No matter, because that book needs now to be replaced by another, yet to be written book, under the title The Demise of India. At least for those of the generation born in the second or third decade of the last century, who have had the unique advantage of living in India both when it was a British colony fighting for its freedom and after it became “a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic” and who had seen some of the great heroes of the last century striding like a colossus, the present times signify the disappearance, if not the demise, of India as they had known it.

As a member of the older generation, I am frequently asked what difference I see between the two Indias. My immediate answer is that the India I grew up in was closer to eternal verities than the India I see today. More specifically, those years were characterised by a far greater degree of tolerance and rectitude both in private and public lives.

These days even honest differences of opinion are taken as a sign of affront or enmity on a personal plane, and in some cases, they even lead to murderous attacks on the dissidents. In olden days, leaders of the stature of Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri or B. C.Roy did not mind junior officials expressing themselves freely face to face and in writing. Not only did they come to no harm, but often received a pat on the back for their candour. These days obsequiousness and sycophancy have invaded workplaces, whether government, or private or public sector, and functionaries who have the temerity to differ are viewed as trouble-makers.

In the India that I knew, simplicity, austerity and integrity were the hallmarks of the society. People regarded debts of insignificant amount of 10 or 20 rupees as a sacrosanct obligation and considered it a disgrace if they could not keep their commitment to repay. The farmers of today who commit suicide for non-payment of Rs 10,000 or 15,000 represent that culture. Contrari-wise, today’s India has been witness to swindling of thousands of crores of rupees by supposedly honourable bigwigs of the government and the corporate world.

There is a suffocating ambience of self-centred, self-indulgence symbolised by the cavernous malls to fuel the people’s crave for luxuries and inveigle them to spend far beyond their means for acquiring them.

The close-knit families of yesteryear, in which each was for all and all were for each are gone for ever. The rampant individualism of these days has put paid to the concept of family itself. There is little evidence of social commitment and moral conscience. Getting rich quick by any means, fair or foul, has become an obsession.

All these ugly traits are accentuated in the lifestyles of the new breed of Indians settled overseas. Unless they look out, they will end up being tomorrow’s ugly Indians.

Will the India I knew ever return?

B. S. RAGHAVAN

More Stories on : Lifestyle | Offhand

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page