Open letter to the guy who came back and went back again

Recently NYT (New York Times that is) carried an article about a certain person who came back to India a-la ‘swades’ but was not impressed and chose to go back because this country was unable to provide the comforts he is used to in states for 11 years or so. Details here

For starters let me clarify that I am not disagreeing with the person (okay I am, a little or why else would I bother with a response) heck I find myself in the same position. To give him some credit; he actually tried to make it work down here. But somehow the status quo, the bullock carts and the average Indian’s road sense took a toll on him and he thought it’s better to leave. It worked last time.

I agree on this point. A friend of mine after being ridiculed in our class as a “BLOODY NORTH INDIAN” was talking to me with teary eyes,he said ‘dude, you know my dad wanted to send me to US for engg but I declined, it’s better to hear you bloody Indian in a foreign country than listening to this north Indian crap in my own country,i should have left’. I had no words. Come to think of it, it’s really a personal choice.

But I differ on the point where he said leave, because I won’t. Would love to quote ‘rang de basanti’ here

“koi desh perfect nahin hota, use perfect banana parta hai”(no country is perfect, you have to strive to make it perfect)

And good, bad, pathetic whatever; I belong here, and I am not leaving. Because for every venom spewing jerk, there will be a person who will be ready to help you because they know you have been wronged. I might look at the maid for asking the extra money with suspicion but like my mom says, you have to take chance once to know if the person is reliable or not. It’s only that they weren’t fortunate enough for a high-class education or a lifestyle you can afford. That doesn’t make him any less worthier of sharing the same road with you.

The countries that progressed did so because of the people, who stayed, strived for the better living. I still believe goodness hasn’t died. And having the mentality that just because a person is not financially well off, he is a potential thief is completely RIDICULOUS. People travelling in cars think the guys driving bullock carts are the ones slowing them down. Well check again, he might be carrying wheat, rice, dal … oh yes he is the same farmer who grows crops so you and your family can eat.

I still yell at the erratic auto driver, wish I could punch that zigzag guy on the bike or always look for my purse when caught by a traffic police while on my way for that late night aloo parathe. But I still hope things will change. Because I believe that universe always tries to put everything in balance, it always strives for perfection and I do my bit by not breaking the law, putting my leftovers in the nearest dustbins that I can find (1-2 instances can be overlooked I am sure :P) . But I am trying to make this a better place to live. And this ‘he is below me in social status so he s a thief’ theory doesn’t work with me and is just SAD

But since I am not him, I can’t pass judgments about his decisions. Wish him a happy life wherever he is.

Like mr Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world”

I am trying man , and will keep trying!

\m/oO\m/