Red mist & responsibility - Oh my India

There is something about mother India that makes you feel more connected to her even more than your own mothers (sorry moms itz just true :-)). Whenever we hear patriotic numbers like "Mera Rang De Basanti" it gives us goosebumps and makes us wish we were there during those times of fervent nationalism. However her recent state of affairs and apparent apathy of our citizens especially the youth brings nothing but red mist.

Why the red mist?

Corruption nonpareil - As per latest Transparency International reports, we rank as the 87th amongst 178 countries on corruption (178 is most corrupt). Corruption is deep rooted and you are asked to pay a bribe for everything from getting a license to registering a police case of a lost item. It has also some decent alibis in the name of donation/capitation fees for seats in schools and colleges.

Bought out MLAs/MPs and votes - Well itz quite a chain; they buy our votes and their votes are then bought out. We are a country just ready for sale. Whoever said we are not good at selling just didn't look at our average politician. He seems to be just about ready to sell everything including the country

Common-stealth or Common-filth Games - Then there is the spectre of the games which but for the athletes was so full of filth and stealth. Makes you wonder was it really worth all the spend and the taxpayer money (yours and mine)

You look left, right and center in the spectre of Indian politics and all you can find is confused politicians, rabble-rousers and corrupt leaders.

Freedom of Screech - And we have these intellectuals flirting with extremists and using the garb of freedom of speech for cheap publicity. They bullshit everything that they don't understand and everything thatz Indian and win international acclaim. At best they deserve to be ignored.

Media misdeeds - Sensational sound-bytes and no real substance creating icons out of cons. What more can one expect from bought out news-sellers who pose as neutral commentators?

All this leaves you in a tizzy - What can I do when the system is so bad ?

Maybe you can do nothing as an individual. Or well maybe there's something you can do for a start. Be a good citizen. Follow the rules. Inspire 1, 2, 5, 50 ... people atleast to be good citizens.

I want to start from there and maybe I can motivate atleast one other person in life (definitely more).

We all want good leaders but are we all good citizens? Thatz something to ponder.

Let us take responsibility for our community, maybe our city and if you are a believer, our country as well.

As my guru His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar says "We all take responsibility for what we feel belongs to us (our family, friends etc)." Why not extend that belonging to a bigger scope?

There is a famous Marathi saying - "Ab bhi jiska khoon na khoula, wo khoon nahin hai paani hai. Jo bhi desh ke kaam na aaye, wo bekar jawaani hai"!

(Translated - Even now if someone’s blood does not boil, that is not blood but water. Anybody who does nothing for his/her country, that is a wasted youth).

Oh my Indian, wake up before some intellectual tells us you, I and our country are not for real !