Well, a certain comedian got both famous and backlashes from his country mates for his performance at the Kennedy Center.
One thing I agree with him. We truly come from two Indias.
But not sure what is so surprising about it. There are two sides to everything.
Like everything else, every country has both sides manifesting within itself.
Honestly, neither did I find the content of the comedian earth shattering or worth appluading nor do I see any rationale for over the top backlash it received.
While everyone has the right to talk about what they feel, let me share my views on the India I come from.
- I come from an India which for centuries was under tyranny but I also come from an India which has its firm foot on the ground and has developed wings to fly.
- I come from an India which is poor but I also come from an India that aspires to work hard to get rich.
- I come from an India where we fight against each other but I also come from an India that sticks together and celebrate each others festivals and traditions.
- I come from an India which is still largely uneducated but I also come from an India which has the street smarts to innovate and which churns out maximum engineers in the world.
- I come from an India where some young minds think in greenwich timezone and think others are backwards but I also come from an India which is proud of its ancient heritage and has faith in its civilisational values.
- I come from an India which is ready to accept anything western thinking its cool but I also come from an India from where the world imported Yoga.
- I come from an India which is labelled as intolerant for every small incident that occurs but I also come from an India which is plural and tolerant despite of its past.
- I come from an India where the crime against women is high. But I also come from an India which is smart to not generalise it and work towards creating a better society. I also come from an India which is the oldest civilisation to revere and worship women as deities.
- I come from an India where self proclaimed women rights activists tweet ugly things about women but I also come from an India which places Mata before pita, guru and dev.
- I come from an India where some call themselves animal rights activists for their love for their dogs but I also come from India where some are subjected to jibes when they try to protect cows.
- I come from an India while many are entitled to talk only about the problems. But I also come from an India which is passionately working towards solutions.
- I come from an India where the politicians are 70 years old. But I also come from an India where the youth is free to decide to be a standup comedian, or an Instagram influencer and not a politician.
- I come from an India which is being called communal but I also come from an India which ensures the leader of the nation swears by the constitution while taking the oath and not a religious book.
- I come from an India where a certain lobby cries death of democracy and judiciary at a drop of a hat. But I also come from an India where a billion patiently wait with utmost faith for the highest court to decide age old civilisational issues.
- I come from an India which faced one of the worse pandemics but I also come from an India which donated vaccines to the poor countries.
- I come from an India where the WOKES make fun of our digital efforts but I also come from an India which exports the COWIN website to the world and which became the country with highest UPI transactions.
- I come from an India which is supposedly drenched in patriarchy but I also come from an India where lakhs and crores have given their lives to safeguard Bharat Mata.
- I come from an India where some are gung ho about 12-14 year old entitled self proclaimed climate activists. But I also come from an India where 80 and 90 year olds are working harder than anyone to preserve the environment and are humbly awarded with Padmashris.
- I come from an India where some journalists are holier than thou and want everyone to listen to only their alleged gospel truth but I also come from an India where the people only want to listen to (their) Mann ki Baat.
- I come from an India where comedians berate it outside the country. But I also come from an India which wins medals outside the country and feels the pride when the national anthem is played.
- I come from an India which might not have had a great past but I also come from an India which will steer its way in the future and not get stuck on the past.
- I come from an India which knows it is not perfect. But I also come from an India which is striving hard to be a 'work in progress'.
Bonus: - I come from an India where some believe in the words of Vir Das but I also come from an India which has been guided by Kavi Surdas and Kabir Das.I can go on and on.
But I have a very limited point to make - We are not perfect. We will never be.
No country is perfect and no country ever will be.
Not everything will be always be right like not everything will always be wrong.
I rather focus my energies on humbly accepting our strengths and patiently persevering to better the areas which needs work.
While some might take pride in showcasing their country at the Kennedy Center of Performing arts in the light they manifest outwards, I would rather quote John F Kennedy:
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,”
