23/11/23

Taking the rough with the smooth

I am passing through one of those bleak phases when I feel morose and all manner of negative thoughts occupy my mind. Perhaps it is because of the indignity we suffer due to our city’s crumbling infrastructure or maybe it was due to the reactions evoked after India’s loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup. It could also be the quality of political discourse and it’s inherent unaccountability. I just don’t know. This state of mind made me think about the times we live in.

We live in strange times where everything is binary. All situations and beliefs are now judged through a nationalistic lens. Adopting a middle of the road approach or holding a contrarian viewpoint is no longer tolerated. 

We live in an era where people have turned impatient, argumentative, have short attention spans and are replacing personal growth and achievement with nationalistic fervour. Even close friends and relatives get incensed at the slightest hint of disagreement. 

I have been trying to make sense of a few prevalent tropes. Society is governed by a set of laws but our actions and thought process relies heavily on the latest trends. Here are a few of them. This list is not exhaustive and does not follow any sequence. It perhaps reflects the confusion in my mind.

• मेरा भारत महान. This feel-good slogan fails to explain the how and why behind it. We have to rely on bits of history and the prevalent political narrative to believe it. This is a supposition one has to believe, to be a good citizen of our great nation. This is one ‘truth’ which brooks no contradiction. Debate is actively discouraged. 
• The defence establishment. Our combined defence services have now assumed a demi-God status. No one can be even mildly critical of our saviours, on any platform. Any attempt at scrutiny invites snide remarks suggesting a change of nationality!
• Ayurved, the panacea to all ills. Our ancient system of medicine purportedly has ‘no side effects’. One bearded, saffron clad yogi has vilified modern medicine (which undergoes rigorous testing) through his formidable reach. No one questions this Baba because of the rigid hold Ayurved has over our collective consciousness. Moreover, he enjoys political patronage. 
• India is the greatest country and we have to be proud of its glorious past, shining present and magnificent future. Agreed to a certain extent. Our past was indeed glorious. But the various kingdoms which made up Bharat, were unable to repel advances of the Mughals, and much later, the Britishers. The past is the past. For how long do we remain lulled by this complacency induced by our past? What about the present? With a dithering present, our future looks shaky. India is now the most populous nation having overtaken China recently. But hey… we had a glorious past and were a great civilisation right? We had Nalanda, the Mauryas, the Chalukyas, Ajanta, Ellora, Shivaji Maharaj…. Doesn’t this swell our chest with pride? Why should one contemplate the present and the future when we choose to embrace the past? Does any leader of stature try to shake us out of this reverie? I guess not. The present is just too painful and the future, daunting. But still, मेरा भारत महान.
• One’s religion/faith is supreme and others are flawed. Hindus represent the majority and now wear their ‘ism’ as a badge of honour. No one bothers to read and understand what it takes to be a good hindu/muslim/christian citizen. We just believe in parroting ‘truths’ as per our affinity. Hindus are usually castigated because of sheer numbers but people of all faiths are guilty of the same misdeeds. The level of mutual distrust is ominous. Society is fractured because of this trust deficit. There aren’t any signs of healing as no one is willing to acknowledge the problem. No one knows the meaning of moderation, acceptance and giving space. All we get are metaphorical messages which barely scratch the surface. 
• Resurgence of individual sporting brilliance. In recent times our athletes have made giant strides in individual sports like javelin throw, athletics, wrestling, shooting, archery, badminton and team sports like hockey. Admittedly, various programmes of the government have helped sportsmen reach their peaks. These young men and women will keep scaling new heights and make us proud. I have no doubt about this. But can we conflate this success to a team sport like cricket? We have a national cricket team which is governed by a private body (BCCI). Consider the recently concluded ODI world cup. Our team did very well in the league matches. We won 10 matches on the trot and winning the finals against Australia was considered a mere formality. Losing was inconceivable as the Indian team was deemed invincible. Media, experts, cricket fans and assorted celebrities - all were united in this delusion. The result disappointed many. Very few viewers had the grace to admit that the Australians played better cricket than us. National pride is enmeshed in our sports. Why should this be so? 
• India’s GDP touched $4 trillion recently. People are understandably ecstatic. Does this mean India is prosperous? Has the number of jobless declined? Does Indian youth have access to quality education? What about sanitation, housing, and social security? The man on the road does not understand what GDP is and yet he is happy that our economy is bigger than England! Most of our problems are rooted to our burgeoning population. Experts feel India’s population will plateau after a couple of decades and will start declining after that. Till then we have 1.5 billion mouths to feed and provide employment to half a billion! But who cares. It is easier to hold on to the illusion that we are doing well.
• The promise of Make in India. Indian industry is reportedly galloping and bringing prosperity with newer opportunities. This is overstating reality. Our industries are definitely doing better than in the past, but the progress is happening at a snail’s pace. मेरा भारत महान is used to great effect here as well. Our industrial might is a given and no questions can be asked. We have to humbly accept that we still have a long way to go. We will eventually be counted in the global arena but growth will happen organically, without any chest thumping. The key is to have sensible taxation, and having investor friendly governments which fast track projects along with a change of mindset at the employee level. Unfortunately we have elected representatives who change existing policy on their whim. Some target industrialists for personal gain. Profit, according to some, is still a dirty word. 

I think I will stop here. There are many ways by which we can feel depressed …. the Ills of social media, fear of substance abuse, the real/imagined (?) threat of love jihad, reservations, income disparity, agriculture related issues, power shortages, gender bias, loneliness, income disparity, and so much more! But I have to conclude here.

We are powerless and helpless and cannot bring about social change. Most of us are now on the verge of losing individual thought and consequently, our voice. No one wants to be shown the mirror.

People have a tendency of looking at the past with rose tinted glasses and harbour the illusion of the ‘good old days’ being tolerable than the present. It is rarely so.

Am I disillusioned while I type these thoughts? Perhaps mildly so. Do I see no future for Indian society? Not really. I somehow keep chugging along as I am sure that I can make a difference to my family. This is my primary responsibility. Some semblance of peace will ensue if everyone chooses to keep her/his house in order. One has to be responsible for self and family. Choosing goals wisely and keeping a check on aspirations is vital. Independent thought has to be encouraged unequivocally. Making peace with people who have views which don’t align with your mindset is paramount. Trust yourself and trust those around you for collective growth.

These musings are utopian and may sound like ravings of a senile person but do give a thought. Putting ones’ house in order is as important as bringing order to a nation. Both units have a hierarchy, a budget, illnesses, concerns of safety, responsibilities etc.

Largely I remain positive about my family’s future and of India. Our country has weathered many storms and we shall survive the present too. It is up to us individuals to determine our role and not get carried away with what goes on around us. 

On a lighter note, there are many ways by which I keep myself buoyed. Nothing like a run to raise dampened spirits. Curling up with a book still gives me immense pleasure. Good music and vocals touch me in ways I cannot describe. The genius of Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) and Pula Deshpande help me see the lighter side of life. Conversations with Gayatri are sure to enliven my mood. Satisfaction and contentment is guaranteed when Vidula prepares my favourite food. Meeting friends over tea is an uplifting experience! Just letting go and not taking yourself seriously is the way to ensure calm and happiness.