I am a pissed off Indian; pissed off because of my own country people. Please don’t ask me to leave India and go to some other place, when I say this. I have reasons for saying so and yes! I am not restarting that intolerance discussion. I am a common man and I am sad because I am really hoping for a change. There are things I really want to change in my loving country India.
Sadly, I have to say this that with a few exceptions, many of us still lack normal life’s etiquette. We are so damn full of our own blind-faith stories, and egoistic shit.
Primetime debates on television make me laugh and angry at the same time. On regular basis, I see suited-booted journalists brags a lot about currency rates, development, flyovers and all. But, honestly I still see things that I think should not be there, and I believe, they going to remain there; a few things that disturb me a lot.
I am a frequent overseas traveler. And, every time I get a chance to visit abroad, I see a huge scope of improvement in my country. It is not only about structural changes, but ground level changes as well.
Yes, I feel proud of the multi-storey buildings, flyovers, shopping malls, multi-lane expressways, discos, and pubs. But, do we really need to spend on these in a country where more than 21.2% people are living below the poverty line or we should do something to bring this percentage down. I don’t feel proud at all while reading world bank’s statement – “India has the highest number of people living below poverty line.” And, that too after six decades of independence.
Moreover, what is the use of flyovers, when many of us have to spend their lives under these flyovers? What is the fun in making houses of multi-million rupees, when those who desperately need a house cannot afford it? Aren’t we becoming self-centred? I know, most of you gonna say that the even USA have slums, but I am concerned about those social media updates that talks a lot of – digital India and all those idiotic stories. I never had my white friends sharing such crap on their facebook wall because they don’t live under any misconception.
Despite having six lane roads, we Indian are known for “take away” policy. I have been to many overseas countries and traffic jam is a national issue there. Honestly speaking, we don’t deserve those six lanes expressways because we know how to fuck the whole road with wrong turns and slip roads. On the highways anyone can see the sense of equality we live with; on the same road, we have cars, two-wheelers, buses, and overloaded animal-carts. The best thing is – half of the population knows nothing about the road lane marking, and we call ourselves inhabitants of growing economy.
Not only roads but in normal queues as well. In India, every second person is a fucking VIP. I seriously don’t understand, why we cannot follow queue system and why we need a VIP treatment for everything? It is about Indians; be an American Indian or Australian Indian. I have seen many who follow rules when they are not in India, but once they are back, they start behaving like old dogs; cannot teach an old dog new tricks. It is in the blood and we are not going to change ourselves; not under any fucking circumstance.
We talk a lot about our hospitality and mannerism. But, I am sorry guys, we are still living in 10th century. Just look at the public washroom. I remember, how a friend of mine from an overseas country busted my lies about the hygiene statement we brag a lot about. During my visit to Delhi, I had to stop for peeing, and we both came back with an upset stomach; we puked. Those were gravely unhygienic. And, if you think I am wrong, then, go, fuck yourself.
I am not talking about five-star hotel washroom, but public washroom. Many of us still don’t know how to use a toilet seat, toilet paper, and wash-basin. Many of us seriously suck, when it is about personal cleanliness or tidiness. Go to any government office (especially northern region); stains of tobacco on the wall. I literally saw people having a dustbin next to their seat for spitting tobacco and chewing gums. Whose fault is this – governments? No dear, we, the literate illiterates responsible for this. Instead of lessons on patriotism, we need a lesson on basic hygiene.
Next things that disturb me the most is – security of life. If you have ever been to a hospital, I am sure you know what I am talking about. With a few exception, these life-saviour institutions are interested in your ‘mode of payment’. Instead of protecting a person’s life, they behave like prostitutes; pay before they touch you. Once I saw a father arguing over his child’s death; his baby died in the operation theater because that hospital had a sudden power breakdown.
Power breakdown is next. I mean how come you guys talk about bullet trains when load-shedding is a must to keep things running. We Indian love free things and that is why we try to steal every possible thing we can. We don’t want to pay the electricity bill, but we want 24 x 7 power. And, then we blame the government for things.
Dear media, how can you say India is growing when we don’t have basic amenities like fresh water, a house to live, clothes to wear, and uninterrupted power supply. I saw countless ‘flat for sale’ hoarding saying 24 x 7 power; seems like power backup is still a luxury. Every fourth day, we have water pipe breakage. And, power supply, I don’t know when we will have surplus power and no power cuts.
Still, people don’t have the ball to oppose any sort of injustice. On daily basis, I saw people talking about inflation, but no one wants to take those discussions to the next level. Reminds me of Mexican and Indonesia’s agitations over fuel hike prices. We talk a lot about unity, but I don’t see any living example. It is becoming more about myself. If someone is dying of those hikes, I am the one least bothered. This is the ideology a few of us live with.
It is almost 40 years and till today media headlines are on the same topic; inflation, religious riots, the strength of the dollar, and cricket. Don’t we have anything else to look for? “Presstitutes, there are lot more things to cover in the country. But, for that, you need to go out from your AC studios. Stop telling me that all little development happened in last three years only.
Corruption in Indian Media is not a new story; India media is “second” most corrupt media in the word, according to the World Economic Forum. They are called “presstitutes” for a reason and I have no doubt about it.
With so much of advertisement, they are turning white lies into truth. And, people are enjoying it. The most recent joke these media people cracked was the cashless economy. I was laughing inside and thinking, in a country, where in the 21st century we need advertisements telling where to go for shit, how the fuck are they going to understand about the cashless economy and smart pay? Are you only dealing with elite class, who got money to support your consumerism?
Well, I am not criticizing India. Please, do not get me wrong. I love my country like anyone else does. But, I am just saying why cannot we keep it clean? What sort of development are we doing? What is the use of building expensive multi-storey luxurious flats, when people who really need a roof on the top of their head cannot afford it? What is there to proud of medical facilities, when country people are still dying with third-world nation’s diseases like malaria or diarrhea?
Why does our financial expert miss poor people’s priorities while framing country budgets? The real reason behind increasing privatization of everything is the government itself is not serious about their own schools, hospitals, and offices. Why are all government policies against a common man’s subsidies and not their own MPs?
People, who preach others about keeping their surroundings clean, why do they need helpers to clean their own bedsheets? People, who suggest others pay taxes on time, why do they get pissed of when Panama speaks (Wikileaks)?
There are so many ‘whys’ that I have in mind and I am sure, most of us must be having. But, we are deaf, dumb, and blind monkeys; concerned about our own shit. If my neighbor’s daughter is getting raped, I am least concerned and I am not supposed to give a fuck.
On regular basis, I try to improve a few things in me because change starts within. But, the society you are living in is so freaking complex that if you tell someone that we need a lot of improvements, a most expected suggestion will be – live here or leave; the choice is yours.
Write me a comment, if you feel the same way.
