In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are
we  so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed
with foreign things? We want foreign T. Vs, we want foreign shirts. We
want  foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that
self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this
lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her
what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed
India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You
must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly
developed nation. Do you have 10 minutes? Allow me to come back with a
vengeance.

Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is
yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke,
The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their
destination.

YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and
is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name
- YOURS. Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you
are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw
cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of
their Underground links as they are.

You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of
Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to
the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have
over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your
status identity...
In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?
YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would
not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.
YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in
London at 10 pounds ( Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD
calls are billed to someone else.
'YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and
then tell the traffic cop,'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I
am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.'
YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the
garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand .
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use
Examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston??? We are still
talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign
system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw
papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If
you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why
cannot you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay,
Mr.Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the
streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said.
'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the
authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect
the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the
pressure in his bowels?
In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the
job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right.
We go to the polls to choose a government and after that
forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and
expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is
totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not
going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to
stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We
expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to
learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and
toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least
opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on
the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like
those related to women, dowry, girl child! and others, we make loud
drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home.
Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it
matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to
change the system?

What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for
us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other
communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it
comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we
lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into
the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along
& work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the
country and run away.

Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to
America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York
becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences
unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is
war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian
government. Everybody is out to abuse the country. Nobody
thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great
deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing
J.F.Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate
to Indians.....

'ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA
AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY' "

Thank you,