Shashi Tharur is writing a column in TOI every sunday, where he describes Indianness. And as you would expect with India, Indianness has many contours and expressions which can be described on each alphabet.
I would try here to create my own list of Indianness. Shashi Tharur has reached B, so I am starting my series with C and D, so I am not copying what Mr Tharur has to say.
Here is what I think, describes India on C and D
1. Cricket : If there is one religion that binds India cutting across caste, creed, sex it has to be cricket. Almost entire India shares this passion of a game which is more of a British Legacy. India today is a powerhouse in terms of financing the game, and we as Indians, who are eternal optimists. Even after the recent debacle, entire nation is closely hoping for a miracle in Bangladesh
2. Computer : India has missed a lot of growth opportunities in the past. We missed the industrial revolution and hence lost a chance to be at par with its western world. But IT is one area, where we have not missed any opportunity and have taken it with both hands. Computer today has empowered common Indians and made them conquer the global IT industry.
3. Cell Phone : Post liberalization, if computer was one strong success factor for we the Indians, cell phone revolution was another feather in our cap. Today even a road side vendor, sabjee wala, doodh wala etc all own a mobile phone and are in touch with their loved ones. Cell phone today is also a very cheap way to do business and innovate. No wonder in the entire world, we have the cheapest service.
4. Caste : India as a society has always been caste ridden. This is not a recent phenomenon. Right from our vedas and upnishads, all talk about a highly castiest society and this has always led to a lot of conflicts. A state like UP, where caste is the only factor that works in elections. I wish, as we grow and evolve as a country, the effect of caste is reduced, and the polity of the country becomes more issue based, rather than based on "Mandal and Kamandal".
5. Congress : Congress is the oldest political party in India. During our independance, it became synonymous to the entire nation and its will to be free and attain "Swarajya". Its leaders came from all spheres of life and went on to dominate the entire freedom struggle and also ruled the post independance India. Though, there were a lot of other entities and leaders (non congress) who did so much for the country and its independance, one can never undermine the role of Congress in defining the nation as it is today. Obviously, the congress is also responsible for all the lacunas that we see in our polity and society.
6. Charkha : Charkha was that ultimate symbol of "Aam Aadmi" and his will to be self independant and free during our freedom struggle. Modern India might not still be using Charkha, but the whole ideology behind the "Charkha" is still very modern and contemporary in today's globalised world.
7. Cow : Cow has always been treated in India as a mother figure. It has always been reverred by the majority hindus. "Gaay" as a symbol has also been misused by some political parties to their own interests. Nonetheless, there are countless ocasions, where the cow is treated as very sacred and hence portrays a strong symbol of Indianness.
8. Democracy : Democracy is the ultimate success of modern and independant India. If there is one achievement for modern India that has unparallel instance in the entire world, it has to be the way in which India and Indians have chosen to be truly democratic. As the "Time" magzine pointed out this week, it is only in India where you can have a "Catholic Italian" woman be the lady in command of a country which has a "minority sikh" PM and a "Minority Muslim" President ruling the majority Hindu population without even an iota of trouble. Hats of to that ultimate symbol od modern India, Democracy !!
9. Diversity : India in its modern awtar and in its age old awtar of "Hindusthan" has been a land of diversity. The "Sanatan Hindu" dharma is the ultimate symbol of how it has literally amalgamated so many faiths. India as a country has always been plundered and invaded time and again by Turks, Mughals, Brits, Portugese etc. There have been offshoots of Hindu dharama like Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, but ultimately the Sanatan Hindu dharma has always accepted diversity and ultimately has been flexible enough to amalgamate all these religions in its own ideology. Thats our secret of diversity.
10. Doordarshan : DD as a medium has seen this country evolve and grow. Pre liberalization, it was the only source of entertainment for Indians. Havent we all liked the "chitrahaar" and the sunday evening movie for years, before we had the Zees and Sony's literally eating up DD? Who can forget serials like "Buniyaad", "Hum Log", "Yeh jo hai Zindagi" and the much hated "Krishi Darshan". All of that represented India and our Indianness !!
LAst but not the least, the festivals like Diwali bring all Indians joy and happiness. Another "D" that comes to mind is the famous "Dandi march" which Gandhiji undertook as the ultimate symbol of opposing the british hegemony and imperialism.
Lookout for the e's and f's in coming week.
6 comments:
Worth Reading Series, Sir.I like your blog.;)
Wow!! Excellent...I love shashi tharoor's column....and yours too is definitely worth a read every week ;)
will be back next week to check out the E Fs...good job keep it up!!
I would love to spend some time, and in true tradition offer my cynical opposing views to what you said. But, I will keep it a bit short and take on the 3 that I most find issues with
Cow: One does not torture the sacred mother symbol. See the streets of Delhi to know the cruelty that is shown to these animals in the name of religion! They walk the streets, old and disabled, they get hit by motorists and present a major hazard, while being in pain themselves. I would think killing them as the most humane way of dealing with them, if we cannot care for them. Just as animals, not as holy figures, mind you.
It is also this silly and unjustified identification with religion, that causes a country that guarantees equality and freedom to dictate the food habits of people. The government, even though it has no right to do so, still does impose bans on cow slaughter and eating of cows. What I eat, is part of my individual freedom and suppressing it, is not indicative of a free society. Again, an instance of a majority will suppressing the rights of minorities.
Democracy: The minority ruling the majority does not have much to do with democracy and more to do with the subservient Indian mentality. India has a long history of being ruled by the minority, whether it was by the Mughals, the British, or even the higher social position of minority castes. I think India's success is in the rise of the lower class to ruling positions, the Yadavs and the Mayawatis, who were OBCs and now are in a position to suppress and oppress the SCs and STs along with the upper castes, I think that is the true indicator of the success or failure of this democracy. Remember, a society should be able to respect the rights of a minority down to that of a single individual.
Diversity: There is a problem in talking in absolutes. The Hindu faith has not been without it's own share of religious persecution. Religion, like animals, seeks to survive, or in its absence perishes. After the time of Adi Sankara, when Hinduism came back from its time of decline, there were a lot of instances of persecution of the buddhists, including destruction of their places of worship, similar to what the BJP and VHP has condemened the Taliban of doing. And the single act of resistance to Islam and Christianity has caused Hinduism to commit it's own share of atrocities. Not judging it in right or wrong, just saying that absolute colours are often flawed.
just what tharoor will print the next time.
brilliant.
i
India s democracy is superflawed and its a pity that we have to vote for those criminals to allow us to rule us. And the people who really should vote, they dont vote. Look aroun in any state, the democratic setup is more like autocratic -- Maharashtra, Thaks rules, Chennai - newspaper office burnt cos in its survey the leader dint get enuf votes, Gujarat is world famous, UP -- hopeless and Center -- the more division in society on basis of caste and religion and sub caste, more the benefit to the grand old paarty...Time out for it now....
So I dont feel democracy is smthin we should really be proud of!!!
Post a Comment