Republic Day in India: Just Another Holiday?

Yet another Republic Day dawns on India and the country will celebrate. Not because they happen to be the biggest democracy in the world but simply because they have a day off from work and school. The symbolism behind 26th January is simply to mark the arrival and acceptance of the Indian Constitution. But over the last few months, has the country really earned any real reasons to be proud of itself?

Throughout 2012, India has behaved like one of the most undemocratic countries in the world. And in all honesty, it hardly surprises me that the country is excited for Republic Day for a rather lazy reason. If we quickly review the year that was, you’ll realize that India is clearly falling in a backward spiral that bares an uncanny resemblance to a neighboring country.

India is a country that quickly forgot about three ministers who were caught watching ‘objective videos’ (read: porn) during an assembly session. While we laughed and outraged for a day, we let the government sweep such an issue under the carpet. We then allowed a state funeral for a dictator, Bal Thackeray. The city of Mumbai was shut down and immobilized for a day as people were forced to pay respects to a man who has ruled over a city via a non-functioning government for years. And then, when a young girl from democratic, free-speech allowed India decided to question the need for such an extravagant funeral and for the shut down of Mumbai, her Facebook post landed her in jail. If that wasn’t Taliban-like enough, the whole world watched (and is currently watching) how we as a country reacted to the brutal gang rape of young girl on a bus in Delhi. Onlookers were too afraid to get involved because of sheer fear of the local corrupt police. We saw government and religious leaders make obscure conservative comments, take no responsibility and attempted to play down the issue. And when the otherwise passé people of India stood up against such an atrocity, they were beaten by the police as they protested in and around Delhi.

The problem is that we are more concerned with stupid issues that do not really matter. We’re more worried about why Oprah Winfrey made India appear outdated in her documentary. Well, the fact of matter is if you behave in such a fashion, then what else do you expect? Instead of worrying about her eating her chapatti with two hands, we should really be worrying about how we ought to teach the men in India to keep both hands to themselves. In a secular country with such a huge democracy, India now needs to worry about the future of its state more than ever. The country is moving at a rapid pace in the wrong direction. If you will behave and govern the country in a Talebanesque fashion, what example are you setting for future generations and to the rest of the world?

It is during such times that one looks to the government for strict firm action and swift change in education, social reform and attitude. They call on generation X to take charge and run the country. But do they realize that they hold on to them by a tight leash? They tell them to speak their mind but teach them lessons of inequality and gender differences. And when something horrendous happens, they point fingers at the influx of western cultural influences, films and other idiotic reasons. Our educated ministers are nothing but mute goats while the uneducated run the country in a most undemocratic old fashioned manner – the only way they know best.

The West looks at India and laughs now. Filled with corruption, rapes, poverty and nonstop drama, this is the country that is regarded as a ‘future superpower?’ Democratic countries allow their people to grow; they teach them how to be better citizens.

Today, I’m sure I can speak collectively when I say that as Indians, we are incredibly proud of our heritage and our country. It’s our ministers we’ve been put down by repeatedly.

So on this day, what should the people of India hope for? Well, for starters India needs to wake up from the 1936 bubble they are currently engulfed in. Then, they need to stop it with the ‘chalta hai’ attitude. Change can only come when they group together and demand it. That is how a democracy works. Social reform is one that future generations will need to take on themselves. And above everything, they better hope all their Gods come together and protect from falling in a downward pit and pray for a brighter modern tomorrow.

Personally, I’m a diehard Indian. Amidst the failures of the country, I still see beauty and hope. And as usual, in true filmy fashion, here’s one that always resonates with me, “Koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota use perfect banana padta hai.”

Vande Mataram! 

Flawed Beauty: India at 64

Every year on August 15th, I blog about one event: India's Independence. Today, strangely, I'm a rather odd state of mind. I woke up this morning ready to rant on about what a proud nation we are. Independent,. modern and savvy. So why is it then, I find myself lost amidst negative comments from locals. Some call our independence an "illusion" while others question what the point of our independence is? Today is a day where we are supposed to remember the teachings of Gandhi. But what do we really have to remember? That we're independent of a country that ruled over us for years before we finally kicked them out? But over 60 years later, are we really independent? Till date, we hear of stories of the female infanticide, dowry, corruption and even caste discrimination. Not really independent from our mentality or thinking.

This word, "independence" is totally taken for granted. Physical independence was the initial problem. And so through brave hearts like Gandhi and Nehru, we drove out the British. That act in itself was a foundation for what should have followed. However, here we are 64 years later, still reeling in issues that are rather sticky. Ultimately the problem is simple: a lack of education. And let's not confuse education with literacy. There is a huge difference.

But is it fair to blame all the above issues on the uneducated/illiterate? As educated Indians, we too have a responsibility towards our country. The first of course is simple. Vote. The illiterate do not know the difference between their politicians. They're hungry for anything and thus, will place their vote in those who provide them with empty promises. Every time a metro voter chooses not to go out and vote, you allow one more corrupt politician to gain another illiterate vote.

The youth have a responsibility to get involved. It's your country, your future. If you're sick of the system, then get up, get out and do something. There is no point sitting on your young buttock watching your country falter at the hands of ministers who are filling their pockets. And if you're told you don't know what you're talking about, bachche ho tum and all that jazz, then instead of shrugging and walking away, take a stand. The power of the youth should never be underestimated.

Look to say we're not an independent strong nation is totally false. This is one of the reasons we're attacked by terrorists regularly. They fear the pace at which we're progressing. But this is not a reason to back down. In fact now more than ever, we need to get it together. The time is now. Our freedom fighters say, "This is not the India we fought for." It's now time to make it that India.

Today happens to be one of my most favorite days of the year. I miss my summers in Bombay where I'd run down to my building podium in my pj's to watch the tricolor go up. A moment of pride would fall over me. And even though I'm on the opposite hemisphere today, my heart beats saffron, white and green. I am and will always be a proud Indian. Jai Hind!

63 Years; 63 Achievements

63. A natural number. Number of years that lasted the walking of Ram. The number of independent years India has accomplished. Of course, it is the last that is most pertaining to this post. Today, August 15th 2010, marks 63 years of Independence for India. That's a whole lot of independent years. However, it also means that we must quantify 64 accomplishments for every year of independence. If we can allocate an achievement for every year since 1947, only then will it be possible to claim that we have fully utilized our independence from the British.

1. Largest democracy in the world
2. World class education. IIM Ahmedabad is the toughest Management school to get into; ahead of Harvard
3. Best Dabbawalas in the world with an efficiency rating of 99.9999 percent
4. Largest milk production in the world
5. Largest railway system in the world
6. India recycles 60 percent of its plastic waste. The figures for Japan and China are 12 and 10 respectively
7. Largest postal system in the world
8. World's second largest labor force
9. Largest film industry in the world
10. Literacy rate is at a constant increase
11.With reformed health care, life expectancy has increased from 32 to 65 years
12. Built 1.25 million miles of new roads
13. Steel production has been multiplied by 50
14. Cement production has been increased by 20 times
15. India has a GDP of $ 2,375 billion, making it the fourth largest economy in the world
16. 2nd largest bicycle producer in the world
17. Untouchability is now (and finally) a criminal offense
18. Improved investment climate
19. High economic growth
20. A young population - 70% of the population is below 34
21. Indian foreign exchange reserve crossed $ 1 billion
22. Indian companies netted over Rs. 70000 cr. in exports when global economy was seething in 2002-03.
23. There are 16 companies whose exports net over Rs. 1000 cr.
24. 15 companies exports goods worth Rs. 500 cr.
25. 150 companies which earn over Rs.100 cr. in foreign exchange.
26. The FORBES list has included 18 Indian companies under its list
27. The country rose form 12th to 10th in dollar term between 2002-04
28. The economy of India has grown by more than 7% in the past two years
29. The per capita availability of grain and cloth is greater
30. Foreigners are coming to India for cheaper medical treatment
31. The gap in male female literacy rate has decreased from 24.84% in 1991 to 21.60 in 2001
32. Times Higher Education Supplement ranked the IIT's as 3rd in all Technological Universities of the world
33. Won Cricket World Cup in 1983
34. Won three wars against Pakistan
35. Abhinav Bindra won Gold Olympic Medal in 10m rifle shooting
36. Indian Hockey Team is ranked 9th in the world
37. Indian played Sania Nehwal is currently ranked 2nd
38. GM Vishwanathan Anand is the current World Chess Champion
39. Prakash Padukone triumphs at All England Badminton Championship in 1980
40. Rajyavardhan Rathore winning Olympic silver for Double Trap in 2004
41. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were the most dominant tennis pairs in the world
42. Narain Karthikeyan races in Formula 1 and puts India on the F1 map
43. Sania Mirza is also the first Indian woman to win immense accolades in international tennis
44. India's first Test series win overseas in 1971
45. India win Twenty20 in 2007
46. Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to reach space in 1984
47. CV Raman: Awarded with Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on scattering of light
48. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983
49. India sends first Indian moon probe, Chandrayaan-1 to moon
50. Possessor of India possesses nuclear weapons
51. First Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen in 1994
52. Kottayam, Kerala becomes first city to 100% literacy rate
53. Ahmedabad becomes first city to have an e-court
54. Elects first female President: Pratibha Patil
55. More than 62 universities engage in biotechnology training and education
56. India has indulged in strong roots of secularism
57. Immense progress in technology
58. Self sufficient in food
59. Strengthening of regional co-operation in foreign policy
60. Poverty is at a constant reduction
61. The availability of food grains per capita rose from 395 grams per day in 1950 to 466 grams in 1992
62. Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined
63. A.R. Rahman becomes first Indian to receive two Oscar awards on an international platform

And this is 64 of numerous thousands of achievements that the country has achieved. However, this in no ways means that there is no room for improvement. In order to be really be fully considered a developed nation. I, personally, am completely blinded by the negativities and cons that India houses; to me the country has been through years of strife and always manages to bounce back. 64 years and rocking! I love you India! Jai Hind!