‘India: We Are One In Many’

            ‘No, that’s not how you do it!’

            ‘You’re not doing it right!’

            ‘This won’t work at all!’

            These were some of the underlying arguments I have heard in almost every group project. Ideas are constantly knocked aside or laughed off. A free flow of ideas turns into a catastrophic competition of being the best. The worst part is nobody knows how to listen and work together.

            Whenever there are multiple personalities from diverse backgrounds, there is trouble. At least, that’s what I’ve experienced at my college. At first, it sounds truly inspiring to work with a multitude of thoughts and ideas, but in the case of Indian society, we can’t get anything done due to difference of opinion. Just look at our politicians fighting it over with pepper spray in the Parliament to resolve issues. I mean, seriously? But you can’t put the entire blame on them. If we can’t seem to work together in groups, classrooms, neighborhoods, city streets, we can’t expect the leaders of our country to work together. The root of the problem lies in a small scale first.

[DISCLAIMER]: These are purely my thoughts and opinions based on my own experiences. In no way do I intend to generalize, as this is purely my way to free up my mind. I just hope you get something out of this!

            Driving around the Chennai streets is a nightmare, as is in probably every Indian metropolitan city. The other day, my dad was about to drive out of our main gate, when the entire entrance was blocked by traffic. Autos, cars, buses, all began honking simultaneously, fighting for space, and trying to get through first. Trying to maneuver through skillfully, my dad got caught in the jam-packed mess. Nobody bothered to let the other pass, move aside, or courteously give each other space. See that is the problem. Everyone wants to win, and be ahead in India. We forget how to work together, because we are so absorbed in ourselves. This problem could have simply been solved if any driver had been courteous and patient enough to let another pass by in an orderly fashion. Instead, everyone wants to be the first and get ahead. Not having a traffic police officer doesn’t help much either…

            Similar incidents occur in crowded places like banks, cafes, etc. Nobody knows how to wait in a line! Once again, people are constantly pushing and shuffling for space. My first time ordering something in my college café came as a complete shock. I politely stood waiting for others to line up behind me, but oh noooo….a mob of students ambushed me rushing to the front. Various hands reached out around me grabbing their orders. Multiple voices rang out all shouting orders. I felt like I was going to pass out. Somehow, I managed to safely carry my grilled chicken sandwich. Basic courtesy is one way of looking at it, but nobody was concerned for the other.

            Perhaps it is because we are the second most populous country in this world, holding over 35 states, with over 6 ethnic groups, 5 minority groups, 3 major religions, 33 languages. An individual finds it difficult to make something of oneself, because of the complexities in our society. Fierce competition also makes it a struggle to rise up to the top. Our parents pamper us to the core, and we don’t learn individual responsibility until after college when we venture out into the work world. We think we are always right. Perhaps, this is why everyone is so self-absorbed, and can’t seem to work together as a nation. Yes, there is bound to be a difference of opinions and clashing personalities, but what we must realize that in this diversity is our unity. Rather than putting each other down, we need to work together as a team. It can only start from the individual, in order for society to grow.

            So stop for the passerby driving the next time you’re driving. Close your mouth, and actually listen to your fellow peers the next time you sense a discussion turning into a debate. Line up when you get your order to avoid getting squashed, or squashing someone else. All this may seem simple, but we've gotta start small, and work from the bottom for our nation to progress as ONE. 

And remember, (a bit clichéd), but there is never an ‘I’ in TEAM.