Am breaking from my usual travel stories to post something which dismays and disturbs me no end. If you have been reading the newspapers recently a few headlines would be enough to shock you. As they did me. Even after 64 years of independence, even after successive governments have come and gone we in India are no better than a Banana Republic. Even the phrase Banana Republic used in our context, is derogatory to the countries called Banana Republics.
First up a headline screamed "Indian Students rank 2nd. last in global test". We who have the IITs, the IIMs and whole host of other educational credits including Indian Professors heading prestigious American Universities & Business Schools should writhe in pain and cry at this piece of cruel news. And this test was conducted with fifteen year olds to test their Reading, Mathematics & Science knowledge. And we came in second last. What a crying shame.And if politics gets into this they will start questioning the credibility of the institution which did this survey. Instead of acknowledging something is seriously wrong with our educational system. Something I have been saying for years - lets get out of "the learning by rote" system. Instead give students concrete experiences to learn from.
Secondly there has been, in the recent past, a lot of noise about what a great super power India is and it should take its place on the world stage. And we go on saying India shining, ad nauseum. The truth is that we are worse than Sudan, Pakistan & Nepal when it comes to feeding our own people. Imagine 230 million people go hungry in India EVERYDAY. What a crying shame - for a country progressing at about 8% growth in GDP. A crying shame indeed. In spite of the Governments food policy and other initiatives taken by the authorities. And contrast this with millions of food grains rotting in the godowns of Food Corporation of India - you have a perfect picture of how little people in power care and do for the common man. Only lip service is paid.
And then they are off to keep their "chairs", to appease their vote banks and other local constituents - all with the objective to remain in power for as long as possible.
Which leads me to ask my self the question " Does anybody care and work for India and Indians?" I seriously doubt it. And another question - should my chest swell with pride or should I hang my head in shame at being an Indian.
First up a headline screamed "Indian Students rank 2nd. last in global test". We who have the IITs, the IIMs and whole host of other educational credits including Indian Professors heading prestigious American Universities & Business Schools should writhe in pain and cry at this piece of cruel news. And this test was conducted with fifteen year olds to test their Reading, Mathematics & Science knowledge. And we came in second last. What a crying shame.And if politics gets into this they will start questioning the credibility of the institution which did this survey. Instead of acknowledging something is seriously wrong with our educational system. Something I have been saying for years - lets get out of "the learning by rote" system. Instead give students concrete experiences to learn from.
Secondly there has been, in the recent past, a lot of noise about what a great super power India is and it should take its place on the world stage. And we go on saying India shining, ad nauseum. The truth is that we are worse than Sudan, Pakistan & Nepal when it comes to feeding our own people. Imagine 230 million people go hungry in India EVERYDAY. What a crying shame - for a country progressing at about 8% growth in GDP. A crying shame indeed. In spite of the Governments food policy and other initiatives taken by the authorities. And contrast this with millions of food grains rotting in the godowns of Food Corporation of India - you have a perfect picture of how little people in power care and do for the common man. Only lip service is paid.
And then they are off to keep their "chairs", to appease their vote banks and other local constituents - all with the objective to remain in power for as long as possible.
Which leads me to ask my self the question " Does anybody care and work for India and Indians?" I seriously doubt it. And another question - should my chest swell with pride or should I hang my head in shame at being an Indian.
Its so true! Let's do our bit towards making India a better place!
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