Looking within and without….
We can talk endlessly and dispense a lot of words of wisdom, as a nation. Well, nothing wrong with that I would say, for it is splendid to have an opinion and to analyze and talk. But when that talk, and the ‘knowledge’ dispensing happens without any substantial action/analysis/facts that is when the problem starts. We also as a collective citizenry find fault with everything which does not happen the way we want it to. Whether it is the government machinery or the delivery agents or the trains running late or the public parks being dirty or no one following a queue. The list of our cribs is endless.
Well, it is logical that if things do not happen in a certain way, then one is bound to get upset. However, have we analyzed the reasons for all of this? Ever done any introspection? Questioned the questions? Scrutinized the points under scrutiny? Investigated the reasons for the recurring blunders? Explored our social tapestry for possible answers?
Never seriously. At least not by the shenanigans.
People like us the oft called ‘ones with a conscience’ and oft sniggered at as well and those who matter not for any political setup as we are too smart to be any kind of a vote bank and too dumb to think we may matter somewhere – are never listened to. Nay, I guess we are listened to but not taken with any credence.
The problem in all our problems is our ‘attitude’ – individually and collectively as a nation. We lack the attitude.
I shall take some simple, straightforward examples.
Example One: We blame the police for many of our law-and-order issues. In a nation with the world’s largest population, majority of whom are illiterate and poor and uneducated, where a large majority of politicians are certified goons with criminal backgrounds, a government machinery which is used to ‘oiling’ for every movement it makes and where political parties run states as if their own princely states and especially where recommendations for the autonomy of the law enforcement agencies from the political machinery has been thrown away in academic references and spoken only over undocumented chai and biskuits – then it is not fair to lay the blame for all ills related to our safety or the lack of it on the shoulders of a force which is always over-worked and under-worked and mis-used and many a times not allowed to work at all. How many of us will vouch that if given the opportunity when caught doing the wrong thing – either driving without a license or over-speeding or taking a U-turn from a prohibited area or parking under the No-Parking sign – we will pay the fine upfront and admit to our mistakes? 9 out of 10 people will try to pay off the policeman on the road to make an easy get-away. Till automated challans for every red light skip or wrong turn were not in place, we thought we were the kings of our roads. Now a quiet e-challan along with a photograph of the place and time and your vehicle making that mistake with you behind the wheel reaches the post-boxes and emails of many such offenders who now have a zero escape. (At least the state where I reside, being the best and amongst the first in such implementations bears such stories. And my police officer husband has two such challans thus – we had rolled over the white line at the red light twice; we rolled back too immediately but ‘smile-you-are-on-camera’ moment had happened by then!
I had a carpenter chap once who asked for help regarding his 18K pending challans for ‘minor’ offences, he claimed!! The ‘minor’ offences included trillion riding, No helmet, over-speeding, and the like.)
We do not have the attitude to do the right thing always; though we follow all rules when we are on foreign soil. So effectively, we know as a citizenry how to follow rules, we just are confused when.
Example Two: Working with teachers and school staff, I oft find myself cornered because no one likes to do anything perfectly every day. We have our blue moon moments wherein we work like a dream but that is just that. A flash in the pan performance. As they cut corners, the errors happen and then the laid-back attitude leads to simple problems getting compounded. Being in an environment which is alive with the little tomorrow’s (Thank you Dr. Suess, I love this), how can one be efficient now and disregarding the next. The switch-on/ switch-off mode is exasperating. I did and still do my work as I am supposed to, day-in and day-out and I do not need CCTV monitoring at all.
We do not have the work ethics attitude neither the professionalism to be always principled. So effectively, we are skilled, competent, and capable but lack on that most fundamental talent which distinguishes morons from human beings: veracity & dependability.
A froward of the gyani what’s app quite recently, had a genuinely thought-provoking excerpt from someone’s speech or article which enlisted the reasons that why India is not considered a legitimate place for professional work by many multi-national giants. And please do not be fooled by the largest hub of this company or that. Some of these giants have employed youngsters for a pittance.
We are said to be a nation with the youngest work force, averaging below 30/35 years. Awesome and a thumbs up – but have we looked at what kind of education and what kind of ethical standards govern the thinking of most of that work force?
I shudder to even start an analysis. The pandemic showed me the worst kind of side of a large majority of service providers and left me shaken and disillusioned to the core.
I love my country, but I am not proud of my countrymen. I need to now make this distinction to keep the right kind of attitude in place for my sanity.
Life in the middle of nothing or chaos or everything – THE attitude should be the defining factor!
Hope springs from our environment itself…….Being a die-hard optimist, I still hope we as nation shall redeem ourselves!! (hopefully….)
Let there be light and THE right attitude….
Wickedlyours 
Yeah, right attitude towards people or your work is something that can make you smarter, more professional and attractive. Your post is really a great one and it can help us rethink about our own attitude and outlook.
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Thanks for the kind appreciation…..
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Such a wonderful, insightful and thought-provoking post. Everyone plays blame game but a slight change in the Attitude can make the whole lot of difference. During pandemic recently everyone blamed moody for not taking second wave seriously but the fact is he has done what he should have but now it’s you and me and us who can make the difference.
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👍👍
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I am glad you spoke your Mind. Very well expressed. By 2025 India is slated to be a country with the youngest population. It’s high time we change the way we treat out youngsters who are the future of this country.
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Absolutely and it should be priority number one!
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Right attitude always works magically in terms of any manner. A proper attitude displays a person’s mentality and upbringing. A positive attitude can be game changer too.
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Yes definitely a game changer! Thanks….
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I really liked the tone and the approach of this post. Attitude is a mindset that is very important to build your communication growth. Liked reading your post, quite an interesting one.
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Very thought provoking post. Yes, attitude is everything in life.
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Thanks for reading
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What a wonderful post! We need to change our attitude and outlook on things rather than playing the blame game.
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I agree absolutely with everything you have penned down. My son lives in Mexico which is also a third world country, but I see so much civic sense there. Poor yes, illiterate yes, but the cleanliness and the following rules and all is far better than India. The centre dividers are planted with citrus trees which give out a wonderful smell and keep insects away. I always wonder about the lack of right to duty in India.
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Thanks for this share, Harjeet. See we have our experiences and this is what is baffling!
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What a wonderful post. It’s so true that the first and foremost thing is to change people’s attitude. Everybody including is follow all rules of we are in a foreign country but in our own country the rules are not given importance. I hope that people start taking things seriously I’m India too.
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Wow that was fiery!! Loved how well thought, well drafted and well articulated this post was…
I sure hope we as a nation develop the right attitude 👍
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Thanks
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Very well penned. Even during COVID, first people blamed the Govt for not doing enough. Then when Govt wanted to test, they questioned the motive behind RTPCR tests and its authenticity. Similar thing with vaccines. It is high time we stopped cribbing and started acting. If we want something changed, we must work as part of the solution not be a part of the problem.
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Yes very rightly said
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Really such a thought provoking post… I loved each and every word of your post and can’t agree more with you. Keep writing on such amazing topics.
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This is a very thought-provoking piece. We keep complaining about things, but when we have a chance, we don’t mind breaking the rules. Our country is what we make of it. People are very aware of their rights but not their duties.
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Yes we always ask what the country has done for us…. Not vice versa!! Thanks for your kind comments
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Bang on. Your post reminded me of when the seat belt rule was applied in Delhi. People were brazen enough to declare on camera that they would rather pay the fine than wear a seat belt. It is only when the vehicles began being seized that it drilled some sense into them. Unless that attitude changes, there is no hope.
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So true!!!
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The concept needs more ears I suppose. Our country has no dearth of human capital, natural resources and good cultural background but the simple attitude is missing. Horrible yet true that we are one of the most uncivilised people of all!
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So true…..
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You hit the nail to the head. Couldn’t agree more than this, that yes, we lack to wear the right attitude. We follow everything perfectly in a foreign land; we talk high-headed foreign rules as if we are a bundle of knowledge. But we behave insanely reluctant when it comes to us.
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Bang on!!! Thanks for the appreciation!
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Awesome post….
” Hope springs from our environment itself…….Being a die-hard optimist, I still hope we as nation shall redeem ourselves!! (hopefully….)” This is the special one
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😍❤
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This is definitely something to think about. We do follow everything on foreign soil but here it’s a very lineant attitude. In recent scenario also people are still careless about wearing masks properly even after seeing the brutality if second wave
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Yes and what a short public memory…that is why our politicians exploit the society…Toady it is an uproar and tomorrow it is forgotten. And the media does not help….sleazy and tabloid reporting even from the so called big names in the business.
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I agree with your thoughts, a little attitude shift can lead to a better future. Playing blame games is very easy, especially in times like this, well-presented post.
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Thanks….
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The actions depend on our thoughts and thoughts are developed by seeing the previous actions, this is vicious loop. If we want to get out of it as you said we should walk the talk else the famous blame game starts and people are tend to behave in the manner they don’t want to or take an easy route to get out of the situation. You are doing great by igniting minds to do the right and we with the power of writing and sharing will make the change happen.
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True….even if some pick up the hints – it seems worth it!
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What a thought provoking blog. Lob d the examples that you have given and they are so right. Having the right attitude does start with us instead of pointing it out on others.
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Thanks for the kind appreciation….
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It’s so easy to blame our circumstances than to actually do something about it. The “chalta hai” attitude, or “what difference can one person make” has to change. Lovely and brutally honest post. ( Finally managed to comment)
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Beautifully penned down. I agree that right attitude can make a big difference. We all need to change our attitude for a better future.
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When you develop a positive attitude, you will start feeling better about yourself. You will treat yourself with more respect and love, and this in turn will boost your confidence levels and inner strength. You will take on new challenges and come out of your self-limiting beliefs.
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