INDIA - My Country in 350 words
INDIA
The first word that comes to my mind as I think of India is ‘Diversity.’
From the hullabaloo in the streets of Old Delhi to the tranquility at the Himalayas, India hosts multiple worlds within a seemingly singular-tricoloured-facade.
After spending almost two decades in this blessed country, my vaguest recollections include shopping with mom in the bazaars of Delhi and spending my school vacations playing hide and seek and cricket with my cousins. Comparing with the present day, I see kids hooked to iPads and smartphones playing worthless games which add no meaning to their lives. So, India is changing. For better or worse, its hard to say. For this surely is a transitional phase.
Apparently, the literacy rate is ever increasing, though a literate according to Indian standards just needs to ‘write his name.’
As my Uncle, a retired Army Officer, believes, the most important lessons in life are learnt travelling around in this country, through buses and second class in trains.
Spanning from Kashmir in north to Kanyakumari in the south, one traverses not just 29 states, but all terrains from plateaus to planes and more than 1600 languages. Theres no better example of diversity than this country.
Being blessed to be born and brought up in New Delhi, the Capital, I faced no dearth of facilities, be it education or sports. But unfortunately, while my brother and sisters dwelling in remote corners of Orissa and North-East are struggling to earn their daily bread, I sleep peacefully in my air-conditioned room, with a smartphone next to my pillow. So, my country is unfair too.
As the mediocre Indian likes to cusses daily about the brain drain issues India faces, that didn't stop him from circulating WhatsApp congratulatory messages about Sundar Pichai being promoted as Google CEO. With politics and cricket as the evergreen topics of discussion, the average Indian is short-sighted, selfish, hypocritical, and forgets things easily.
Its very easy to lose hope in this country. Its very easy to set one’s aspirations low in this country. But still, I’m indebted to my nation. And will pay back in whatever way I can.
