Games Indians play... a book wich attempts to to explain the “Indianness” of us Indians.. started Reading this book nd i thot here's another attempt at india bashing.. why are we so cynical i mean look we are doin well in all d fronts.. economy growin leaps n bounds.. markets rising india is the place to invest the world is noticing India.. but we leave no opportunity to demean ourselves.. but alas..!! how true does it turn out to be...
We indians who happen to be perhaps the most intelligent people in the world, but also, to a dispassionate eye, among the most baffling and so true are the questions raised... Why are we a nation that is individually so smart and collectively so naive? Why do we mistake talk for action? Why is our self-worth massaged only if we have the ‘authority’ to break rules? Why are we among the world’s most corrupt? Why do we jump red lights? Why do we dump our garbage at the neighbour’s doorstep? And slowly i begin to realize that the author isn't just being pessimistic but infact all he says is true".. In fact every single day going n coming back from office reinforces the concept of "Indianess" wich the author proposes Perhaps thats wat bangalore traffic does to u. I want to reach back home early.. so does every1 else wat do we do.. Break the lanes.. coz the other lane hardly has any traffic.. but alas.. we all kno that there is a pt where we have to merge nd ther's 2 way traffic.. end result for the 10 min wait we wud have had in d lanes we spent 30 min waitin for the traffic 2 clear.. no wonder a 15km ride takes 1.5 hrs on average days forget heavy traffic days.. the govt too has kept its eyes closed infrasturcture marathalli old madras road whitefield all are excellent examples.. swanking offc buildin on both sides of d road nd dirt n girth in d name of road.... but no less are we to blame.. how often than not we break the law.. Ah its live n let live for individuals but all suffer as d society when you try to follow the law, what you get to hear is the unfriendly slangs.. Bangaloreans are good in making even the best piece of engineering as the worst... It's just our attitude towards a cheating vendor to our attitude in a joint venture; from our tearing off a page from a library book to the way we leave our public toilets.. shrugging off any guilt to "that's how every1 does it.. what diff wud i make.. ?" ...In How often have i made decisions thinking.. "that's wat evry1 else does, Why shudn't i..?"
Perhaps that's what we all are *argumentative* indians.. very intelligent, however making decisions that will benefit us in the immediate future, versus for long term satisfaction... Sad the author says that the land which gave Gita now itself cannot "do the right thing" a cocept wich game theory confirmes ( c-c behaviour) so as to maximize gains both for oneself as well as for the society...
Takin a cue is this Lead India ad campaign..how very apt.. ..... http://www.youtube.com/v/FAe_bZGqU1g& "Tum chalo... to hindustan chale..." so beautifully made that I just had to post it here! The message is conveyed in such a subtle and simple way....
