On August 15 2008, Friday, one more nationalistic ritual called "Independence Day" was being performed (not celebrated) . By the evening we got to see our National Flag in gutters, on roads , in dustbins and at every place where it should not be. We paid respects to our National Flag by watching movies and TV stuff, get-togethers, blah blah blah...... Thank God, its not Sunday or Saturday, else we could have lost one more Holiday. And who the hell want to know what's the essence of it because many of us still don't know the difference between Independence Day and Republic Day. U may say, "Common Mahesh! take easy....... both give Holidays". You are right. Why the hell to bother who is bombing where and why??. Why the hell to bother who hoisted which nation's flag ??(Yes, Pakistan flag has been hoisted in Srinagar on August 15 2008 ). Why the hell to bother when did Hyderabad got Independence?? Why the hell to bother why India has the highest number of Farmer Suicides ?? . Why the hell to bother why Inflation is rising?? Anyways , we have plenty of Politicians to blame for, as we are busy in working for US Outsourced Business to run their economy round the clock. We only bother whenever the rupee value increases against US dollar. Its ironical that being Indians we pray for rupee value decrement .
But someone really bothered about this day . I saw them at traffic signals , knocking the car windows in heavy rain , selling paper flags to fill their stomach. Poverty or Patriotism??...... I saw small kids selling paper flags to the children of so called elite people near schools .Child Labour or Survival??...... I saw them in cafes and fast food joints cleaning the tables and cups but still wearing the pride flag on their shirt pocket. Employment or Struggle??.......... I saw them at midnight cleaning the roads with flagged garments and cleaning the sewerage filled manholes in broad daylight . Compulsion or Determination??......... I saw them asking for monetary help near bus stops. Farmers or Beggars??............. It doesn't matter for them on which week day it comes ,but for them it should come as many times as it can in a year. They may not know Jana Gana Mana, may not know who designed our National Flag, may not recognise Indian map even, but, friends they are working for India. They need Strong rupee value against dollar so that that they can have 2 meals a day, 2 pairs of clothes to exchange . Who is responsible for their misery???............... On August 15, 1947 British left us giving Independence and then we took a great oath by saying, "Its now our turn to loot our own country and people" , and we named it "Independence Day". Earlier we were a colony of British and now of USA. Earlier English ruled us, now India is running on English(including my blog). Where is the independence???.....................By the way , have you ever imagined what Gandhi was doing on that day(August 15, 1947 ). He had neither hoisted the tricolour nor gave pompous speeches , he was in Kolkatta serving the victims of communal riots.
Now, you may ask, " Mahesh, what the hell are you doing then??....Writing Blogs?? ". Yeah , you are right. I did nothing. But I have thoughts and Ideas , just like you, and i am starting in that direction soon.
Will you join me ???
9 comments:
This is not the place for guys like u.... I like the way u've written the things...Very fair without any malice in ur heart n words... It's emotional n practical as well....I like the pinch of irony also in ur writing........In short, it's good... As of now, i can't find any negatives here... Keep writing n rocking
thanks buddy...
dis is my first feedback....
keep alerting me....
be frank to express....
Very nice !
we are joining you ....
This is my first feedback to ever blog i read ...
wowww!!!......
it has really made me to think to certain extremes....realising certain facts....
ur way of saying d facts is splendid and thought provoking.
gr8 work...
We actually never got independence, what we are celebrating is just an eye wash for how we had shoo'ed away the outsiders from our country. But the struggle is still going on. The struggle starts from the time you wake up till you sleep. Struggle for WATER, food, shelter, work are just few to name them and the monsterous ones being caste, religion, corruption, misuse of powers, terrorism, no human rights, no right to education, child labour...oh gosh one might get tired of describing them but the list never ends.
The problem is with in us, we ourselves are not indepedent. We are slaves of western countries, we still feel that goras are better than us. We never take pride in describing ourselves. Forget all that we dont even feel pride to talk in mother tongue with our own people. Mom feels happy when her kid utters English words!! I am sure the day wont be too far when people would read about the origin of their culture in History books and West would come and teach US the greatness of us like what it is doing right now in the form of yoga and technology. (Mind you guys Yoga is a multi million business here and they are too smart to patent yoga mudras, they are even smart to patent turmeric and basmati, which is grown only in the Kasmit valley)
We are still sleeping (I guess we are not even half way through our sleep) and our so called beloved neighbours have even succeded in showing the entire world the true map of our county..India without Kashmir, Tibet and now Arunachal Pradesh...We are still sleeping and the rest of the world believes that India existed only after Aug 15, 1947!!!
Keep writing Mahesh..
Rupa
What about the fact that one software engineer creates job for 5 indirectly..... it is economy buddy.... We call it export India is number one in software.... be proud to be indian and ..... don't blame any one... see the truth.... we are getting money for our country. No one says gora is intelligent.... did any call center guy say it.... remember ??? saying one 18 year old indian is equal in knowledge to a 35 year old gora.... lot of indians are trying to get back to india and start their own business... i agree that there are few people who blame india but did you never came across those who are doing great abroad and being proud to be indians......
My english is bad but i think you got it.....
Pappu
Hi Pappu,
You are correct. Yes, it is economy, it is all about economy, it is all about numbers, it is all about statistics. In this tilted globalization era, where numbers define the parameters of Development and Growth, comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, equitable distribution and quality have been kept out of the consideration(please refer Developmentism @ http://maheshisms.blogspot.com/2008/05/need-for-all-inclusive-development.html). I have nothing against the people from software and BPO. I am representing a weak majority section to speak against a strong minority section. It is all about the rapid growth between the lakhs of haves and crores of have nots. You are talking about the jobs of few lakhs , where as my concern is about the livelihood of many crores . I am not talking about socialism or capitalism. My concerns are
1. If the Government can provide crores of tax and land incentives for corporates in the name of SEZs , why cant it do the same for other sectors, mainly agriculture and tertiary sector.
2. Have you ever worried about the triology of politico-bureau-business nexus under which we are just tools of manipulation.
3.Why India ranks worst in the Human Development Index every year?
4. Why do we succumb to world's economical pressure so easily?
5. If we are really developing, why our nation's expenses on education and health is decreasing every year gradually. ?
6. Which system is responsible for the thousands of farmers suicides in india?
It is not about the emotional factors of love and hate, but the practical and social factors of sustainable livelihood, equality, conscience and commitment
I would like to have detailed discussion with more numbers and analysis if you wish so.
But, i do really appreciate you for raising this practical and genuine implication . Expecting more questions from you in this regard.
Thank you a lot pappu....
Hi,
I appritiate your response and let me tell you one thing first.... I really love the people who do not comprimise with the thing happening around them ..... i really appritiate that you are rising a voice...
Let me share my thoughts with you, what I observed in last elections and it was surprising that people are voting by Caste in AP mainly there are Reddy and Gouds .. (in our home town)... one of my relatives who is Post Graduate... he is asking people to vote for a Goud... only to get benefits from him when he becomes MLA. Total system is under currepted Politicians and they are using caste and Money to rule us. How can one distribute money if one takes it. NOW TELL ME WHOM DID YOU VOTE?
Its not the people who are preparing budgets... its those leaders.
First change the government, it will solve most of the problems you pointed out. And for that first we have to change .... forget your caste, buy indian products .. (If an indian company can effort we can sell our software to our comapnies only right?).
Keep posting... but tell people what to do also but not just rising the issue.
Pappu
Pappu,
1. Any Government , irrespective of the castes, could be a great facilitator to the needs, functions, responsibilities , welfare and growth of the society, until and unless there is a radical change in the societal mindset. If the intellectual hierarchy of the society prioritizes IIT, Engg, Medicine, Law, MBA, IAS, CA, US Dollars and so called elite and pompous careers(please refer Forced careers @ http://maheshisms.blogspot.com/2008/09/forced-careers.html ), then obviously, they create an empty space for the domain of politics, which would eventually be filled by the undeserved candidates who thrust on caste, power and money factors. You know the consequences very well. So, we need to have a comprehensive and collective change in the societal mindset, which can be achieved through the radical changes in our educational system. All we have been getting is only technical education(useful for globalisation) and we are badly missing the essence of Social and Moral education(useful for sustainable indigenous development). It is all about the priorities and choice.
2.Regarding Elections/voting, I was offered to contest on behalf of Lok satta party from Mahabubnagar(but i did not). I did not vote any party(I support negative voting, it is being democratic.)
3. I will soon write an article on the concepts of "Caste" and "Corruption".
4. To buy the Indian products, the only solution is to minimise the LPG(Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) presence in the Indian market and economy.
5. Finally , regarding "What to do?", I dont want to be much prescriptive, rather i want more responses like yours which could impact your thinking and gradually make you to take some rational decisions. Of course, you can join me in the direction I am going. Anyways, i will start writing my aspect of 'what to do's.
Thanks,
Mahesh Kalal
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