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Legacy of inferiority
How often do we hear a "this happens only in India" with a laugh, a snicker, a hint of sarcasm? Too many times for my liking.
Whether it is the traffic situation, the corruption, the slow moving bureaucracy or dowry cases, we repeat this statement in a derogatory manner with no thought of how it impacts our image as a country.
First and foremost - is this statement really true? Are we the only country in this world that has bad practices? Do atrocities not occur in other countries? Are lazy, dishonest people all congregated only in this country - leaving all other nations free of these burdens?
Obviously, criminals, frauds, bigots, idlers and such exist every where. Then why do we persist in denigrating ourselves when confronted with the wrongs that exist in our society?
Or is it that in spite of over 60 years of independence we still feel the need to put ourselves down to be in the good books of the 'goras' - the white masters? Sort of - laugh at yourself before somebody else does?
Countries like Japan and Germany, which reinvented themselves after the world wars had one idea in common - the sense of national pride bred into its population - which in turn ensured that the general populace made the effort to live up to those images.
India is an emerging power, a leader in the making - the signs are there. Leaders can not afford to succumb to feelings of inferiority if they hope to lead with wisdom. The "it happens only...." is a clear manifestation of inferiority that Indians suffer from - a feeling resulting from judging ourselves by the western/developed countries' yardstick.
We have many things good - no superlative, in our culture and country if only we look at them with objective vision - a vision free of concepts deemed 'good' by others. Our greatness - the one that existed centuries ago still resides in us and all it needs is for us to look at ourselves and find it. There is a lot to correct and improve in the way we do things in our country but there is a lot more that is right and worthwhile which can be the basis of future greatness. And this will happen only when we stop succumbing to this legacy of inferiority that holds us in its thrall decades after we gained control over our government.
Negative reinforcement can not bring positive results - though it can sabotage by its power of demoralization. When we say "this happens..." let it be the things we are proud of - things that the emerging generation can look up to and emulate.
Say no to self-denigration.
Whether it is the traffic situation, the corruption, the slow moving bureaucracy or dowry cases, we repeat this statement in a derogatory manner with no thought of how it impacts our image as a country.
First and foremost - is this statement really true? Are we the only country in this world that has bad practices? Do atrocities not occur in other countries? Are lazy, dishonest people all congregated only in this country - leaving all other nations free of these burdens?
Obviously, criminals, frauds, bigots, idlers and such exist every where. Then why do we persist in denigrating ourselves when confronted with the wrongs that exist in our society?
Or is it that in spite of over 60 years of independence we still feel the need to put ourselves down to be in the good books of the 'goras' - the white masters? Sort of - laugh at yourself before somebody else does?
Countries like Japan and Germany, which reinvented themselves after the world wars had one idea in common - the sense of national pride bred into its population - which in turn ensured that the general populace made the effort to live up to those images.
India is an emerging power, a leader in the making - the signs are there. Leaders can not afford to succumb to feelings of inferiority if they hope to lead with wisdom. The "it happens only...." is a clear manifestation of inferiority that Indians suffer from - a feeling resulting from judging ourselves by the western/developed countries' yardstick.
We have many things good - no superlative, in our culture and country if only we look at them with objective vision - a vision free of concepts deemed 'good' by others. Our greatness - the one that existed centuries ago still resides in us and all it needs is for us to look at ourselves and find it. There is a lot to correct and improve in the way we do things in our country but there is a lot more that is right and worthwhile which can be the basis of future greatness. And this will happen only when we stop succumbing to this legacy of inferiority that holds us in its thrall decades after we gained control over our government.
Negative reinforcement can not bring positive results - though it can sabotage by its power of demoralization. When we say "this happens..." let it be the things we are proud of - things that the emerging generation can look up to and emulate.
Say no to self-denigration.
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