I have always taken exception when foreigners hold the perception that India is a poor country.
How can a Country that was home to one of the three oldest civilization in the World be poor?
India was always in the forefront of philosophical thoughts, mathematics and science. It gave the world the concept of zero, the upanishads, chanakya soothra, and bhagavat gita. Poor? Definitely not.
Intellectually and morally we were far superior than other races. We practiced secularism and religious tolerence centuries before others even thought about it.
We gave the world the wonderful concept of 'Adhithi Devo Bhava' and embraced whoever landed in our soil with love and affection. Despite being stabbed in the back, we still held fast to our value system. Can anyone then call us poor?
India always was culturally vibrant. We had our own diverse music and dance forms ranging from Hindustani to Carnatic to Ghazals to Thumris and Kathakali to Kathak to Bharathanatyam to Odissi to Fold dances. This was the country that gave to the world the great sculptures seen in Ellora or the paintings in Ajantha. The world was stunned at the originality of Thanjavur paintings, the uniqueness of Aranmula Kannadi, the finely woven silk from Benares and the riot of colours. And we poor? What a ridiculous idea!!
We gave to the world the concept of 'Ahimsa' when the whole world was in the grip of 'Himsa'. We dared to think different. Our thoughts were pristine and noble. We boast of the largest democracy in the world and we have never attacked another country in our history. No sirs! We are not poor.
Poverty should not be measured in Per Capita Income but rather in Per Thought Income. And development should not be measured in Gross Domestic Product, but in Gross Domestic Intellectual Product.
Then we are richer than the richest nation in this Planet.
Never be apologetic and defensive when talking about your country. Garv se kaho, 'Mera Bharath Mahan'
