The New Indian Manifesto
Standing through the Independence Day 2008 celebration at IIM Bangalore, I was trying to recollect the last time I saw the Indian flag raised. Most likely it was sometime in IIT (1990-1994) Chennai.
This kind of function is one of those things I longed to be a part of for many years while I was in the Bay Area.
 
Functions like this are one of the rituals still left that connect you back to ‘the way things were’. The experience evoked a reflection on my NRI life. Oddly enough, less than 24 hours ago, my iPod picked up the title song from the movie ‘Swades’ on the shuffle play, while I was transiting thorough Hong Kong on my way back from the Bay Area.
Desis packed the shabby Naz cinema hall when the movie came out, most likely due to a strong sense of identity with with the story line: an NRI makes it big in the u.s, returns to India, and single-handedly uplifts a village. A messiah-style performance, set in a in a fairy-tale idyllic village that celebrates festivals with re-enactment of mythology, town hall functions, distribution of cheap sweets, the works.
The subliminal undercurrent among the NRI crowd has always been a mix of condescending patronage of everything Indian combined with a romantic view of a perfect life rich in culture and plush in comforts. I myself should probably plead guilty on both counts.
Once i returned to Bangalore, I chanced upon the movie on T.V., and watched it a second time. It’s as captivating as ever. With the benefit of first-hand view of the dual realities, my reaction this time was entirely different.
The sense of accomplishment and confidence that NRIs develop abroad is no different from the brimming self-assurance i see in my IIMB classmates. People in my age group have developed a can-do attitude that allows them the freedom to dream about what India *could* be. Not as an NRI or a non-NRI, but as any normal new-age professional.
The NRI backdrop in Swades merely provided a pre-text for employing a fresh pair of eyes, stretching the traditional horizons of possibility and took the courage to question everything one more time. These sentiments aren’t a monopoly of the NRIs. Everyone paying due respect to the flag today has no less daring an outlook.
There was a time when one such renaissance occurred. At that time, the Greatest NRI of All actually followed through on the instincts we all now have, and earned freedom for a nation, and taught the civility of non-violence for the world.
Who would be the new face of the second coming of India? If you were to write the New Indian Manifesto, what would it be?
Not sure about the manifesto… but I saw you at the ceremony and wanted to say hi, but instead went to pose for one of those groups snaps and lost you
Great one and seems to be written straight from the heart. My comment is somewhat long, but then, what the heck, be it.
I may sound somewhat cynical in thinking that there will not be any more Gandhi in present day India.
Most of India has been divided into pieces mentally by regional politicians whose only politics is that of regionalism/culture chauvinism in some parts, casteism in some other parts, and violence in some other parts – combining solidly at the center (Delhi) will pure political razzmatazz to serve their self interests for their next seven generations.
The other India, which is more connected, more resourceful, and has a voice – have closed its soul long back. No wonder, today in some parts of India, educated professionals worship junky film stars (= wannabe politicians of tomorrow) than that of a Gandhi – some can not even tell the name completely! To think of getting another Gandhi (v2.0) from this India, in next 30 years, if not a pipedream, is very close to that.
India needs leaders like Barack Obama (I hope, what he preaches convert into action – if he wins) who can get support collectively across the nation or a leader like Tilak of yesteryears who can give the nation to dream of one thing like “Sampurna Swaraj” or a Ballav Patel who wanted to see an united/undivided India.
Simultaneously, we need educated people from best schools of India entering politics like that of Manohar Parikar or people with clean image like that of a Naveen Patnaik or even with pure resilience/perseverance like that of a Narashima Rao, who can take head on the entire segment of pseudo politicians claiming to be messiah of development.
We have seen leaders from other segments especially industrial, but the leaders who will shape the future of India in this century are the ones who will rule Delhi and the various States.
hey sathya, i knew you were around. will meet next time around. i am usually on campus saturdays. ring or tweet me up.
hi satya
the form may be different now than 61 years ago, but the ideas exist and the phenomenon will repeat. barack obama didn’t happen by chance – may be gandhi was the first product of mass communication revolution that existed then (radio, trains), and to an extant barack obama is a product of the new communication revolution.
i am not as familiar with the history as you are, but i believe that true and authentic ideas will get out. they don’t get out if one has them in their head – we are waiting for that emergence of a genuine mix of ideology, courage that combines with the uncanny ability to use the communication tools.
i have always held the belief that hating politics (at work or in civil life), for whatever it stands for at present, is the wrong thing to do. what isn’t right, fix it. don’t run away from it!
in a fanciful vision, how wonderful would it be, if every educated person actually voted? let alone, stand for elections? have you ever heard of the Jago Party?
Hello Spandana,
You are on the dot when you say – fix it, rather running away from it: though it is sometimes very hard and it drains the energy. That also calls for very high level of moral, as politics is not every man’s cup of tea and mostly it is used in a negative way. You have to maintain your value system intact even when you are playing the dirty game. And I really wish there were leaders like Barack Obama in India and there is another Gandhi who can collectively put the nation spellbound!
i’d say it all starts with a simple act of civil participation – Vote!
Let’s not rush to put Obama and Gandhi at the same level.. If we want to compare any American leader with Gandhi, there are many from the previous generations with enough clarity of vision and thought and enough principles.
A little bit of Obama doublespeak :
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/19aziz.htm
I guess desis in America are a campaign honey pot that everyone wants to dip into, whether they hate India/Indians or not. I guess nothing is wrong till you get caught?
MLK Jr., without a doubt. it takes courage to teach non-violence in the face of KKK, the gun-culture and the eye-for-an-eye principle.
MLK would be apt. He also drew from many of Gandhi’s ideas.
Not many american mainstream leaders had to deal with poverty among their followers the way MLK had to.
I like the idea of the new can-do attitude in desh. There’s a new hope, I see it best in Kerala, among engg. students – earlier an engg college education too was an exercise with not anything stellar waiting at the end – if you tried hard enough afterwards, you could land an okay job, and okay enough not too comfy life.. all of which and much much more your no-good-cousin-who-went-to-gulf-after-failing-his-degree
However, now things have changed. Every engg student faces a world full of possibilities, where a good job is only the starting point and is almost guaranteed if you are any good 
The future is no longer ‘disgustingly mediocre’ to quote a certain Mr. A Reddy.
would achieve and rub in your face every now and then
It has got all the possibilities.
The new spirit reminds me of Omar Khayyam (quote from memory might not be accurate)
‘Ah Love! Could me and you with Fate conspire,
to grab this sorry Scheme of Things Entire,
Would we not shatter it to bits,
and re-mould it closer to our heart’s desire?’
That’s what everyone wants today I guess- to Change India into something mean and efficient, sleek and polished..
the can-do is totally inspiring to see. we’re a 10+ years too early! or so it seems.