We..the Ugly Indians!!!

Something I came across a few days ago..This holds true for all of us, at some point in our life. It is indeed so easy to play the blame game..So well worded!!

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.

What do YOU do about it? Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS.

Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best.

In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are. You pay $5(approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else."

YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai sala main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost." YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand. Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. "Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said." And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?" He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.'

So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.

Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians,

The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too....

I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"

Lets do what India needs from us.

Thank you
Abdul Kalaam

 

DE-cluttering!!

Its been a long time I know. I just seem to fall short of words whenever I sit down to write. Lately I have been living a life of uncertainty. I have no clue as to where I am heading. I guess Im just preparing myself to accept whatever comes my way!!
Why is it that you feel so left out even when you are in a crowd..You have a routine, that you once enjoyed, but now it seems all that is left of life is following something you do not want to.

Well, I am a working girl now, and honestly a dedicated one. When I first joined the company, (i work for PUMA sports btw), I was in a place which was a complete new area for me. I never knew if I could make it even for a few months, well I sure did and I am super pleased about that.

Although, this is something I always wanted, an independent life, lots of friends, shopping, office treats..I seem to have a lost a lot on the way here.

• A good amount of people who spoke a lot about being good friends, hanging out because we are in the same city, seem to have fizzed out. I guess those were people who could just talk. 
• A lot of sleep, well when you have so much on your mind, sleep is obviously the last thing you can think about.
• A lot of family fun..stuff happening without me being there, so NOT happening!! :-(
• Alcohol..LOL..no one for company.. ;-(
• College fun!! I miss a lot of college and a lot more of the people I cant meet!! Lectures, shouting, screaming, fighting, bitching, notes..exams..results..fests..street plays..drama..masti!!
• Hostel Fun..Mid night maggis are not fun anymore..its just something I have to do, because, well I am hungry at 12.. :-P..coffee..is something that is a break from work at office..
• Freedom..to wake up when I want to..to go out..have tea..just the regular stuff, a regular girl should be doing..I am just 22!!! Please gimme a break!!
• Shopping..Well mostly due to lack of a female company, I have resorted to online shopping, which was fun in the beginning but not anymore..:-(

I guess it is a part of life..you lose out on relationships, people and stuff that was never meant to be yours. Though I miss all those times, somewhere deep within me, it feels nice to realize what was true and what was not!! I wish to relive some of the days, over and over again..and some, well they should have never been there in the first place, so good that they are gone!!

So thats just me..living a life that was not meant to be..or maybe, this was the way it was to be..

After Yesterday!!

AFTER YESTERDAY!!!

There are only two kinds of people, the good ones and the not so good ones. And it’s pretty obvious that everyone will come across both the types. It’s just sheer luck if you happen to befriend the good ones.

They are people who’ll hang on to you till the end. There are the ones who trust you, will feel that they have the liberty to reprimand you for any little or big mistake of yours. Others will not dare bitch about you in front of them. On your face they try and act all hard but in real they are just hard on the surface. Within that hard shell, is a person who is soft hearted, cares immensely but are hesitant to show or admit it and who are true friends. No show, just the real thing. You know you can be safe with them; you can laugh with them and cry in front of them. They’ll always be around. For them friendship is not measured by distance, time or any other materialistic or monetary reason. For them it’s all about being true, open minded and frank. They are neither judgmental nor are they back stabbers. They are on the face, smart and great people. They always speak the truth, no matter how much it may hurt and will keep you away from trouble even if it means getting their own hands dirty. For them it’s about keeping the spark alive, keeping their “dost” happy, and never letting the smile vanish. They would rush to help even though it may lead to sleepless nights for them. They do everything that knows will bring a genuine smile on your face, even if they have to behave like a clown. They are also strong critics who will work hard to see you climb the ladder of success, even if they are following. They are never jealous, sometimes demanding and generous givers. They won’t mind giving you their jacket if it’s cold, if they know it helps you. If you trip they’ll first graciously pick you up and then scold you for not looking where you were going. They will never take advantage of you even if they know they can. That’s big. Isn’t it? When they say something, they mean it.

Then there is the second type. They are the ones who make you believe that they are awesome friends, will go to any extent to help you, accompany you whenever you want and talk long hours. The reality is that at times they do, but as your relation grows, you slowly realize that everything they did for you are accounted deep within their memories and what you do is soon forgotten. Everything they do has a selfish motive behind it. They are sweet on the face, full of love but the moment you turn your back, they will not hesitate discussing things that they know mean so much to you, and you confided in them thinking that they would never go behind you. They would not even mind disrupting your reputation by stooping to levels you would never imagine if it helps prove their great self right. They lie to you, break your trust and will have excuses at their finger tips if ever caught. And trust me, when they try and convince you with that innocent face, you can do nothing but sympathize with them. They can change topics with the change of the second and they can change their personality just like you change clothes. When reality dawns on you, you can do nothing but wonder, how could have somebody played you all along and never made you realize what is happening. Their “Oh-so-sweet” nature fools everyone, and when combined with good looks, it’s a lethal combination that can slay even the strongest of people. They can make you feel guilty about not doing something for them, even if it means for you to put yourself in compromising situations, doing things you would otherwise never do. They are happy and pleasant till the time they know they’ll be showered with gifts, their work is done on time by you while they are lazing around. They would not hesitate to throw you out of their life as one does with a fly in a cup of tea. They would never turn back to see if you are alive or dead or if maybe now it’s time you need them. When you really do, they’ll find an excuse that you can laugh on, for not being there. They never actually mean what they say and are full of fake promises. They would never feel bad for letting you down but will make sure they kick the hell out of your life, till the time they’re there.

Everybody would have come across both kinds of people. So have I. Maybe for some people all the traits I talk about do not match, maybe none of them do. But still, even if the traits are different, the experiences are different but the personalities deep down are always the same.

I know a few people who fall in the first category-the good ones, and I can give my life for them. And now I know some who fall in the second category, I regret that I thought I would give my life for them.

Your life and your time are both invaluable. They should be spent wisely and efficiently, only on people who deserve it. I should have realized it long back, that it was fake all the way, but I kept getting deeper and deeper into the quick sand. And when I think of those people I know are true, I regret not having met some of them earlier in life.

For whoever is reading this, if you know me, you know where you fall. And now I take the chance to tell all of my first category friends that I will be there forever and also to all the people in the other side, I wish I had thrown you out long back.

Like I said, you know where you belong and if you don’t then you never knew me.

                                               

                                                                                                            With lots of love,

                                                                                                            Pragya Jain