Unity in Diversity

The image we get of India, when it is described using this expression, has people from different religions, castes, communities and sects living in harmony under one rule, one law and one constitution. But, the present day India needs to be looked at a different angle in the context of this expression.

Education and Business

In the ancient society, Education and Business were professions pursued by people of two different castes. Brahmins educated whereas Vaishyas ran businesses. Education was considered as the quest to gain knowledge and people were revered for the same. Business, on the other hand was to make money using tactfulness but not deception. Later, modernization led to the homogenization of all the professions. Any person of any caste can carry on the profession which he likes. There had arrived a time where education was necessary to run a business. But, now education has become a business. Quest for the knowledge has been replaced by competition without coordination. The aim of the education has become suppress everyone and stand at the top instead of learn from each other and grow. Business has acquired its new synonym, materialism. The incorporation of materialism and the overloaded work hours has affected the social life and what the society follows is a culture. A new culture is thus taking birth amidst the ancient culture for which India is renowned for.

Politics and administration

Politics were played by the administrators for the people’s gain previously. But, now, politics are played for the personal gain whereas administration is for the people. Politics are sometimes, hindrances to the administration. For example, Reservations in India were introduced in the constitution for the development of backward classes in India and the intention was to bridge the gap between the forward classes and backward classes. Ideally, it takes some time for the objective to be achieved after which the reservations can be removed. Our constitution has been under implementation from past 63 years but the reservations are still prevalent (with the inclusion of more reservations) whose reason is very different. The result is forward class now become backward.

Policies and Scams

Policies which were meant for the development of the country have become repositories of scams. It can be now said that where there is a policy, there is a scam. There is no question of the feasibility of the policies  and schemes designed but the matter in question is the effectiveness in implementation. The best to way implement a policy or scheme is to distribute a percentage of fund allocated to the particular policy or scheme among the people who implement. But, there are policies being implemented, policies reaching people. MGNREGA  and Mid meals can be quoted as the best examples reaching people and satisfying there needs in spite of anomalies in the funds.

Discrimination and Devotion

In the same land where the woman is considered as the incarnation of Wealth, Education, Bravery and Wisdom, the woman is subjected to the exploitation of utmost degree.  The same land has reservations for women in every field to enhance the foot print of women and the same land is a witness for the reduction in the gender ratio because of the female foeticide. Though, the awareness is increasing and the change is spreading, one can see many cases where the brutalities are subsided owing to the fame of the perpetrators, delay in the judgement and the discussion of what exactly the crime is. And, we still celebrate Saraswati Puja, Laxmi Puja and Durga Puja.

Justice and injustice

The exact definitions of justice and injustice would lead to an indefinite discussions. Justice, as seen by some people might be considered injustice  by others. Growing intellect lead to the growing arguments. If the crime is too famous, the justice is delayed because a minute fault in the judgement would be disastrous. What can this delay be called? Justice or Injustice? Can the delay in the prosecution of Delhi Rapists be Injustice? Or can the execution of Afzal Guru with out informing his family members or exposing it to the world be Justice?

Terrorism and Secularism

Terrorist attacks in India have been because of the reason, people of one religion wish to show their superiority on the other. India, being the victim of the atrocities of the Terrorism, supports secularism. Govt. of India has built the military forces, brought ordinances and acts against terrorism but never did it try to curb any religion. There have many incidents in the past where the people from different religions fought but there has always been peace treaties made, though the peaceful coexistence can be disturbed anytime.

Youth and Responsibility

Youth is the country's asset. Youth is to enjoy because you will not have the same enthusiasm and leisure in future. Youth is to work hard and take responsibility to pave way for an impeccable future. There are young people who are struggling day in and day out to bring a positive change in the society. There are young people who are not even concerned about themselves in the least. The attitude of young people is dependent on the atmosphere in which they are brought up, schooling and parentage being the most important factors. Whether the individual grows as an asset or a burden to the country is a matter of awareness and choice. 

Media and Hegemony

Media is meant to keep the society updated about the happenings around the world. But, it so happens that we get to know the news what the media people want us to know not what we want to know. Issues of national concern can be subsided just because the media is not willing to publicize. Its not exaggerating to say that media has become the bureaucrat. 

Exceptions are any day present, but the trend is set by the majority.

India, having many distinct features, some of which can build the strength of the nation and some of which can collapse the country, still exists unified. Unity in Diversity indeed!

In General...

In my childhood I always fantasized about train journeys. I went to a school excursion in my 8th class where I happened to board a sleeper class compartment with general ticket. I have seen the clean compartments providing seats for families who made themselves very comfortable. I was completely jealous as I did not have even one such train journey experience till then. But, my dream of train journeys came true while I was admitted in a grad-college in a different state. I had to travel for 24 hrs in a train!

My first 24 hr travel was far from being enjoyable. I was completely sad as I was going to stay really far from my parents for 4 yrs. Though the climate was humid, the journey was comfortable. The next journey came when we had to come home for Durga Puja. We booked an entire compartment.  We, being students always reserved our seats in sleeper class. We had entertained the whole bogie with our pranks for the entire journey. And our energy was as high as possible since we were all going home!

Train journeys had become an inevitable part. My train journeys can be classified into two types. One is happy journey while going home and the other is sad journey while returning to college. But, later the classification has changed to comfortable and uncomfortable journeys. The reserved compartments of sleeper class started becoming crowded with each journey. The place which is reserved for 6 was usually occupied by 10, 4 being general passengers. The only comfort was during the nights as we had a berth all for ourselves to sleep. But again, the trouble begins early in the morning as people try to find a place to sit on the berth which we are sleeping. Initially, the general passenger used to request for some place to sit. Then, they would just come and sit without asking. If we ask them whether they have a reserved ticket, they just turn a deaf ear. The next improvement was they used to question our courtesy for fellow travelers as we are not allowing them to sit. The next stage was unbeatable, though. If you ask somebody why they are sitting in a seat which is not reserved for them, they would just laugh at you asking whether you are traveling in the train for the first time!

Being the responsible Indian Citizens, we used complain to the Ticket Conductors. Some of them were very efficient in evacuating the compartments but others would not even try. It has come to a stage where I am filled with all reverence if I find a strict Ticket Conductor.

Enough of whining, I guess. I would just like to impress upon the possible reasons and solutions regarding this. Indian Railways being the cheapest mode of transport and the most comfortable, people prefer to travel by trains. Train charges are usually 50% of the bus charges and 20% of the flight charges. If we take buses, you will not find any passenger travelling without ticket as it is small and manageable. But, the trains give a lot of scope. Usually, 4-6 coaches are patrolled by a Ticket Conductor which I guess is reasonable if they maintain constant vigilance and patrol the compartments strictly. But, considering the present mindset of Ticket conductors, automatic doors that open on valid ticket insertion might help. But, that needs investment for both the deployment of doors and issuance of special tickets. Instead of automating the train doors, the railway station entrances can be automated. But, that also creates a problem since people with platform tickets can also enter. There can not be question of erasing the need of Ticket Conductors in both cases because there are always ways to exploit and there has to be a way to control them.

Approximately 44k passenger trains seem to be insufficient to satisfy the needs of 1.21 crore Indian Population. Introduction of new trains in recent years has not been proportional to the increase of population., though it has been generating good revenue. Considering all these implications provides a large scope for the development of Indian Railways. Being a service provider, it should be more people focused than profit focused!