The Brighter Side

Blame it on the optimist in me or the constant urge to see the brighter side; thought i will pen down the many positives i have seen from the time i have had the ability to be sensible and appreciate those that are sensible around me.

Was brought up in Kolkata; while the city may not be hailed as being among the progressive lot, there is an underlying truth that i learnt early on that none in the city go hungry, every nook and corner has an eatery which serves (ghugni) a delicacy made from chick peas and bread - very affordable and can satisfy the most discerning taste buds.

My father served the railways for 36 years and from the many marvels of the railways he has narrated to me, it is true that there isn't a corner of this country that you cannot reach at a reasonable cost.

There isn't a class that i have been through that did not have people from all religion in it. Might have eaten from many tiffin boxes but not sure i realized or there was a way of finding out if it belonged to a particular caste or religion. The food was delicious and the wait for the next session always appeared too long.

There are many exotic destinations in India....pure, far away from the blemishes of a city, with a sense of calm and from what i realized over the years....one lifetime is a little too short to cover all of them.

Been through two premier institutions in the country which have stood for excellence but have given every ordinary citizen a chance to become extraordinary. The selection is through merit, the journey through the course is arduous but provides the respectability in the end that few will question.

The city where i live today - Mumbai, welcomes all. There is a job for the one who is sincere and wants to work hard. While the infrastructure seems woefully inadequate....it is not rare to find a local train for 8.23 coming in at 8.23. Whether in Mumbai or elsewhere in India....you do tend to be chaueffer driven (hand pulled rickshaw, auto rickshaw....and the list goes on) even with a meagre budget.

While the word entrepreneur sounds elitist, India has them in large numbers....check every street, every vendor, every store and every business stream.....there are loads of them who have started with less than Rs.100 in their pocket but have earned a respectable living for themselves and their families.

While there is a flip side to all of the above....it is a belief that one who is positive finds a way to live with a smile. From what i have witnessed across many many countries / cities i have been to....what i have narrated above seems to happen ONLY IN INDIA. Jai Hind!! (for our 65th independence day)