India Relaxes

I havent blogged during the weeken because its my weekend. Its the time of the week i get to relax. No calls, no plans to be sent, just idle at home with family.

but because i get to enjoy two days off in a week, is it right on my part to title this blog 'India Relaxes'? I dont think so. While i have been fortunate to spend quality time with my family, there are millions of Indians who have no concept of a weekend. They work 367 days of the year to earn atleast two square meals a day. Forget the 3-4 meals we are privileged to have.

When it comes to be counted as the typical Indian, we tend to forget the toiling masses. For you and me, the typical Indian is the affluent, well to do middle class folk. Which is the Indian view of India. A foreginer's view of India is the other extreme. The one where poverty reigns supreme. Yesterday, while driving in Bangalore i chanced upon a westerner taking pictures of a filled up garbage van and garbage dump. I wonder what kick he gets by taking such a picture? Afterall its a garbage dump. Maybe it doesnt look as good one of the fancy ones in the Developed worlds. So what??

Look at India from a holistic perspective. We live our lives here. And we are contented with what we have. Period. I do not want someone to click a picture of a garbage dump and tell his folks back home "This is India". Its high time folks get a life and leave behind their vision of India as a garbage dump / cattle country / rope trick nation etc etc.

The real India is a mix of rich and poor, a mix of educated and illiterate, a mix of hindus and muslims, a mix of all other relegions. You have an India that eats at the Taj and you have an India that goes to the roadside vendors. See India as it is and not the way you want to see it!