Thousands of castes, lakhs of sub-castes and countless divisions within them. Each community with its own identity and customs; customs that offer differ from household to household! Customs that often lead to conflicts, not just between communities but also within them. Caste tensions; Communal tensions; Religious tensions; Riots here; Stampedes there; Death everywhere. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, to name a few. Yet, we are the largest democracy in the world, and a pretty well governed one at that. So how then, does India work?
The immediate reason that comes to mind: Well, as a people, we are a pretty satisfied bunch! I mean, think about it. In general, we are by and large happy with what we have, and if not, we simply don’t bother. We look around, shrug our shoulders and say, “Oh well! That’s life.” To quote V.S.Naipaul, “as long as the environment around us doesn’t change significantly, we are quite happy to let things be.” Corruption is rampant; power is grossly misused; politicians take undue advantage of the facilities and privileges available to them. All this happens in broad daylight, and yet in spite of all this, India grows at 8% economically year on year. One word: ‘WOW!’ Or maybe another: ‘HOW?’
Let’s start from the top. The top brass of the country generally make the right noises but do very less (I guess barking dogs do indeed seldom bite). We are quite satisfied to hear of all the grandiose plans chalked out for our future and live in the euphoria of it all. Then, after a while, we start to realize that nothing substantial has happened. We start to make noises. Soon enough, some of the so-far-dormant-plans spring to life and before we protest about the delay and inactivity, newer and grander plans are unveiled. This fuels us to continue our ‘slumber’. The vicious circle goes on and on. Oh, and if you see a public proclamation of the wonderous achievements of the recent past, be sure that an election is at hand!
Next, how is everyone kept happy? It’s simple really; horses for courses. A policy is adopted. As soon as it outlives its usefulness, a newer one is made; just like that. No questions asked. When the minorities revolt, give them a longer rope to chew; in other words, increase reservation. When the ‘upper’ or ‘privileged’ classes revolt, issue a ‘formal warning’ against such acts being ‘not in the country’s best interests’. If they continue to revolt, increase their number of seats or jobs; easy as you like it!
Politics is quite a force; a reality show to beat all reality shows. Forget ‘Big brother’; this is the big thing, brother! “Oh! Why bother?”, you may ask. Yet, we do bother and the agent we should thank for this, is the media. Sensationalism has made the country, and indeed the world what it is today, but that’s for another discussion.
We want to unite the rivers of the North and South when we can’t reach a consensus on water sharing between neighboring states. We want to build a road network to connect the four corners of the country when highways connecting adjacent cities are in tatters. We want to touch the stars, without getting up off our comfortable couches. Yet, the country blossoms and blooms.
Only in India! Only in India!
Footnote: This was actually written along while ago. I actually wrote it and was just simply too lazy to type it out. With India completing 60 years of becoming a republic, I figured that it was indeed the right time. Here’s to India.
Cheers
Comments
97 responses to “India Works”
Our In-house Editor back at his eloquent best! Well written matey!
But then, I dun agree with the essence of it.
"…Yet, the country blossoms and blooms…"
Somehow the forgotten people of the northeast, the deprived ones living in the unjustly glorified 'deep-interior, REAL India' would disagree with this. And not just with words. What about the people of the state, of which we supposedly wouldn't give up an inch to Pakistan and China? Kashmiris? Would they say the country's blossomed after 60 years of independence which they never enjoyed? The governments in the last half a century have done everything in their powers to make sure that people in certain parts of the country will never consider themselves a part of the union. The government will scrounge every nickel of natural resources and labor outta these areas giving nothing but constant neglect and worse, oppression in return. They've been ravaged enough to go against it, let alone feel a part of it.
Sorry mate, not working. This country and it's system. The whole concept of a country is skewed here. It's a political entity, not a socio-cultural one. And there lies the reason to why it doesn't work
Our In-house Editor back at his eloquent best! Well written matey!But then, I dun agree with the essence of it."…Yet, the country blossoms and blooms…" Somehow the forgotten people of the northeast, the deprived ones living in the unjustly glorified 'deep-interior, REAL India' would disagree with this. And not just with words. What about the people of the state, of which we supposedly wouldn't give up an inch to Pakistan and China? Kashmiris? Would they say the country's blossomed after 60 years of independence which they never enjoyed? The governments in the last half a century have done everything in their powers to make sure that people in certain parts of the country will never consider themselves a part of the union. The government will scrounge every nickel of natural resources and labor outta these areas giving nothing but constant neglect and worse, oppression in return. They've been ravaged enough to go against it, let alone feel a part of it. Sorry mate, not working. This country and it's system. The whole concept of a country is skewed here. It's a political entity, not a socio-cultural one. And there lies the reason to why it doesn't work
You know, the last line of your comment ' languid nonchalance' ws probably better than the post itself 🙂 Awesome 🙂
You know, the last line of your comment ' languid nonchalance' ws probably better than the post itself 🙂 Awesome 🙂
well written mate…the main reason really hit home-'we are a pretty satisfied bunch!' whatever goes on around the world, however better developed smaller and lesser known countries become we are content with what we have while drawing up grand plans for a glittering future which ultimately ends up in forgotten territory.
All said and done, India is India…and I am more than proud to be a part of its languid nonchalance!!! JAI HO
well written mate…the main reason really hit home-'we are a pretty satisfied bunch!' whatever goes on around the world, however better developed smaller and lesser known countries become we are content with what we have while drawing up grand plans for a glittering future which ultimately ends up in forgotten territory. All said and done, India is India…and I am more than proud to be a part of its languid nonchalance!!! JAI HO