Home sweet home..

Lately on the blog there has been some talk about our country and how if we make a small difference in ourselves it can get amplified as a bigger change in the country. That, I agree is very true. People (including me- the so called 'educated' and the 'common man') do lack common sense at times. But has it ever occurred to you why people leave the country? Why do 'educated' and 'talented' people leave the country? I'll tell you why - just like our dear president these people have dreams too.

I agree, its very right to call India a developed country (even though every two seconds you crack your spine when you drive over a pot-hole). But yes..We ARE developed. We have the n-bomb, we have the n-reactor, we have cities powered by the n-reactor and we also have n number of politicians getting bribed and n number of scandals. Okay fine, you tell me - "Look on the bright side"..and oh I definitely do.

Back to where I was. Why do people want to leave the country and why do a few of them end up leaving the country? Because our country simply cannot support them - the bare truth. But you tell me, "Have you looked at our IITs and Universities, don't they do good research?". I tell you this - half the money for research simply gets lost, another chunk of it is spent repairing equipment that should have been repaired in the previous budget and so on and so forth. Finally there are so many ideas and so little resources to burn those ideas into inventions.

The country as whole and it's 'educated' people (our own relatives, parents, mentors, friends, neighbours, the neighbour's parrot...etc..etc.) over the past few years have drowned themselves in the world of science. People have automatically programmed themselves into believing that life is n-o-t-h-i-n-g without the sciences. Yes partly our understanding of the world can get broader with the sciences but we don't have to live with it! It is NOT the eleventh commandment! Parents encourage (force rather) their children to study science and math. I've even heard people say - everyone should study science and math atleast till class 12. Why I used to think that way too, but I tell you its absolute B.S!!

I blatantly admint, I am in that bunch who would love to leave this country. Because three months out of school and I know where this country can take and nurture my skills - in timbaktu, not even in its own land. But do you think I am not patriotic? I don't think the subject of patriotism even enters this topic. If you really can do something for the country but the country can't do something back for you.....its depressing!!

Does our country encourage the arts? Oh yeah..we have so many art colleges, film schools, animation schools and music schools (some even 'run' by the good ol' govt.). NONSENSE! Have you looked at what they teach??? Only 10% of these schools actually educate people...the others are..you know, the same old story.

This country can't support its scientists and doctors, how in the whole mighty universe is it going to support it's artists? I'm sure a few of you would have read about the rock fest that happens in Mumbai every year - I Rock. It wasn't allowed to happen this year because "this kind of music is not govt. sponsored and it is not right for the gateway of India". Okay yeah, rock music is not from this country - passable. What about those hundreds of classical musicians, are they given a chance? For every ladder you climb, there is someone else to bite your limbs off. And that someone else wouldn't even be as a good as you. Just because they have 'the connections' and 'the money' they buy their way up. In this country do you know what good luck is? This my dear readers - money and connections, the two words of 'success'.

Do you see the pieces falling in place? People leave the country simply because they get no support and recognition here. Imagine having all the talent (being genuinely good at what you are and not Anu Malik) and you end up at an empty wall and a closed door everytime!

Do I expect too much from my country? Am I too "western" influenced? Try to let go of a dream, then I'm sure you'll see the picture. Change my dream? I'm sorry, I can only laugh at that, no I'm not hard hearted nor am I made of stone. I'm just trying to milk this country when its bags are dry...