Proud to be an Indian? You kidding me?

Indians are perceived to be one of the most God-fearing, cultured, and harmless race on planet earth. We boast of having gained independence through dedicated non-violence. India is obviously a diverse nation, with a variety of residents living in ‘mutual tolerance’. However, this notion of a cultured, God-fearing, and relatively non-violent race is limited to what the world thinks of us. What we Indians really are is something entirely different. Let me cite a few examples.

Once when I was crossing a one way lane on foot, a man on his scooty entered the lane from the no entry side of the lane, almost ran over me, and instead apologizing he instead had the audacity to yell at me for having stood in his way!

A few days ago when the elevator of the building where I stay was left open on the 3^rd floor, and when I complained about it to the third floor, instead of accepting their negligence, they gave me a “I don’t give four fucks about that elevator or the rest of the residents” look.

These instances don’t even begin to impress upon the fact that this nation is going to the dogs. These are just trivial everyday crap that most of us deal with all the time. Let’s instead talk about the shocking and heart wrenching murder of Keenan Santos and Ruben Fernandes that happened in plain view of a number a bystanders. This incident is a blatant proof of how the proverb ‘Each man for himself’ has become the mantra of every Indian. How can a couple of rowdies stab two men on a street within plain site of a large group of people who are merely watching and not even remotely responding to the scenario unfolding before their eyes? Please explain to me, how that is possible?

I was brought up in Bahrain and have only spent 4 years in India. I had studied Indian history back in school, and trust me I was in love with my country and its glorious past, don’t get me wrong, I still am. Its just the people whom I cannot stand anymore. Most of the time we are bothered with what’s happening in another person’s life, looking for something to gossip or laugh about, instead of paying attention to what we are doing with our own life.

Is there any hope for improvement? Hell yeah, provided we get their heads out of their asses and think in the direction of collective good for a change. If we think of collective good, and give up on the ‘I, me, mine’ mentality, then maybe things can change. However honestly, right now, i am on the verge of saying, "My Indian nationality is up for sale, any takers?" #Seriously.