I am an Indian and I love my country to a point that I turn
a critic most of the time when I have to talk about it. And my criticism is
taken as antinational and self-righteous. We like to hear about us that we are
a growing superpower, and an economic powerhouse, but we hate to hear that we
are culturally messed, corrupt and hypocrites.We don’t take a criticism
constructively. We are self centered and are least bothered of our environment.
What we care is to mend our own space. Perhaps, centuries of oppression, superstitions
related to religion and culture, poverty etc has made us this, or the plague of
over-population, but many great nations of today have had equal share of troubles
in the past. Japan, Germany, Israel etc are classic examples.
Being a critic actually helps to know yourself, your country
and the society better.
1.
Our love for the male child. I know of families who
have had five children in an effort to produce a male. We provide the best to
him, and starve and ill treat her. We have a tradition where a girl departs the
family of her birth, after her marriage and she is no more considered part of
the family. Thus, noone to care for, when the parents of the girl are old and
in need. Its justifiable, isnt it? Why do we have a tradition of calling a girl
PARAYA after her BIDHAI? Why do we call a man-GHAR JAMAI- If he wants to stay at the girls house
after marriage?
2.
We believe that paying bribes in government offices are
a norm aand the only way of getting things done; otherwise they would be taken
to task and would be moved around. We cheer when we see movies like Lage Raho
Munnabhai, where an old man strips when confronted with a corrupt BABU, but we
consider such acts a fantasy or fiction.
3.
We have very few
entrepreneurs per million people, compared to most well off nations. We believe
in getting educated, and then in finding jobs. Entrepreneurs have shaped
countries like America or Europe. They may be greedy and capitalistic, but they
create jobs, and in turn pay back the society. This may be seeing a change in India and we
may be creating Entrepreneurs these days.
4.
We are a lot funny people- We feel wearing a lot of
Gold ornaments and shiny, flashy cloths helps the world believe of our class. We have no faith in minimalism. We believe
that over feeding leads to good health. We feel that a human should work till
the old age and only retire because he is unable to perform anymore. We believe
it’s abnormal and bigheaded to question the status quo.
5.
We believe, per se, in Paisa Vasool. We would travel
that extra meter on a Rickshaw for the worth of every Paisa.. Or we would
include the entire family and stuff them inside a Tata Sumo, instead of the
intended 4-5 passenger. We crowd the Airports, Railway stations etc, by accompanying
a relative on his journey.
6.
We believe that a Brahman is born different to a
Kshatriya or a Shudra. We( in Kerala/Tamilnadu) believe that a Brahman has more
brain power and can excel in places like Bank, finance, Maths etc. A Baniya is
a born businessman and it runs in his blood.
I cant think of more, but we Indians really are a bunch of
funny people. Think about it, removed from the Idealistic, Jingoistic and pseudo
patriotic outlook, and you would agree to it.
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