Western template on India?
As you all know, since 1991 we are trying to mimic what the western culture is all about. Yes there are few advantages we have seen like the time taken to withdraw money from Banks or how every item in life is getting converged to an app on a mobile. I do appreciate the good things that we have seen in the past two and a half decades. We got to see the mall culture for better. But have we progressed? That is something to ponder over.
A country that was once so rich in culture around 800 years back, now is struggling to keep up its own culture. Does it mean we have progressed? In olden days, there was more respect for elders, teachers, parents than what we see today. Values were preferred over money. Ethically isn't that a better option to have more values than money. Yes money can't buy everything, definitely not happiness, honesty, loyalty. The question that is bothering me is have we comprised our quality (value system) for the sake of making economic progress? If so, is it justified to do it at all cost. Do we actually want such a progress which will lead to a disaster.
In one of my previous blog, I had referred to Gross Happiness Index being a better indicator of a country compared to GDP which we are currently following. Isn't it a better option to look for not just economic development but also preserve (or rather improve) our environmental condition, promote our rich tradition and culture along with good governance. After all that is the least we can do for our generations to come, don't you think? Look at the air quality in Delhi which has already had an adverse effects. Almost all cities in India have traffic issues today. Let us compare the same with Bhutan which is rated high for its Gross Happiness Index quotient. Bhutanese travel using bullock carts to have a carbon neutral environment. Isn't that what progress is all about?
Do we need a western template on India? Or does our vedas, tradition, culture show us the path we need to follow? What do you think?
A country that was once so rich in culture around 800 years back, now is struggling to keep up its own culture. Does it mean we have progressed? In olden days, there was more respect for elders, teachers, parents than what we see today. Values were preferred over money. Ethically isn't that a better option to have more values than money. Yes money can't buy everything, definitely not happiness, honesty, loyalty. The question that is bothering me is have we comprised our quality (value system) for the sake of making economic progress? If so, is it justified to do it at all cost. Do we actually want such a progress which will lead to a disaster.
In one of my previous blog, I had referred to Gross Happiness Index being a better indicator of a country compared to GDP which we are currently following. Isn't it a better option to look for not just economic development but also preserve (or rather improve) our environmental condition, promote our rich tradition and culture along with good governance. After all that is the least we can do for our generations to come, don't you think? Look at the air quality in Delhi which has already had an adverse effects. Almost all cities in India have traffic issues today. Let us compare the same with Bhutan which is rated high for its Gross Happiness Index quotient. Bhutanese travel using bullock carts to have a carbon neutral environment. Isn't that what progress is all about?
Do we need a western template on India? Or does our vedas, tradition, culture show us the path we need to follow? What do you think?
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