100% correct whatever is written. I would like to add some more. The people also do not want to change. When they are abroad they follow the rules of that country. When they come back they show their real character. they don't want to keep the city clean and they say that this country is so clean and bla bla....Our own countrymen discriminate each other. The caste system.....why should you bring caste system for education/work/whatever. Why not everyone be treated equal.
Very good job Calude. Keep uo your good work. We need more people like yourself writing honest columns about India. After all, we are a democracy and respect freedom of speech. Having said all that, I do have liked to see you put things in perspective, particularly on having permission to access to documents thought to be of national importance in India vis a vis in other countries.
It was a good work. You have pointed some very important things which we often find it difficult to accept as the real hinderances of development. If fifty percent of the problems you have listed were addressed faithfully India would definitely have been as good as any other Developed Nation to live in. Apart from all that you have pointed one thing that I would like to add is the Caste feeling which really drives all development activities. Standing as a resistance to this problem I find it extremely difficult to change the mindset of my only family members who are reluctant to come out of this mire. They say that it is this feeling that has really bound this entire nation for such a long time and that "Globalisation" is slowly making India lose its Identity. I donot find any relevance of this argument with this problem. But still am unable to convince them. Any how in India you will not get any thing without a patient and silent struggle. Hope atleast by the end of this decade I will be able to come up with some positive things.
This looks to be a very pessimistic view apart from the last three lines where the author tries to console himself/herself.
I would suggest the article to be renamed as "10 Areas Of Improvement For India"....This could motivate indians to work towards the improvement rather than advertising a bad image...
Thank you for a wonderful article. I can it wonderful, is because you have penned down your thoughts, and anyone could agree to disagree on the same, and wonderful because, it's quite evident that you love this country called India. I agree with most of the things you "hate", and I prefer not to comment on the ones I don't agree.
All i would like to tell is that as I read through the column, I had a frown on my face, and as I completed reading, the frown was already replaced by a smile. Having spend a couple of years out of India, I could not ask for more.
U have missed on many points which generally many people hate about India. What about the 'civic sense', 'encroachment of foothpaths','BEGGERS''spittig in public places', 'bribing of Govt people for every job '& the easy-going 'CHALTA-HAI'.
A normal human being stays in bed (sleeping or whatever) for more than 8 hours a day. One third of his 'life' day...so in a year for four glorious month. A Government employee (Government servant or Civil Servant --huh!!)has 56 Sundays, 56 Saturdays, About 30 days of Authorised Leave of absence, about 30 days of Gazzetted/restricted holidays, and few more days of holidays due to VIP deaths (on which, he/she would not abstain from going for a movie)...Lets total them..56+56+30+30+15 = 187 (around six months)...So in actual.. why should NOT they be paid for those serving days ??
I fully agree with the author and want to add couple of more things to thia list.
1/ Cheating - This is not only for Foreigners but also for local or from other states. 2/ Spitting on Road from any place - like Travelling Vehicles , high rise Buildings , any side of the road etc. 3. goondaism or Dadagiri - due to protection from Politicains , Law enforcing agencies and beaurocrats fro their own selfish interests , the Unions etc. as well as every public worker yields his own rule with common citizen 4. Insensitivity from Individuals 5. Illetarcy - Which is purposely advocated or administered is taking people out of their intelligence and thinking process. 6. Begging 7. Nuisances from Eunuchs 8. Lack of or Purposeful forgetfulness about Civic and Traffic sense 9. Unwarranted Caste , Race , Religion Feuds. why cannot we have only one Identity i.e. Indian 10.quota systems And many such more. Still of course , I am proud to be an Indian due to its great heritage and Culture and spirituality.
I am Indian and I could not have expressed these frustrating points any better. Having spent a few years in US and Europe and now back in India, I enjoy a love - hate relationship with my motherland.
I am however convinced that all these 10 ills of Indian life are here to stay. You have been very kind to appreciate life you spent here. Think from the perspective of the poor & needy, life here can be and probably is worse than hell.
Despite all the claims about our growth story, I remain convinced that its a mirage, or at best an opportunity for the corrupt-rich-powerful elite. With ever widening gap between the have's and have not's - there is really little to cheer for or be proud of.
