Diversity: Boon or Bane??

We are diverse; we are diverse and not just in one way. We are diverse and not just by class. The source of disparity in India has to be placed within a bigger picture that includes other divisive influences: gender,language, religion, caste, region, community and so on.

India is perennialy hierarchical unlike instinctively even handed West. The right word for India's social/cultural/political/economical asymmetry is Inequality, inequality resulting in Instability, a large scale instability.

Some Indians are rich; most are not. Some are very well educated; others are illiterate. Some lead easy lives of luxury; others toil hard for little reward. Some are politically powerful; others cannot influence anything. Some have great opportunities for advancement in life; others lack them altogether. Some are treated with respect by the police; others are treated like dirt. For the same work, some get rewards and recognitions; others dont even get appreciations. To be laconic, we are citizens of a country which is diverse, and diverse in each and every respect.

This post is the result of the recent series of unfortunate events (communal clashes) in Jammu & Kashmir and Orissa which has led to incessant debate and disputations throughout the nation. I got a chance to attend an International Peace Conference four years ago. The embedded video is an excerpt from the debate on the topic "Similarities between Hinduism and Islam".

The violence in the name of religion/caste etc is the biggest threat to a democracy. This not only deeply impairs the economic, social and political progress of the country but also make the citizens feel insecured in there own country.

"Bachpan se hamne sikha bas ek hi gaan,
Mera Bharat, pyara Bharat, apna Bharat mahan.

Looto mandir, todo masjid, le lo sabki jaan,
Dharm huya aaj desh se bada, Dharm pe sab kurbaan".

"Blessed shall thou be, the God shall oblige"

Ambiguity is something which has been there in my life from the very beginning. When I was in my 5^th standard, I topped in my class and was amongst the best of the brains of my age. But still I was denied a seat in a reputed institution as I couldn't answer a single question in the interview, in spite of knowing all the answers. I am known as an extremely extrovert and outspoken guy amongst my acquaintances. But, contrary to that I am seen as a shy and introvert person in my work place. I am a person with an equivocal identity, an identity which is open to several interpretations of uncertain significance.

My attitude towards life are characterized not only by ambiguity and moral doubts, but also by some uncertainty as to what is involved in making gainful use of my potential. When I was three years old, my father got me admitted into a public school. My teachers discovered that while I did reasonably well in most subjects, I got every answer to every question in arithmetic right. It was the same in high school; I got full marks in arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Those were blissful days. All I wanted was to get through JEE and enter one of the IITs. The most "in" thing to do at that point of time and space. I appeared in JEE twice and couldn't clear the cut off of Chemistry. Eventually, I ended up getting into a deemed university in south through AIEEE. Nothing of consequence happened in college, except that I got a job of software engineer with Infosys. I joined Infy six months later than my scheduled joinig date, worked there for three months, resigned and joined my present employer thinking that I will get to do some quality work here. While I continue doing pretty mediocre work, I have potentially jeopardized my chances of getting into an IIM. By leaving Infy and joining this company, I have not only compromised on brand but also shifted to a domain not meant for engineers.

In last 4-5 years, nothing has happened the way I desired. My dreams and aspirations are dying and am losing the self respect I used to have. I need to get myself out of all perplexities; or rather, I have to get the perplexities out of myself.

This one is for my friend Shijith;

In search of glory and in search of delight,

I know, I have to put on a long fight.

When thee said, thy were right,

that I will end up being petite.