A few days ago I was discussing with someone at work about the perils of working in India and exposing ourselves to the world. This is that same hazard Narayana Murthy spoke of openly in the media criticizing the IIT system. The IITs have now started to act upon it. And they've realized and begun to actualize. With that, most good schools have started to mold their curriculum and shape their students to enter bright worlds ahead. Unfortunately, these schools, educational institutions and the government at large has not been able to identify the seeds to a problem that we're all trying to fight within ourselves to show to the world.
This is the problem of self-realization and self-actualization acting together. And this problem, is more prevalent amongst us Indians, especially when we're so bothered about jobs - and this is living in the material world. What surprises me, is the fact, that India has been a land of great seers, visionaries and inspiring leaders who've shown us to the rest of the world. But today, we're falling short of all that we once stood for.
And why?
During some of my experiences at work and otherwise, I have realized two things. Indians are ready to stoop beyond global standards. To cite a few examples from work and quote a few incidents that I have experienced - situations that I have encountered during GDs all my life, from winning as a child to now experiencing mock GDs for entry into Indian business schools -
1. When they want to discuss the matter at hand with someone, they are so adamant about proving their presence alone that they turn into some 'here I am, this is me' stuff that they don't want to give themselves two minutes' time to respect each other as individuals and ponder upon the issue seriously with sincerity and concern for the issue at hand. Due to their individuality and 'being present' all at once, yet not function as a collective unit to tackle a common cause that would affect a larger society beyond their own selfish interests and motive - the matter at hand suffers. Presence, individuality and non-collectivism do not go hand in hand if you are trying to tackle a bigger issue that concerns a larger body such as society, an enterprise or an issue that is of concern to a larger cause that is beyond your self-interest. This does not constitute collectivism - it concerns your presence more as an individual void of society and the world at large. Your self-interests can never go hand in hand with the world - we're all interested in creating our own worlds - the dreams that we make out of our lives alone.
2. And when they want to so madly discuss the matter at hand that they forget there are individuals all existing as a collective society, all that floats around in-front of their eyes is nothing but the matter at hand. To prove themselves to be correct, they make a mockery out of themselves, their surroundings etc. by ridiculing each other, and proving to ourselves again that we were never born to be social in the true sense. These little things - they can change us if we look at a bigger picture, of collectivism - of free will - of free thought - to function as a successful society serving a larger cause - as a successful organization existing within the society - as a successful medium to tackle an issue that is common to our surroundings in the form of discussions or whatever, and wherever we go.
Thought leaders preach, they go out in the Media and in the Press - Narayana Murthy with his burgeoning concerns over how Indian professionals are a misfit to work globally, interact globally - enter into professions that would require them to be social in a global environment. A Chetan Bhagat retorts to prove his own identity and both self-realize. But neither can self-actualize. Because in the end, what matters most, is a job at Infosys and a best-selling novel for which each of us has to fight with each other, battle with the times and move ahead for 'don't know what'.
Matter it is that concerns us. And matters of concern we will remain to the world. Forever, and ever more.
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