India is like my MBA students. They are more concerned about their rights and what they can get from others (mainly the faculty and the university) but do rarely bother to understand their responsibilities as a student and behave accordingly.
It is essential for everyone to be conscious of their responsibilities, understand the opportunities and take advantage of them. You need to show the way and lead by example.
India screams that it is the next emerging economic super power. But when the opportunity arose last month to flex its muscle, it cringed and prefered to be the lackey to the Developed Countries. We were no where in the radar during this economic crisis. This was a chance for us to come out with out of the box thinking and take charge. But, we missed the bus.
We beat our chests and claim that we are a Regional super power. But then what do we do. We refuse to take ownership or leadership in the Region. As a result of which, all our neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Srilanka and even the tiny Myanmar looks at us with contempt, and thumbs their nose at us at every given opportunity. They infiltrate terrrorists, train our militants, destablize our country, damage our economy through counterfeit notes and tell us to go and fly a kite if we offer any sort of advice to them. What is the point in being a military power if you cannot defend your own territory?
We are never tired of telling that we are the largest democracy in the World. But then what do we do. We allow a handful of people (a miniscule percentage) to hold the majority to ransom- be it terrorists, or rogue politicians like Raj Thackeray. We also allow criminals to go scot free. It is as if anyone can do anything he damn well pleases and walk away. Democracy also comes with responsibilities for the State. But they are blissfully unaware of this.
When will India change? When will we have someone as a leader who will make us proud? When will we, as a nation, have some spine? When can we say to the world with conviction "Mera Bharath Mahan"?
