Many Indians who have been exposed to the global world share this "I am always embarrassed" feeling with which the author opens the above article.
They are embarrassed about our poor show in sports. Embarrassed about how we spit, urinate, defeacate in public. About our lack of discipline. Lack of time-management. Lack of cleanliness. Our accent. Dress-sense. Lack of road manners. Quality of politicians. Corruption. Cows on the roads. And lots such more.
But why? These are Indian characteristics. Born out of a unique blend of circumstances, environment, tradition, population explosion, resource crunch, etc - a uniqueness that makes up India. We are like this only and will not change, so what if the western world is so clean and disciplined, so what if no one spits in Singapore, so what if Germans hate coming late for anything.
You have a choice. Be embarrassed. Or do something about it. Or just shut up and accept the reality that is India, because that reality encompasses, at the other end of the spectrum, a beautiful country breaking free of its centuries of exploitation.
And if you are too busy being embarrassed by irrelevant stuff, you are missing partaking in and making the glory that is India as she takes her rightful place at the head of the comity of nations.
