Shall we ever improve?
We may never reach the pinnacles of human behaviour found elsewhere, but we can at least think of taking small steps in that direction. The two issues that stare at us are "Muddled Generation" and "The lack of role models". There are lot of models but no role models. The character and general behaviour of Indians have a lot to do with the above issues. While the country is booming in all sectors of the economy, we are standstill in out basic behaviour. One sees a blatant lack of courtesy and discipline in all spheres of life. Crude behaviour at the worst. It is not only inside India but even Indian community residing in other Nations whine and complain excessively about their experiences in India whenever they set foot in their Motherland- and that too about custom authorities, the airport, the toilets, the roads, streets and so on and so forth. We Indians revel in breaking every conceivable laid down rules and get very caustic and very frustrated when prevented from doing so. Bring in any rule and within a very short time ways would have been found to circumvent it. The same attitude can be seen all around us, whether it is driving, one way streets, red signals, railway gates, paying taxes or appearing in courts. Another great trait is that of the inability of an Indian to ever stand in a queue and that too in a line perpendicular to the counter concerned. You will always find them spread along the counter like multi- headed arrow, trying to have their jobs done in little time as possible and at the same time prying into what the person at the counter is doing. Another inherent quality of an Indian is to cheat. One gets cheated most of the time by traders, conman, pickpockets, workers, robbers, and so on. One is resigned to this, as an everyday norm. Even the so called educated persons who form part of an organisation will flout all the rules. Some even play God and try to cheat God.
Even in religious matters they pay, pray and obey with a view to cheat the system. As an example they would pay a subscription of Rs 0.50 per month and would want all the benefits that can be freely derived from it. Many Indians are keen to do charity works and join societies but in the final draw, the noble cause would have taken a nose dive and then they have redrawn their own agenda of spinning money in various banks. The charity work forgotten in totality. This happens all the time throughout the length and breadth of our great country!
When will we improve? Will we ever improve? Though I am an eternal optimist, this particular question will have all of us stumped!
Credit: Partly modified article from "The Hindu"