A review that is actually a collection of thoughts that comes to mind when I think of India generally arranged alphabetically…. Kindly read through in an appropriate spirit…
Bollywood: produces the most number of (flop) movies in a year compared to any other film industry in world.
Cricket: the only thing that unites the country. Cricketers are group of most cherished Indians, also the most hated ones depending on whether India wins a game or not. Two interesting feelings that I harbor about cricket are:
a. Cricket is probably the only thing that doesn’t work when its “fixed”.
b. Cricket is a stairway to choose if you want to be a model and don’t have the looks.
Development: The last time I saw this word was in a dictionary…lol kidding. India is a developing country and has been so for the last fifty years, if there is anything that is consistent about India then its this tag of being a developing country…
Elections: one of the most commonly occurring, most abused national exercise One way to summarize Indian elections is, as an exercise where most Indians don’t vote and good majority of the ones that cast their vote actually VOTE THEIR CASTE
Finance Minister: He/She is considered as modern day Santa Claus by every class of Indians. But then this Santa is supposed to come with goodies on the Budget Day rather than Christmas Day. As you know no one can satisfy everyone, the evening of the budget day the FM is crucified without waiting for even Good Friday!!!
Government: The people who haven’t taken their role seriously at all. They are at pains to do anything at all, for the fear of hurting either their present vote banks or prospective vote banks. When not afraid of vote banks they have to fear the International community (read USA). When not scared of this either they are worried about what the opposition would say….and as on today, the Government does not have time to worry about anything else, as there isn’t time to please the allies in the first place.
Har-Tal (also called Bandh): Something that’s a pass time for the political class and the affiliated trade Unions, religious outfits, employee associations etc. When the High Court in Kerala banned ‘Bandh’ the Unions there conveniently started calling for Har-Tal. Whatever be the name, final result of such an exercise is loss of productive man hours and inconvenience for the common man.
Independence: Something that most of us Indians have taken for granted. To us Independence means freedom to do anything we please, anywhere we please, anytime we please and with/to anyone we please!!!!
Justice: probably the most over-rated subject in India (am I going to get dragged in for contempt of court..?). Every one talks about it but no one usually gets it. Judges in a recent survey came through as one of these least corrupted professions in India but with due respect to all honest Judges (most are honest), my opinion is justice delayed is justice denied. That’s true with a good majority of cases in India.
Kashmir: the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately according to me, amidst the huge propaganda, proxy and real war between the two Nations what’s getting ignored is that Kashmir, as much as it is a piece of land, it is also a made of people and those people too have emotions, aspirations and that needs to be respected. Kashmir is not a trophy that needs to be won….its a paradise on earth where peace needs to be restored…
Liberalization: Something which Man Mohan Singh ushered in as far as economy is concerned, but has not yet been brought about as far as thought process/mind set is concerned. How else would one explain the banning of movies & books that tries to give an alternative view point…and of course suggestions that New Year and Valentines Day celebrations be banned..?
Mahatma Gandhi: Along with Mother Teresa, two contributions, which India can proudly claim to have made to the World community.
Nuclear Power: There have been a lot of things written about this. Even great thinkers argued why have it, if you don’t intend to use it. But then I guess it’s the latest fashion statement.
Opposition: A group of people who have taken their label too seriously. They protest if price is hiked or if it lowered, they protest if police firing takes place and also when it does not take place, they protest when the PM talks to Pakistan they also protest when PM says no talks with Pakistan. In short, they protest when there is a reason to protest and when there is none they protest the fact that the Government has not given them a reason to protest……
Politicians: The most abused class of Indians, probably deservedly so.My favorite quote by a politician comes from Lalloo Prasad Yadav, the most recognized political figure in our country, when he commented on politics and said “there is too much of politics in it!!!!!”
Quantity v/s Quality is something most Indian married couple will do well to understand. We seem to be concentrating on quantity rather than quality. Some families make me wonder as to if they were producing children as if to seek a vengeance with some one else or probably the country itself.
Religion: Probably what India needs is a large scale religious conversion. I really mean it. Let someone who has the courage ability and the vision convert all Hindus to Hindus, all Muslims to Muslims and all Christians to Christians …so on…. Coz had we really been a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh etc., we would never have taken to arms against each other, listening to some crazy God-men sitting in the comforts of their centrally air conditioned bungalows.
Sthree (women, also called Shakti): The most respected class of Indians (on paper) and the most abused starting from a magazine cover (paper again) to men’s undergarment advertisement.
Tourism: Something for which this country has a great potential but the country men have least regard. It’s the proverbial Goose that lays the golden egg, which has been slaughtered again and again and again……
Unity in Diversity: Yes! occasionally the equilibrium breaks (every pressure cooker lets its steam out) and there are problems, but the greatness of my Nation is it bounces back from most calamities stronger than ever before.
Violence: anything that’s caused by ISI agents...atleast that's what is said
Water: Controversy thy name is Water, remember Deepa Mehta's film that failed to take off. Also, Tamilnadu and Karnataka are often at loggerheads over the sharing of Cauvery water (whereas some one told me that Danube passes through at least 8 European countries without any tension). Orissa is a state that’s suffering from floods if not from drought. The Government staffs I hear are happy for either they get a Flood relief advance or a Drought relief advance. Did someone say National Water Policy….????
Xtcasy: Sachin’s six, Ash’s eyes, Lata’s voice…and of course my daughter’s smile.
Y: the most commonly used word..Why?
Zzzzzzzzzzz…. If you aren’t doing this by now…may I kindly request you to rate this review and please leave any comments that you feel is appropriate.
