My generation in India has grown up smelling the air of new age entrepreneurship in a new invigorated, liberalized India. I have seen an individual grow his personal wealth from 0 to a billion $ in one generation and share it generously as well! This new country has given people like me the opportunity to compete on an equal footing in the new “flat world”.
However, my helmets, knee caps, arm guards, gloves and such numerous protective gears are slowing me down and in fact choking me!
What are these helmets, knee caps, arm guards, gloves? These are some elements of Indian societal set up! We have always been brought up with a sense of caution and boundaries. Some of boundaries were virtual and some physical.
Say, for example, we were always told, not to take risks, never to put all eggs in one basket, not to challenge beliefs, systems, elders, teachers, we were given a framework of family bondage where we have to put up with an annoying wife/husband even though the relationship is not mutually beneficial, to be obedient to our boss at the cost of us feeling unhappy about the situation, to be grounded to reality and never chase dreams, to save and not to spend, that identity comes from our association and not from self, to have a servile attitude to the king, boss, land lord or whoever it was whom we thought put the daily bread on our plate, to not to believe our colleagues but to believe the system, that getting endorsed especially by a foreigner is the paramount, to never fall out of ranks, to follow the crowd and not tread an unknown path, to please people rather than doing the right thing, to work within the system and its constraints, to leave the thinking / innovation / adventure to someone else, the list is endless! These gears were forced upon us over centuries through, stories, myths, ‘modified’ epics, poems and every possible means.
On a side note, when I think of adventures, I don’t know of any notable adventure sport or adventure club which existed in India (not in pockets and that too again performed by specialists) some 10 years ago! Think, think, think!
Also, I would want to take this opportunity to showcase a fundamental belief in majority India. “Do your duty and do not expect results!!” This belief is derived from Bhagavad Gita – one of the holy books of Indians.
Indians did a great deal of introspection throughout the ages. So if this particular interpretation/statement was made to help an individual to transcend from the materialistic world onto the world of universal truth, it makes sense!
However, in India people are advised to apply this belief on their day to day tasks. Why would someone want to do something in life without expecting desired results? This is the driver for creating a totally unproductive society.
Though, I do agree that these elements keep you safe and help you lead a long life! But, is that what life is about in rest of the world, especially the western world and specifically the US? No!! Absolutely not!
I get reminded of a commercial for a battery which depicts two old men in a wrestling arena, clasping on to each other and wrangling away softly at each other! Then the ad concludes with the caption, what’s life without power?
I am not able to run at the speed at which I can (personally and professionally), whilst in the US or western world because, either, some of these protective gears slow me down, or, even if I shed some of the gears, my colleague’s (fellow country men’s) protective gears hurt me whilst I run along with them. When I extrapolate this thought, I am sure; my country is also being slowed down by the sheer weight of such protective gears!
Imagine us leading a long life consistently protected by these gears!! Huh! Think of R.K. Lakshman’s iconic “Common man of India”. An old doddering, spectacled man with a mustache and a kitty of life savings. Ironically he has a smile all the time… which, especially, I just cannot fathom.
I feel totally dejected and weighed down by the protective gears, the very thought of such a depiction of the common man from India suffocates me!
It’s time to think of what we have and what we could do about it?
More in the sequel!
Ciao!
Sundar
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need courage not just to challenge the system but break out of the system. Not alone desire but the courage to puruse the desire. But from other point of view comparing with western word and to be like a western world of capitalism and not a socialisitic communism is two concept. I was having a long session with a russian recently which was on the same line of your thought but he was telling, with the gears of slowing down , they found a way to grow.
ReplyDeleteFantastic thought process. I liked that indirect similie of knee caps and other protective gear akin to societal pressures. Very different thinking. Thank you for this thought.
ReplyDeletesundar, all said an done we are all but 60 n odd years old. Societal changes take without any force (unlike china) takes ages ...United states took a good 300 years to be where it is..and you should thank the immigrant crowd which made it what it is...That piece of land is diffrent because its a place where ppl went when they were stiffled by the protective gears you talked about...in some form or the other...hence has a diffrent feel than even the most developed nations of the world...they also did not have a history that weighed them down....on a lighter note..most of the world did not also have a brain capable enuf of analysing/rationalising things to slow them down...they were simply less uncomplicted..because as a rce they are so young...
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