appear like a mess? Is it full of negative thoughts? The point it started and where it ended, was it all scattered? Nothing, just trying to reflect the current Indian mentality! ;)

(This article would get published in a local supplement of TIMES OF INDIA. To read it on the e-paper click here)