Bharat Bhagya VIDHATA

Back in 1947 when the country was searing under the scalding heat of partition and Indians felt that the British were using it as a pretext of extending their stay for some more years, Gandhi famously remarked,"Leave India to the Gods".61 years on, I can't help but wonder if Gandhi was inadvertently prophesising the future of India.

Countries are made by men, not god. Americans gloat over the fact that from a naught three centuries back, they transformed their nation into the sole superpower of the world. The future of a nation is determined by its determined people.Gods seldom have time to tread the world.

What is it about us that sets us apart. That we are a lazy, carefree people.That we wage so many battles with life that we develop an immunity towards even the gravest of problems. Post 9/11, though America got its act together the people there are still a traumatized lot. Every bearded guy is a threat so what if he cries himself hoarse shouting that he is a sikh and not muslim.

Takes three cases as examples of glaring contrasts between them and us.
1> A blast in a crowded lane in Chandni Chowk, Delhi on the day of Diwali. Two hours later people were strolling through the same lane as if nothing ever happened there.

2> After the London Tube Bombings took place, Britishers were too scared to use the tube for weeks yet when the deadly Mumbai train blasts took place, the next day things were normal for the daily commuters.The office goers still took the local the next day while the dabbawallahs didn't let the blasts affect their efficient system.

3> Mumbai on 26/11 was an inferno. For three gruesome days the nation watched in dismay, disbelief and horror as heart wrenching stories kept coming yet no one missed their offices or schools.Life was normal. And though this time it was assumed that the scars will remain, our leaders so benevolently assured us that that we are a tough lot and will bounce back. More than 6 months from then the police forces are still waiting for the once promised "sophisticated weapons" and protective gears , the coasts are still as unsafe while the security cover is well, non existent.And to top it all the commission report is hushed hushed under the table for fear of accusing fingers at the government.

We have so oft been told that we are resilient.So many times have we heard it that we have somehow accepted it as our second nature. Hell , we even take great pride in it. Little do we know that resilience is the word that every politician in this coutry uses to hide his own shortcomings.

And when its not resilience its "Chalta hai". In this country every thing is chalta hai. So when some neta is exposed in some corruption scandal, we say chalta hai. When some neta's kid rapes some poor gal we say chalta hai.When we go to a government office and the babu there demands hariyali we say chalta hai.When some neta's goons invade a pub and beat helpless gals we say chalta hai.

Some say that the "chalta hai" attitude is gone. Now public awareness is on the rise . Now people react. Yeah right, from some candle light marches to pink chaddi campaigns!!! What about the rest? How many candle light marches do we see when some poor tribal gets raped in broad daylight or for that matter when some neta misuses his powers routinely. How many accused of the Godhra riots being hanged yet? The government couldnt't even hang a supreme court convicted terrorist. Lets face it we are a chalta hai crowd and like a friend once told me, :"iis desh mein sab kuch chalta hai, bas desh hi nahi chalta".

No matter what spin you choose to put on it, the fact of the matter is, this is a country that is run by dogs and little wonder then, the future lies in the hands of gods. Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. As for the masses they can happily chant Jaya he, Jaya he, Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya he.