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Apple released its iPad 1 in India, just few weeks before launch of its iPad 2, leading to an assumption that Apple considers India as a dumping ground. The buzz in the social media was that, Apple is ignoring emerging markets. This meant that iPad 2 wont be available in India for a very long time.

I could have asked any of my friends in the US to buy me an iPad 2 and dispatch via someone returning to India. But too much of ‘I-want-to-help-Indian-economy’ ideology prevented me from doing it.

So I decided to buy an Android based tablet.

But there was no Android tablet available in the market. There was Samsung Tab, but it wasn’t really a tablet since it was running on Android OS meant for phones. Samsung Galaxy Tab was announced but not yet released.

So here I was in India waiting for a real tablet. Then something unexpected happened.

There is a reason Apple is the most celebrated brand now. They beat their competitors in every factor. Not only they create smooth and beautiful products, but they also devour their competition unexpectedly. One such move was their introduction of iPad in India.

Apple announced that iPad 2 will be available in India by first week of May.

Unlike the US there were no long queues in India to get an iPad. Even the shortage of iPads were attributed to shops ordering just few units.

When I went to Anything Mac for servicing my MacBook, I casually asked, if they had an iPad 2. Since I didn’t see any crowd and also the shop itself was so small, I had assumed they won’t have one. But I was wrong. They had iPads. The receptionist apologetically said they had only the wi-fi ones, which was great since I wanted only wi-fi ones.

So there I became the proud owner of iPad 2.

There is politics by unification and then politics by division.

The British ruled India with a ‘divide and rule’ policy. It kept them in power for decades, until Indians woke up beyond their division – caste, color, religion, language and whatever else it was dividing them.

We got out of their rule; but not out of their tactics.

Our shrewed politicans picked up the tactic.

First, the country was divided by religion.
Then we were divided by languages.
Then on caste.
And the tactics of division just goes on.

Every time a crisis unites Indians, politicians come in and stir the divisions.

Babri Masjid hurts Hindu sentiments;
Tamilians should not learn Hindi;
North Indians can’t work in Maharastra;

What is the result? We stand deeply divided.

When the house is divided, terrorists go on a rampage.

Terrorists are not divided. Guns know no division; only our politicians.

Mumbai incident has open up a distinct window of opportunity for our politicians to raise beyond division and to unite Indians. This is an earnest plea to the Modis, Advanis and Rahuls of our political system, to lead us in unity. We still believe in democracy and please don’t disappoint us.

My blood boils. Anger raises up. I’m not alone with these feelings.

This is not the first time Mumbai is attacked. And Mumbai is not the first city to be attacked. Still we don’t learn our lessons.

Why?

It is easy to blame our hypocritical, inefficient politicians, who lack political will to curb terror – they in turn blame Pakistan and get away.

Do you know why we have gotten hypocritical and inefficient politicians?

Because we, Indians, don’t care.

We don’t care to vote; we don’t care to pay tax; we don’t care to know our rights; we don’t care to stand-up for our rights.

As students, as employees, as lawyers, as executives, as teachers, as politicians, as citizens, we don’t care.

We don’t care as long as our comfort is not disturbed.

When will we realize that because of our carelessness terror is knocking at our door? Because we didn’t care we got this inefficient politicians ruling us; because we didn’t care, corruption has gone into every level of security apparatus; because we didn’t care, loads of ammunition are carried through the streets of Mumbai.

We are in this state because you and I, didn’t care.

Because you and I didn’t care, Bharat Matha is gang raped.

But, you and I can be different – You and I can care about India. You and I can be responsible citizens. You and I can be the change that we want to bring on in India.

Then the question is, will this anger motivate us to bring about this change?

On this lovely morning of August 15th, every Indian should feel proud to be an Indian.

We are establishing our footprints everywhere – sports, space, art, literature – and we are successful too.

Everyday there is a news to be proud of being an Indian – some Indian company is buying a British or an American company; someone is winning a gold medal in Olympics; armies of super-powers want to practice with Indian armies; and so on and so forth.

We hit big and we win big.

Or are we?

From the glories of achievement, let us come down to the every day life of common man.

As a proud Indian, I would like to live anywhere in India – safely. Isn’t it my right as an Indian? A Tamil in Karnataka or may be in Maharastra. While this is true on paper (constitutionally), how much it is true on reality?

If a Kanada actor is kidnapped, Tamils are targeted; if he dies, Tamil shows are banned. Thousands flee Maharastra in a day because they are not natives.

Within the same country there is a feeling of ‘four squares of my native land’. We are not British occupying your land; we are fellow Indians coming for living.

As much as we identify as Malayali Nair or as Tamil Nadar, we fail to identify as an Indian. Being Indian is not in our blood – being a thevar is; being a Tamilian is; being a Christian is. There is an identity crisis for Indians.

Let us talk about succeeding in India. Do you think, despite paying the hefty taxes, there is an encouraging climate for success – in sports, in business, in art? None could’ve said it better than the coach of Bindra, the golden boy of India – ‘do you know why he won? He bypassed the system; that is why he could win’. He hit the bulls eye!

What about politics?

Politicians moan that they don’t have enough authority to reform the country. I don’t think authority is an issue – Hypocrisy and dishonesty is.

You might counter me with a question, "Come on, it is in politics of every country; they take bribes too". I might agree with you on them taking bribes. But there is a difference. As Kamal says in one of his movies,  "In other countries, they bribe in order to stop the official from doing their job; only in India you have to bribe to do their job".

Bribe, as a cancer, has gone deep into our system.

I’ll tell you a true incident. I know it is true because it happened to my father. When my father retired, he went to district office to collect his dues. The amount was what was due for having worked for years as a teacher. The peon told him, "You are getting so much; give me 500 rupees; only then I’ll dispatch the cheque"

All that the peon had to do was to give that cheque to my dad. He was demanding "something" for doing his job. (My dad being a patient and principled man, he refused. So he was forced to go back again and again. He went until he got his cheque. You could argue that he could’ve lodged a complaint. Tell me honestly, will that work?)

Bribery is now part of Indian government system, every damn system, including defense ministry. I was so ashamed reading that it was there even in ordering coffins for those who died in Kargil war! That is the extent of bribery.

These are not all. There are many.

But I’ll hide my frustrations, insecurity, shame and salute ‘Mother India’ on this great day, as a proud Indian.

Jai Hind.

For the record, I don’t smoke. Nor do I like to suffer with second hand smoke.

Yet, I’m annoyed by the Health Minister‘s obsession to drag smokers to roads for a simple pleasure of a puff or two. One might ask, isn’t it a good thing? Of course it is. But there are so many vital issues to be resolved for a common man; so much of energy (time, effort, money) is spent on this trivial issue. And I believe there is a better way, if at all one is resolute about solving the issue.

It is almost impossible to force people to stop smoking; they aren’t kids man. They have their own senses. If someone doesn’t realize that it is bad for their health, twisting their hands will lead only to rebellion – they will smoke more, not less.

If the health ministry is so particular about health hazards of smoking, stop it at the source. Ban the production and import of cigarettes. Oh! no, you don’t have the guts to kick those rich industrialists; they will blow you off in a single puff. So you continue to nip the helpless common-men and continue to get into the TV box cheaply.

I am concerned about the health of the country than of those who chose to puff away their health. Will any of the minister fight against corruption? If bribe is banned (and strictly enforced), the country will flourish in leaps and bounds improving the overall health of the country. Will you (or your party) take up that cause sir?