Colour of Democracy – II
Colour of Generation Us
“ Lose control……….I am a rebel!!” – is perceived to be the mantra of Generation ‘Me’. But, this not just Generation Me. It also prefers to cal itself Generation ‘Us’. Well, what difference does it make?- the hardened sceptic might ask. A lot really.
If we want to lose control, we want do so on our own ‘mitti’. In other words, we have no qualms in calling ourselves Indians. That is what a recent survey by an English daily of my city and a market research agency shows. So, when we go shopping for brands, we do not distinguish between Raymond and Reebok. Similarly, when it comes to jobs, we don’t care whether it is Ambani or American Express, as long as the pay is good. Thus, reasons enough to showcase Brand India at Davos. Besides, Generation Us also cares for everything that goes on around it. That is why, Barkha Dutt is among its icons. Is there any problem then?
Not quite, but the picture is incomplete. Our pride in being Indian loses more than half of its value when do not determine our fates ourselves. It is not that we don’t have anything to do, but we do nothing. On a macro level, this means that India’s claim of being the world’s largest democracy becomes quite hollow. If we think our rulers our undemocratic, then why aren’t we doing anything to remove the ‘un’ prefix from the democratic? If a right is not used (read: right to vote) is not used, then how can it be violated? Besides, if we hate the sight of filth, why don’t we clean it ourselves? No point in waiting and watching till it spreads to out homes. Today, most young people only want to become IAS officers if they have to do a government job. But, why not anything else? In my class of forty students in college, only one appeared for the Combined Defence Services Examination. The point is, to effect an overhaul, each and every component of a system has to be looked into. So, it is better to be in than out of it……..and be little bit wise.
Colour of Generation Us
“ Lose control……….I am a rebel!!” – is perceived to be the mantra of Generation ‘Me’. But, this not just Generation Me. It also prefers to cal itself Generation ‘Us’. Well, what difference does it make?- the hardened sceptic might ask. A lot really.
If we want to lose control, we want do so on our own ‘mitti’. In other words, we have no qualms in calling ourselves Indians. That is what a recent survey by an English daily of my city and a market research agency shows. So, when we go shopping for brands, we do not distinguish between Raymond and Reebok. Similarly, when it comes to jobs, we don’t care whether it is Ambani or American Express, as long as the pay is good. Thus, reasons enough to showcase Brand India at Davos. Besides, Generation Us also cares for everything that goes on around it. That is why, Barkha Dutt is among its icons. Is there any problem then?
Not quite, but the picture is incomplete. Our pride in being Indian loses more than half of its value when do not determine our fates ourselves. It is not that we don’t have anything to do, but we do nothing. On a macro level, this means that India’s claim of being the world’s largest democracy becomes quite hollow. If we think our rulers our undemocratic, then why aren’t we doing anything to remove the ‘un’ prefix from the democratic? If a right is not used (read: right to vote) is not used, then how can it be violated? Besides, if we hate the sight of filth, why don’t we clean it ourselves? No point in waiting and watching till it spreads to out homes. Today, most young people only want to become IAS officers if they have to do a government job. But, why not anything else? In my class of forty students in college, only one appeared for the Combined Defence Services Examination. The point is, to effect an overhaul, each and every component of a system has to be looked into. So, it is better to be in than out of it……..and be little bit wise.
posted by sheyalpandit at
5:21 PM
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