An old man with long grey hair once
dreamt of a developed nation; a nation that would truly be called a superpower
by 2020. We may have to wait 7 more years to know whether we have come close to
achieving even half of the tall and ambitious dream, but we all can be certain
that we are living the American dream, the epitome of westernization (at least
in our perception).
If we take a tour in our streets, be
it in the cities or villages, we could see the youth, driven by the glittering
stars of the silver screen, are transforming themselves into dandies and divas,
idolizing and yet most of the times imitating the stars. Albeit purchasing
power being a hindrance, the cheaper clones in the grey market do satiate their
quench. But their thirst isn’t just for the clothes, gadgets or the effusing
language of the western civilization which the stars emulate; for our streets
are now thronged by the world market, while our schools shell out millions of ‘qualified’
professionals for the world to ride over. In reality their unfeigned thirst is the
liberty to live life the way one wants to be. That exactly is the
westernization today’s youth are striving for.
Cynical people bicker that in the
process of individualization (a by-product of westernization), people are
losing their family values & sacred culture. Though it is true that our
virtues have taken a beating due to the liberalization that ensued westernization,
we should also remember that this sacred culture hasn’t been with us from the
birth of time. What these detractors fail to realize is that with every
transformation there lies a bleak phase. This best way to come out of the perplexed
state is the way forward and not retraction.
But the real question about
westernization is yet to be enquired by the jeering crowd. Westernization as
one assumes, isn’t just about the luxury or freedom; nor does it ask for one to
lose his firm base on the holy culture as the mocking crowd thinks. Westernization
is the perseverance to strive hard for what one wants. Take our company as an
example. When the plant stops due to quality problem, we turn some levers and
grind some panels and somehow resume production. Of course we will find a
better solution during the weekend, but what is the state of the products that
were produced till then? Would that happen in any American or German company?
Deep down, we all are living
examples of the motto ‘chaltha hai bhai’. Whenever there is an issue we say ‘let’s
adjust’ or ‘let’s forgive’. If someone comes forwards to solve an issue we tell
him ‘let’s not strain much’. In reality we only want to live a pampered and
cushioned life, but not want to work hard to attain it. In short our sense of
priorities is haywire. Until we start aligning our thoughts in the way our
friends in the west do, we would never become a developed nation.
