"On our Republic day I happened to log onto FB only during late night hours. I was overwhelmed by the patriotism shown by my friends (–on my Wall). One post had praised the National flag, other one gave the importance of celebrating the Republic day, and the other friend had given the History of the Republic day and so on. As I scroll down I saw a sharp-Status Line by a friend –that read as follows :
“Shame to be an Indian on this Republic day”
I was little shocked .I read through the comments given for this status message.
An impulsive comment criticizing that “he always captures and sees the Poor India and India had got so many good things which he fails to notice”…Blaming the view of the friend -outright!
Few of his friends were for the thoughts and many against..!
And I felt I was too late to comment on this as almost the Republic day had passed away!
As I sat reading rest of my messages on FB …I was flooded with thoughts . How do I really feel as an Indian - Proud or Shameful?
Recently I visited the Chennai ‘s Annual book fair, after spending enough money and time, Pearl and I walked out of the fair. Sending messages and calling friends inquiring about good non-vegetarian hotels were we could get good Biriyani (ya ya for dinner!) I saw a Blood donation bus. Been a regular blood donor and stopped after getting conceived. I had a sudden temptation that “Yes! Have to donate blood! So why not now! May be another 20 mins!” The thought really thrilled me!
I filled the form and got inside the bus. They had my Hemoglobin count checked. To my greatest shock and surprise my hemoglobin count was only 11.5 gm per deciliter. To donate blood I should at least have 12.5 while 13.5 is normal for women. I was sent back.
I was very upset. For the first time I felt I was a piece of S**T. Really...Really, I found myself absolutely useless and unfit that I can be of no use and I felt some basic right had been denied to me by my own self. I was advised to take dates - iron tonic-beetroot-fig-jaggery-the list was endless (thanks to all my knowledgeable and caring friends!)
This thought flashed inside my head and I thought “Keeping up ones good health is very difficult….then how much of effort and follow up is needed to keep up the country with a huge population like India . So I thought it’s easy to crib about the system but it’s too tough to maintain and be organized.
So I thought let me improve my HB count within two months-donate blood and wipe off my Shame as a human being! I signed off FB and dozed off. The story never ends here..
I need to visit my client the next day.It was long bus journey from Tambaram to Thiruvanmaiyur. This stretch is one of the recent-developed zones with numerous IT companies, providing jobs to lots of young people and building up India’s economy!
I challenged myself that throughout this two hours journey I am going to search for something which would make me feel better as an Indian. So no negative thoughts-no complains –I am going to see for GOOD THINGS about India. Let me do this study. (Repeated “Only positive things/feel- good things about India/see only Good things that would make me feel proud about India” to myself.)
Bang! I dashed my head on the Window –Bad Roads-!! (May be due to Recent rains…Ok ..Ok.. Only Good things! I said) I saw people jumped out of the bus before it stopped/fighting over a seat/ one man occupying the women’s seat…(OK..OK..These are very regular sights in any country….Only Good things)
I saw children wandering on the roads- no dress - no foot ware –bridges unfinished and lots of workers stay beneath them. When these children would get proper education? My heart sank down imagining these kids in pretty school uniforms. (Now the Positive thought had gone very weak and feeble)
I saw old people begging in the streets. Women looked weak sure their HB count would be lesser than 8. (And 75% India’s toddlers are anemic!)
I told myself - THAT S OK- see the beautiful buildings, Golf club, Swimming pools, and Multi store buildings! INDIA IS GROWING.I screamed to myself. So much of educated youth –The future pillars of India work here….!! (POSITIVE THOUGHTS – Be POSITIVE.. my conscience screamed at me!)
Somehow at the end of the journey I found out, India is growing but just need to concentrate on the Few “minor” areas!! That’s all!
Well …while going back I need to travel only half the distance by bus and later on I need to wait in front of my husband’s office to be picked up to get back home.
It was around 6 o'clock in the evening where I happen to see, lots of youngsters coming out of that 9 store building. It was very similar to the sight of ants coming out of its colonial-nests! They never bothered about the traffic-they formed groups and just crossed the roads. Everyone had their office tag-their mobile-they must be professionals .
There is a cross over bridge at a max of 10 feet distance –NO ONE ..NO ONE was using it to cross the road.
I felt really ashamed! What have we taught them? What the hell we have educated them? OK forget about education … where is their common sense?
I see no future for India.
Illegality and disobedience had crept inside every house hold …every single soul. Winking at rules and law is at every stage-every corner-by every one!Common man finds a short cut to cross the road faster - Minister who rules finds a short cut in laying the road faster to fill his own pocket!
With a very heavy heart I end this write-up. "
Raj :
We don't teach them the mother tongue..., the rich heritage of it and say whats my son gonna do learning this after all he will be working abroad or in other state.
So from the beginning, we alienate them from the mother land, mother tongue, finally of course they forget the mother too.
That's one part, coming to discipline, following the traffic rules etc.
We should first follow and then teach the children.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Check this out what a crippled old man does, what the well dressed people do and what the children do , watching the old man - strangely this video is about national anthem.
I see much better future for India in these kids
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Haminia :
Unfortunately, most of the parents from the less developed
countries want their children to go to America and to become
rich...They dream !!! Very few immigrants become rich in
the States. America feels the financial crisis as all the other
countries do. The jobless people are a lot...The Government
can not help the people by giving them money to live .
Deepa :
"Good one, I jus think the sense of rights and wrongs depends on the person and does not have to be identified with a nation. The same kind of poverty or even worse things exist in every part of the world in fact some are so severe that you will feel blessed to be part of India! People can be anemic/obese/or have ill health abroad also. "
Edit by Haminia
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