India - the case of an average existence.

India - the case of an average existence.

It appears as a game going on since the time of Indian Independence. Based on the belief that the nation is a mass of innocent fools and its direction towards liberty lies in the hands of those intellectuals who need to engage in an evolved path of human liberty and prosperity, and further engaging the world in attending to India's emergence as a nation of thought leadership.

That appears to have been a long lived dream constructed by Nehru, who never found any truth in engaging the simpler, sensible, silent aspirations of the people at the lower crust of the Indian complex. For him, Gandhi was an utopian idea worth a clever negotiation and left shut. Nehru burnt with the passion to succeed global leadership overnight. Now, I don't wish into any argument about whether that mission was more personal or national. As 65 years is a long time to see the fruits of his mission. 

But his mission became an urge for a livelihood for many. Almost impatiently they wish to showcase evolved thinking, modern craftsmanship and engagement with the advanced technologies. That is a wonderful dream to pursue, yet to stop at its ordinary levels reflects  your fatigue in competing with the world. 

It was silly as it turned into an exclusive Indian doctrine: a doctrine that comprises consciousness of what is happening around the world; a doctrine that compels to somehow construct a look alike modern creation; a doctrine that laid greater emphasis on delivering than delivering well or delivering unique or delivering a new.

That over decades it became the giant Indian philosophy can be seen in everything that India does. It feels proud of the fact that it can do what the advanced world can do. It feels more that it can not do as well, as our larger environment is not as good as the world's best ecology is.

As the lazy would, it began to prove the other belief more: if we had, if we were and if we could.

I often prefer quoting the example of India's automobile industry that in just two decades changed its entire paradigm engaging the world's top most brands on its canvas. However, the two Indian automobile giants have not yet produced a vehicle that is comparable with even a world known Korean brand, let away the Japanese or the European or the American. There are several arguments an Indian would give for that. Oh, those Indian companies are catering to an entirely different segment of the car market in India. Pray, if you wish to be on the global map, why would you not wish to lead the market that the global best are engaged in? Is that because you are on a social mission to make cars for a segment that cannot afford a good quality car? Even if one agrees you are engaged in a charitable mission in a commercially driven roadmap, would you not wish to create at least one brand that puts you on the global map? Cut the crap: you don't have the guts to contest the best name in the world.

India never wants to contest the world's best name in any field: it is simply happy with being a player in the game that the world is leading. That is the reason why most Indians outside India have the capacity to set a trend or cross the mile, as its larger brethren die a cattle.

Getting back to the underlying faith that India is a country of innocent fools and its path of salvation can be constructed by engaging the more evolved on a mission of establishing before the world that India is closer to the world's most evolved ecology. That the leadership segment of India's more evolved society reflects what powers India promises. If the 100 million people could be up close to the world's best….Best?… Nah…lets call that world'a average…, then what when its 900 million people cross their miles? The question to ask is, which milestone? The milepost of the world's average citizen.

There lies the genesis of limited thinking. It is a simpler truth that you don't judge the potential of an object or a product by comparing it with the best available. Wouldn't you judge its potential by its inherent strength?

If it is true that an average Indian is more intelligent and sharp; that an average Indian has a rich intellectual heritage; that an average Indian has a wiser pedigree, then why can an average not work on their own genius? Why would that more intelligent race set itself on a mission to get closer to what the world does? Why can that Indian attempt to at least compete? That is how Koreans took on the world, and that is how China is. 

The cars, soaps, cosmetics, home appliances, clothing, computers, gadgets or any other brand from the closer Asean or Chinese regions are up on the most advanced shopping shelves around the globe, as much as at their mid levels or the corner shops. Where lies the Indian brand? tucked into its own street corners. It is too shy, too lazy, too busy. Yet it has plenty of reasons to offer - from we have such a huge market within, to we are pretty close, to brave one as what's wrong?

Or is that a shout for charity from the world: see how close we are, if only you could lift us with your technology, your thinking, your smarter leadership. 

Oh yes the world would offer you that most certainly, as it is in for charity and commerce. And as common human failing, it is more likely to set commerce before charity. So it will come at a price my boy! And if you wish to engage it more diligently, set your ground right, or be led in misery. 

Beggars can't be chosers is an old English idiom.