Let me highlight our achievements 4000 years ago:
1) We had town planning. The city was laid out in a perfect grid pattern.
2) We had broad straight roads, which criss crossed each other at 90 degrees… with rounded corners to ease the traffic.
3) They had footpaths to reduce man-vehicle conflict.
4) We had sewerage system and drainage system.
5) We had water supply system, we had baths.
Indeed Indus Valley/Harappa Civilization was one of the finest achievements of Indians.
While I was boasting this, my friend asked me a question:
“Why do you Indians always talk about the Glorious Past? Aren’t there any recent developments that you guys want to share?”
I could not get his point. So he was kind enough to elaborate: If I meet someone who rants like:
“You know during my childhood, we used to have 5 cars”,
“We did not had small chests, but trunks full of gold and silver”,
“So many hundred people used to bow in each time we went to the market”,…..
What would you make out?
The guy is definitely a waster. He might have inherited a vast fortune, but he was a poor caretaker of his family legacy. Due to bad circumstances/habits, everything he values is squandered away and he is reduced to nothing. Additionally, the guy does not even dream about or has a plan to regain the heritage.
And that was his point… and I was speechless 
1) Most Indian cities do not have a city planning. encroachment is like a norm.
2) Our Roads are a zig-zack lines joining a series of potholes.
3) Footpaths: I thought they were for the shops, motorcyclists.. I never saw a pedestrian using one.
4) I do not live in the slums, but my apartment complex does not have a sewerage system. We have a septic tank which we empty once in a month or so.
5) Water: everybody I know uses a pumpset.. either to suck the water from the pipe/borewell.
Now tell me, if I were you will I be talking about my present, my dreams/ambitions or my past?
it was nagging and nagging me Pegasus…that I had heard the same thing before
Comment by srisviews — May 3, 2007 @ 11:11 AM
//.. its almost the same thoughts… but this time with a lot more frustration and acid //
aaaah..dont sweat…there are some things which really gets on our nerves ..and this must be doing it to u .
Comment by srisviews — May 3, 2007 @ 11:15 AM
i thought nagging meant saying the same thing over and over again….
so u must be doing reverse nagging
Comment by pegasus — May 3, 2007 @ 11:22 AM
how typical
Comment by srisviews — May 3, 2007 @ 11:47 AM
No wonder someone made you think to write about it. Just kidding ok.
Its always the history we talk and nothing but how to change for the better. Do we?? Still in schools/ colleges history of 1940s.. well who needs it and do talk about what scientist, educators all do now.
Comment by pria — May 3, 2007 @ 6:17 PM
@pria…
exactly.. history is very important.. but it should be a teacher, a guide and a source of inspiration…
we spend a lot of time studying history, but not even a second to learn from it.
Comment by pegasus — May 3, 2007 @ 6:47 PM
Quite true – but India has a few good points also like the largest railway system and the metro in delhi.
Comment by cyberkitty — May 5, 2007 @ 9:31 PM
no doubt there has been some improvements, but I am asking u a question:
Is the quality of life improved?
Comment by pegasus — May 6, 2007 @ 12:29 AM
Very nice post…
//The guy is definitely a waster. He might have inherited a vast fortune, but he was a poor caretaker of his family legacy. Due to bad circumstances/habits, everything he values is squandered away and he is reduced to nothing. Additionally, the guy does not even dream about or has a plan to regain the heritage.//
I really loved the way your friend explained it. I believe the INDIVIDUAL attitude contributes to the SOCIETAL (collective) attitude and that explains our country’s present state.
Comment by thiru — May 6, 2007 @ 6:43 PM
@thiru..
thanks.. will communicate it to him
Comment by pegasus — May 6, 2007 @ 7:13 PM
Nothing. Just keep quite. It helps.
Comment by JSaan — May 10, 2007 @ 10:32 AM
[...] Glorious Past 5 years ago i did wrote something almost similar. Being tied up is no excuse Share it! [...]
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