Criticizing all Criticizers

I have developed something lately; I will admit. I was a mediocre sort of patriotic person. I used to love my country. I used to celebrate Independence Day and Republic Day like any other person does. Watch the parade and the flag hoisting, celebrate the break from work and studies, sleep the entire day. But recently I have found myself remark on the sheer challenge that hour country IS. Its vast size, heterogeneous nature of problems, all types: economic, social, and philosophical. Any statement I make on the vast size of the problems we say is not enough.

Beautiful, ain't it?

Suffice to say, I have grown to appreciate our country more. I have grown to like it, fall in love, romance the idea of a perfect country. Yes. Any day now.

I was wondering what drew me into this so much. The answer was pretty simple. It was the Criticizers. I invent this proper noun because these people deserve a proper mention. All of us have met more than one. No?

“Our country is headed for doom” “The government policies are screwed up” “ The transportation services are ill maintained” “Noone cleans this place” “There is  absolutely no control over the trade” “The policies kill the small time businessman” “This policy kills the big business” “The education paradigm of India is archaic” “We can never be a developed country”

Yes. I am talking to all of you Criticizers. Whosoever of them  who are reading this.

First of all, Thanks a lot. You have made me more patriotic, more hopeful, and more respectful of my democracy. I have come to realize it is very easy to point fingers at our policy makers, their policies and their efficiency.

Secondly, I agree there is a LOT wrong with my country. But this does not give you the license to crib twenty four- seven-twelve. Try this. Try to see how much have the lives of people around you have changed. And I am not talking about those who were superior to you. See the lives of people who were inferior to you. The maid in our house who used to clean our floors is today a typist working in a small firm. Our dhobi has moved on to bigger business. Our gardener or maali now has two mobiles. Both of them better versions of my phone.  Our greengrocer or sabziwaala has an auto now.

Granted, each of the people listed above worked very hard to reach where they are now. But do you expect progress to reach those who do not make an effort? Do you want people to just give in to poverty: “No  we were, are and will remain poor”; and do you expect your government to feed people like these? And they don’t.

But the people I am talking about are people who worked day and night in honest jobs. You can call these jobs menial, but they are essential nonetheless. So our country has given opportunities to advance to all hardworking people, it has given better lives to all people who wanted it, now, tell me where is the ground to criticize the government.

The examples were just about people around my family house. There are countless, and I say it most emphatically, countless, stories of people making it into the 21^st century, alive and kicking poverty’s ass. Call it increasing purchasing power of the masses, increase in Per capita GDP, Net National Output, Food security or any fancy-shmancy economic term but this is DEVELOPMENT 101.

People criticize that the road is narrow yet buses still run on it. It may be of inconvenience to you and your sedan but think about the person who travelled the whole city for Rs. 5 , to do his job. What more do you want? Roads will come one day. Wait and watch you impatient little prick.

People criticize about the rubbish on the roads. Tell me honestly that you haven’t ONCE thrown anything on the road; a wrapper, paper, spittle. Hypocrites.

People say that the trains do not run on time. Honestly, in my humble opinion, Railways are the pure embodiment of the spirit of our country. Huffing, puffing, running late, overcrowded, smelly, hot yet running in profit, yet carrying everyone it can, and yet moving forward.

People say the government is corrupt. In spite of this they are managing to do some good. I say it’s a bargain. We have to keep looking for politicians who are cheaper to maintain. And well that’s what democracy is; bargaining and taking a leap of faith. Try to imagine being the captain of Indian team of eleven people. There’s so much pressure. Now multiply the pressure by a 100 million. That is the pressure the politicians, these supposed sleazebags, should mathematically face.

Life in India is good. There are a LOT of things we need to work upon. But sometimes looking only in one direction, forward, is not good for morale. And trust me, India needs morale. We need individuals to care for our country. Just do your part, please. And Stop worrying about every Tom, Dick and Harry. Oops I mean every Tarun, Dinesh and Hari.

So all Criticizers Listen to Mr. Cee-Lo-Green’s awesome song here.

To all hopeful like me.
 India Rocks! India Rules! India will succeed! And we will be the one invited to the party… not them.