You shout at your loudest, that our Government is inefficient, our laws are antiquated, and that our system is corrupt and its very true that I can not say you are wrong.

But, at the same time, what are you going to do about it is the million dollar question.

 

Take a person on a flight to Singapore. Lets give him a name and a face. Say yours. You get off the plane and you are at your international best. You don’t throw cigarette butts on the streets, you don’t mind paying five dollars to travel through Orchard Road between 5 to 8 pm, and you don’t complain about anything in Singapore, do you?

 

In Kuwait, you wouldn’t think of eating in public during the month of Ramadan, in London, you wouldn’t buy an employee of the telephone department to fix your bills, and in New York, you wouldn’t even dream of producing your lineage before the traffic police when caught in traffic offenses.

 

Remember, we are talking of the same you.

The you, who can be respected, the you, who is committed to conform the conventions of developed countries like U.S, UK, Japan, etc, but not your own, forever developing country.

 

You wish the railways here, in India, would have better and at least cleaner toilets, but are unwilling to learn how to use them. And in serious matters like female infanticide and dowry, you laugh off easily, saying, “The systems gotto change. What difference will it make if only I refuse my son’s share?”

And its not only you, but also me!

 

Yesterday, while strolling around the sidewalk, I stumbled over an empty can of sherry, obviously thrown away carelessly.

“When will we change?” I sighed, bent down, picked it up and tossed it off into the garbage can at only an arm’s distance from me, shouting silently in white bold letters, ‘USE ME’.

If you think I’m bragging about being the perfect citizen and you being the culprit, stop doing so and read on.

This morning, while walking to my friend’s place, enraptured in my own thoughts, I suddenly realized what I just did. Coolly, I tossed off the tissue paper in my hand, right there on the street!

 

The first thought that struck me – yesterday’s can…when will we change…

The second – only a tissue paper…not much difference…

The third – today and right now…pick it up and dispose it off at some suitable place.

And I did just that.

 

This shows, we are not yet ready.

We are still chained in mindless habits and thoughtless actions.

But what I’m trying to point out is that, as far as your conscience is with you, its your responsibility, duty and yes, a right, to repair if you have done damage.

Because, I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE UP MY WORK AND GO ON PICKING SHERRY CANS FOR YOU AND NEITHER IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO, AS IT IS NOT ITS BUSINESS AND IF NO ONE DOES THE STUFF, FOR GOD’S SAKE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY?

India is bursting at its seams due to pressure of population. If enough food products, resources and jobs are not available, the future generations of slum areas and unemployed sectors will be none other than India’s 55% of educated youngsters.

And the population problem is the root of all our evils.

Did I hear someone blaming the government for that too?

Sure.

 

But I also know someone who made 23 people in a restaurant stand up in attention when the TV there showed small school children singing the national anthem.

 

We need more such crusaders and believe me, you and I can be, in fact, let’s say ARE two of them.

For an American Hippie, India is a land of purest form of eternity on this face of our planet earth. No Doubt for him, but a biggest misquote for us. To be more precise on his behalf, he will be quite very happy to discover the free flow of Marijuana, Hash, Charas etc over the banks of Ganges without any enforcement problem from ATF (Arms, Tobacco & Fire Arms – a special American law enforcement agency working against narcotics world). And as far as our very own NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) is concerned, just relax…. they have there very own salsa dance arrangements. (Courtesy: Mumbai Dance Bar Girl’s Association – At present they are looking for an overseas expansion, anyone interested???)

As we are quite familiar with our very own tendency to remain above all the purest form of humans… sometimes I feel quite lucky that we have got our very own Ganges running through the heart of our country. As long as its flowing… don’t worry …just commit as many as sins in your life and later have a dip at there for the cleansing… you will just feel like god and propel yourself for next cynical adventure of corruption, theft, robbery even rape too. Soon, Ministry of Tourism will put an advertisement over all the leading news dailies of India and Abroad with a slogan “ All Clear – Anti-Sin Shower at Our Holy Ganges”. Let Hope so we will get Saddam Hussein as our very next high-profile prospective tourist… even the offer is quite open for Mr. Bush also.

A newly renovated barbershop has been opened in the first floor of a complex, at the heart of Saharanpur City, UP. With great pomp and bang, the new establishment got the huge attention of the people. A very regular customer came to the locality for his menial need, when he discovered the shop’s old ground floor location. Along with he found a notice board with some written words “ Neeche ke baal upar bante hain!” Now that’s what we call a great Indian way to let our customers know about our address change. Watch out Harvard!!!!

“ Why not for a change: Let’s stop the self-flagellation and celebrate the positive aspects of our lives?? ” – Shobba De. I totally agree with her, Let’s stop it!! But can she tell me what next we should do??? No!! She can’t suggest a single thing for the mass. We, the Indians, the Non-Vegetarian Indians, our thoughts have evolved far beyond the imaginations of our Ghandhis and Sardars. And by passing time, the moral way of thinking is eroding like seashore. We have Shiv-Sena, VHP, and Bajrang Dal to enforce their definition of morality. The Game of “Sher” and “Bakri” will keep going on as long as someone gets our DNA transfused. (If it ever happens, I will myself go to Kashi and have a dip at Holy Ganges). Rebellion is not needed in the politics, economy, administration, law order etc… but its very much needed in our people’s attitude. As we know a very famous English phrase, “Your Attitude decides Your Altitude”.