Where are we ?

It was August and the sun was at its peak in St.Michael's Abbey,Italy. It was my first time in a foreign nation and I loved every bit of it. I am not going to try to explain the beauty of the place because there are times when emotions overpower the senses and language founders. I stood there feeling consumed.

Back home, the media has been incessantly telecasting global achievements. Outsourcing had crept in big time. Political leads raved about planning and vision. The target to be met has always been the target which some other nation had already achieved. A constant reminder of "Our Plight".

Yet, standing there in a foreign land I had an irrepressible urge to know where we actually stood in their eyes. Whether it was plain curiosity or a need to take pride, I am not sure...but I wanted to hear it firsthand from someone whose words would not be biased. Dominico, a grey haired ,expressive philanthropist , a very good friend from the restaurant we visited everyday and our guide for the day fell silent when I asked him.

"I not fink that…but many...India here looks a third world country"...he managed. Did someone say you need grammar to make sense? I've heard that expression a zillion times before. But never had it stung so hard. I was in a land where several people deep down believed that India, my own country was third world. Being rated was something I could never understand. ..With all due respects for the gentleman, inspite of myself I wanted to slap him.

I think when I was out there amidst them, I felt responsible for my country like never before. I was fiercely possessive, strangely patriotic and always looking out for insinuations that could reassure me and a little petty voice inside me would say "India has that...or... at least We don't do that...". I think it is true for most of us.

The realisation is always there floating above us…but it takes a lot for it to sink in.