Indian Elections- A new dimensions

The election fever has hit the world’s largest democracy, every news channel has started dedicating a whole hour on the upcoming elections. Newspapers have started posting articles on the election trends. People’s conversations have become more like “Enri BJP na Congress?” So is it going to be BJP Or Congress? Another set of people are debating on which community is voting for which party?and like always there are people who find their niche in shouting that nothing is going to change in this country.

These were the common set of diseases that affected the country during the Election season.
However there’s something entirely new in this election season. Something that was dormant all these days. There is a new dimension of thought among the common people. This is an election that the world is watching with keen interest. The world is counting on the people of India to deliver a stable government for the good of the India and the good of the world.

This new dimension and a much needed one, taking into consideration the fact that all these days, election manifestos only spoke about “roti kapda makan, pani aur bijli”. We as a country have started looking at the socio-economic impact of the elections. The kind of policies that the new government would bring in order to propel India’s growth dreams. The media is questioning the contesting parties on what their strategy is in tackling the countries Economic turmoil. The corporate India is asking the parties how they’d tackle the infrastructure issues and the energy deficit that the country is facing.

I truly believe that as a nation we are asking the right questions and we’re having the right debates that a nation should have when it’s just about to enter the election mode. There is no doubt that there are people who are in need of “roti kapda and makaan”, but we are also in desperate need of policies which would burgeon economic growth, strengthen the manufacturing sector, solve the energy crisis. I do know that these are a complex set of problems, which is unique to our nation and it would require a strong, stable and a innovative government which would be willing to confront these problems and chalk out an effective plan and implement such a plan. 

I hope in the elections to come, we the people of this country ask the right questions and most of all elect the right people who'd take this wonderful country forward.  

India, Are we a country of contradictions ?

Globally People find Indians to be extremely rude and arrogant. I have had experiences where I have been at the receiving end of some extremely rude behavior and on the contrary I've had experiences where people have been extremely courteous to me. Such diversity in nature of people is often very difficult for people from other countries to perceive. Infact in India, people in different cities behave differently, for example dudes from Bombay are known to be extremely friendly and co-operative whereas Delhites are known to be not so co-operative. 

I've talked to people from different countries and they all have varied opinions on this subject.

Recently, two separate incidents confused me even more. One showed an extremely courteous human, while the other showed me just the opposite. 

Let's begin with the good part!

This happened to a friend. It was a Tuesday morning, he hurriedly hopped on his motorbike, to catch the 7.30 bus which would ferry him to the factory which was about 27 kilometers from the bus stop. In the urgency of the whole bus catching saga, the dude forgot to check the fuel gauge, resulting in his bike breaking down mid-way. Disappointed with himself, he started pushing the bike towards the nearest petrol bunk. After he pushed the bike for about a hundred paces, all of a sudden there was a voice which came from behind, when he turned around, he found a young lad on a moped, this dude was surprised, the young lad said something that astonished my friend, “Sir, Banni nanna gaadi li hogi petrol tarana, nimma gaadi ille nilsi”, this lad told my friend to park his bike so that they could together fetch some fuel for the bike in his moped. My friend was more than happy! In the short journey to the petrol bunk, the young lad told my friend that he did this because such an incident happened to him sometime ago and there was no one to help him and he had to push his vehicle for a long distance which left him devastated. He took a vow that if he ever came across anyone who was in such a state, he would always lend a helping hand! After listening to this heartrending story, my friend was speechless. Together they went back to my friend’s bike, refueled it and thanked the lad big time and headed to catch the factory bus.

This was one of instances of exemplary behavior, I agree he didn’t do anything larger than life but looking at the circumstances, it was a great show of character. My friend would always be thankful to that guy.

After describing this incident, my friend told me one line for which I nodded my headed, the line was something like “ However cruel the world might have become, we still find gems like this who nullify the world’s evils and maintain an even balance in the society”.

In a separate incident that happened to me, I found myself at the receiving end of some rude behavior.

It was a Friday evening, I’d missed the factory because of a prolonged meeting. So I’d to catch the public bus. Luckily one of my colleagues dropped me to the nearest bus stop.  The bus arrived in a few minutes, I hopped onto it, I’d to stand as all the seats were taken. I wished I had got seat.

I was lost in my own world of thoughts. The bus I was in stopped at its routine stop and a lady hopped onto the bus, probably in her early thirties or late twenties. Looking at her mannerisms, she seemed pretty restless and one could sense an uneasiness in her, I was wondering what could be the reason for this bizarre behavior. She came and stood infront of me, still looking restless and uneasy. The person sitting in the seat next to where I was standing had to get down, so he stood up and was ready to walk away, just when I thought I would sit down, this lady barges and pushes me off the side and sits down.

This made me furious, but I didn’t react, I just told her, “ if you wanted the seat, you could have just asked, I would have gladly obliged, instead you chose to push me and occupy the seat. That’s very rude, learn to be polite!! She just turned away and didn’t even feel sorry for what she did.

After a long journey, I went home and all through, I was wondering why is that we Indians are so impolite and rude. What makes us so indifferent and disrespectful to the people around us. We never seem to care being courteous to people around us or greet people around us.

At the end of it all, it confuses me even more as to what is our true nature, are we Indians polite or rude, are we courteous 

Athiti Devo Bhava

Personally, I've always liked the statement 'Athiti Devo Bhava',  which means Guest is God. There are very restaurants/hotels which actually follow that. It was only in Rajdhani, I truly experienced 'Athiti Devo Bhava'

It was my mom's birthday that day, I was calling my friend to find out which restaurant would be apt for the occasion. I brought a few names and he brought a few names and finally he said go to Rajdhani!

I further inquired about the restaurant and he said you just go there and you'll experience a great dining experience. I was happy with that answer and told my parents, that we'd be going to Rajdhani. They were okay with that.

It was about 8 kilometers from our house. All three of us hitchhiked to the place. Then on, the whole experience was not short of wonderful.

As soon as we stepped in, the manager of the hotel greeted us with a big smile. Further, he took us to our table, before which another gentleman came and put tilaks on our forehead.

Next came the best part, the folks there, put huge plates with partitions infront of us. The waiters all came in the next half an hour with loads and loads of dishes. They all had one thing in common, they were all serving with a huge smile and they were serving us with a lot of warmth and care. For the first time ever in a restaurant, a server insisted I have a second serving when I didn't want to eat. I found it fascinating, this place gave me a homely feeling. The folks there were never tired of serving us.

I have never been interested in running a restaurant, but if I ever decide to, I would definitely take a thing or two from them.

This place not only served great food, it also gave the customers the chance to experience the Rajasthani culture, it combined great food, great hospitality and a chance to experience their culture.

Thanks Rajdhani for a great experience, keep up the spirit of Athiti Devo Bhava