Understanding India

I was travelling in a taxi, through one of Singapore's well know express ways. The taxi driver commented on the traffic. Will narrate it as a conversation ;-)
Driver : "Singapore express ways, all failure - Express way and only 3 lanes"
Me : (smiling) "then you should come to India. National highways are not even 2 lanes"
Driver : "India is different. Its so big. Population is high. And the administration is bad. Where money buy people, there everything gone. Everyone needs power. Minister does mistake, not punished. Minister's son rape's your daughter, not punished. You give money, you can come out of prison. India, Indonesia, Thailand -- everywhere same"

I was surprised at his knowledge about my country. Might be he also has seen all these in his country. Each and every word of his, had meaning in it. Why is India like this? What should I do to improve my country's situation? I have questioned myself many times. It all boils down to the attitude of people.

If people have the assurance that even after helping others, we will have our share, then everything goes good. But how can a person think that way, in a highly populated country. People dont want to think about others. And thats quite natural.

When I first landed in Singapore, I was so exited about the way people followed the traffic rules. If a lane says that its only to go straight, people turning right dont enter that lane. About other rules, if the train/bus displays a board "No eatables", people dont eat inside the bus/train.
Ahhh !!! but thats not the case. As days passed, I understood its something different. In Singapore, the number of cars is less compared to other cities in India. They have a limit for the number of cars -- Good job by the government. I was caught up in a traffic jam recently, near an exhibition. I noticed that the lanes that were for going straight, were also occupied by cars turning right. Just because people lost the patience and wanted to get into the exhibition soon. I started noticing people having food in trains/buses. Just because no one is watching them.

Then I realised, its not the rules and the government that make all these possible. To a certain extent it is. But to a larger extent, its the attitude of the people. If the cars are less, people know that there turn would surely come, and allow other cars to pass through. But in country like India, if you allow one car to pass through, you will have to wait till the peak hour gets over. There are so many cars. Well..... The supremo "TATA" is coming up with "Rs.1 lakh" cars. Thats another story to discuss.

To sum up, Singapore is like this because of all these factors. Population is less. People have the belief that they get their share if they make way for others. Along with all these, its not a democracy. Heard of "too many cooks spoil the dish". Thats what democracy is. Yes, I get a lot of freedom in democracy. But do i really enjoy and cherish that freedom. NO. I have the right to speech. But if speak against someone in power, I cant say if i see the next day. Democracy is just good in papers. In reality, its a waste.
So ... Singapore has a two party rule, and the other aspects of democracy too. The citizen has the rights to question anyone in power. If a crime against a person in power, is proved, he is punishable.

Well ... Lets come back to India. When will India be like this. There are a few things to be done.
1. Reduce population on the first note. In cities, "Double Income No Child" is very common now. But the areas concerned are not in cities. In villages, a family has 4-5 childs. I dont want to eloborate on why they have so much. Our requirement - try reducing the number.
2. When someone questions against the wrong deeds, try giving him a helping hand. I have many times scolded people who try entering the queue in the middle, in a railway station, to get tickets faster. No one supports me.
3. Another contrary point. If you are supporting someone fighting against another, please get to know the situation and then decide. Might be he is fighting for a wrong reason.
4. Points 3 and 4 hold good, only if you dont have a family (that either supports you, or you support). Because if you have a family, you have emotions attached. Mom, dad and wife -- they tell you not indulge in any of these public matters as we would face consequences after that. Yes, thats true !!! Might be the guy I questioned was a local gangster.
But till when we should fear all these. If you feel you are doing the correct thing, you should not even hesitate to hit back.

What I would suggest is, allow your near&dear ones to fight for a cause and even die in the process. Sounds rude ? Yes !! its rude ... If everyone thought of losing their lives, there would not have been any freedom struggle. It was freedom from British before. Now it should be freedom from fellow people who dont allow us to live in peace.

Having said this, its not that easy in India, I know that ... But just dreaming that it would be good if it happens.