You must be thinking about my choice of this title, especially considering the current ripples tempest the term 'Indian' is making in the global arena. You might already be accosting me or thinking this is some kind of a satirical take on the state of affairs in the country. However, a lot of thought has gone into writing this piece.
What do I mean by 'Indian'? In this age where more often than not animals supercede us in matters of social dignity and self-respect (among many other things!) the title seems odd. But give it a little thought.
We citizens of India claim to have descended from (the standards of) such a great heritage. Then why don't we live up to it?
We claim to be the cradle of civilization on Earth, then why is the very root of humanity being so brutally culled here, while we stand still, like pillars of stone?
We claim to be the fount of all innovation, theoretical or practical, yet we have nothing material to boast of in this front.
We claim to be the nation that bore the 'Aadikavi' (The first poet), then why are we surrounded by such countless illiterates (educated and uneducated).
We call our country the 'Golden Sparrow' of the world. Look around, friend; you will find few countries that are poorer than us.
We claim to worship Dharmaraja (The God of Righteousness). Look at the present plight of this state, and I need say no more.
Our claim to be the largest democracy in the World has become one of the biggest parodical statements of recent times.
India is in tatters as I see it. The reason? This land has no Indians.
An Indian is, I believe, the closest a person can come to being the pinnacle of natural creation. An Indian is one who is completely aware of the self. An Indian is a hardworking individual - not only physically, but even more so mentally. The Indian's brain is like the rock in a tempest - while it stands still bearing the liquid fury around it, it is actually acting as a pivot for the waves to churn around. The Indian can not only see but also foresee, on a local as well as global scale, and hence take well-weighted decisions.
An Indian has an insatiable hunger for excellence of the holistic self (all-round development) and works hard to better all past efforts and ceaselessly simplifies life at the same time. An Indian is a passionate perfectionist, giving every being and object its due value. The concept of microcosm is both recognised and applied by the Indian in the course of day-to-day life. By virtue of this, the Indian is cognizant with the world even without being a globetrotter. An Indian knows how to make the material world simplify his life, not luxuriate it. The Indian enslaves material elements, but is not enslaved by them. An Indian may be affluent materially, but will not hesitate to bend down and scrub floors if necessary. An Indian is perhaps the most complicated form of a being that can live, because the lodestone of an Indian's lifestyle is complete simplicity.
The Indian is neither theist nor atheist, but a microcosm. An Indian recognises God only in an ideal, and works towards it, unconsciously, indeliberately, but purely due to that innate thirst for self-excellence.
An Indian is not only a model being, but also the perfect companion equalling, maybe transcending that natural marvel called Earth itself. The Indian is the motor of this world.
Now, read the title again.
And ask yourself, are you an Indian?
If you are, then you will see that every other question you have is answered above.
I hope that in the days to come, this country sees a few Indians....
JAI HIND!
