Please read this article by giving 10 minutes from your busy life. It is really good.
It is The President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's Speech in Hyderabad.
Why is the media here so negative?
Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?
We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.
Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.
I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.
Why are we so NEGATIVE?
Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.
Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.
Do you have 10 minutes?
Allow me to come back with a vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country? If yes, then read; otherwise, choice is yours.
YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline is the worst in the world, and mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.
YOU say, say and say.
What do YOU do about it?
Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS.
Give him a face – YOURS.
YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores.
YOU are as proud of their Underground links as they are. You pay $2 (approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.
YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity...
In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else. YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost.' YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.
Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston??? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU, who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own country, YOU, who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?
Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. 'Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place,' he said. 'And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels?
In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job, same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?' He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility.
We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick an up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.
We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.
This applies even to the staff that is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, and girl child! And others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. What is OUR excuse? It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.' So who's going to change the system?
What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the
government. But definitely it do not consists me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for an Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away.
Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape
the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.
Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too.... I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....
ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA
AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA
WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'
Let’s do what India needs from us.
Forward this mail to each Indian for a change instead of sending Jokes or
junk mails.
Thank you,
Dr. Abdul Kalam
I think it will answer all your questions.
2007-05-21 15:40:31
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answer #1
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answered by C00L GαL 2
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I do not know why but corruption seems to be the biggest problem in India and Pakistan... I think that in those two countries rich keep getting richer and poor keep getting poorer. however India has come a long way in technological advancement.. There are more engineers graduating from India then any other country.. the problem is that they go to work in other countries such as USA and England and other developed countries..Education is another thing.. A lot of Indian people are really uneducated.. Since school is not free and is very expensive not a lot of people go to schools and colleges specially in villages and small cities... Another thing is that I think Indian is still a very agricultural based society not an industrial society..
2007-05-21 15:41:34
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answer #2
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answered by Love Exists? 6
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I don't live in India, I live in the U.S. but maybe I can offer some insight, I don't know.
It all depends on the people, determination. Individuals have to rise above others (not with arrogance or superiority, but with humbleness, determination, and will for growth & change),.
It was probably happening the entire time you lived there as well- just in different parts of the country.
I am intrigued by India and its development. If you'd like to tell me more about it and maybe we could dicuss a few things please feel free to click on my name and send me a message!
India is likely to become an economically & technologically advanced country, yes I believe so.
I don't think any country will ever be perfectly moral or rightfully ethic. I know that's an awful thing to say, but it's true.
2007-05-21 15:36:11
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answer #3
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answered by Kiara 5
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We have become illiterate and kept aside the morality nicely bundled. I mean literacy by learning from family, custom & traditions, humanity and enviornment etc in society from other than educational institutions.
Once we are educated minuse literacy & morality how can we aquire etiquette in us & how would we be disciplined?
See the condition of to days brought out by Sikhs & Dera Sacha Sauda followers! Are these humanitarian act! Are
these purely Religious commands! Are all the common people engaged in these voilences are actual involved ones! This is all result of illiteracy which makes us the scatered mobs and not social goups.
So long the acts of the most tops one, in each field of humanity, are continuing keeping aside literacy & morality, and each citezen becomes cautious of his duties (leaving his rights to other concerns to look after), only, every where (from home to out & out to home) Nation can't gain development in real sense. We all are interested & talks also about what is not being done by others! We are not iterested & do what we are to do. we presurises The Government to inact "Rights of Information & protection of various rights", totally ignoring that every right relates with some duty & your duty too would be related with some duty! We do not presurises the Govt. to inact "Right to do Duty"!
In to days scenario it is difficult to perfom only duty and sleep over the rights which should flow in, but not imposible. Hope we come up together to achieve the goal to succeed to day or later one day.
2007-05-21 19:05:34
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answer #4
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answered by kbn_25 4
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Bro, pick up a History book or two. You have no idea what you are talking about. There have been worse times in the history of the US. Trust me when I say, I have seen the destruction, poverty, mayhem, and craziness that are present in other countries. This country has its problems, but its F'ing fantastic here. Trust me.
2016-04-01 01:37:04
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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I think amardeep is right. Most of the NRIs when they come to India, they start behaving like Gora sahibs.
These are the NRIs who start bribing...the moment they land in India.
I know an NRI who is a waiter in an Indian restaurant in Paris... When he came out of Indian airport he said - oh what a dirty country is this !!! And he is the dirtiest Indian in France...filthy and untidy.
Most of the NRIs behave in such a manner in USA and UK that foreigners start hating Indians.... Indian's image outside is spoilt due to many of NRIs actions
And dont talk of poverty, corruption and filth in India. I have seen people searching for bread in dust bins,
i have seen little children abused by near relatives,
druggies, corruption, young mothers, teenaged girls offering body for some grocery, shooters in schools.. etc etc in New York, Washington, Virginia, London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome
Most of the NRIs dont do anything for India, but when it comes to Critisising they cry louder than westerners.
Come on... make a group of NRIs collect some money and do some charity work... tell all NRIs not to bribe, customs or policemen to get their illigal goods cleared... which are later sold in black market
Collect some NRIs do some work...and work for your Mother India.... critisising willl not do
India has just got independance... and in last 5 years we have started seeing money incoming due to our young brains... give some time to india to come out of the horrors of slavery of muslims and christians for 100s of years)
(And for your Information I am also an NRI out of India for 24 years... and I have never critisised India Like a Gora Sahib)
2007-05-21 21:09:07
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answer #6
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answered by ۞Aum۞ 7
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The People who are in power do not have a vision for the populace. The build their personal bank accounts by disrespecting the need to build solid infrastructure for India's future.
There may be a perception of wealth and technology, but it all going to the few, the elite.
2007-05-21 16:00:11
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answer #7
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answered by Bobby Jim 7
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This planet is over populated, too damn many people, and as the madness of procreation continues, the value and quality of life diminishes rapidly. The U.S.A. , which we have known and enjoyed, is in its last days, now being overrun with the invasion of millions of foreign nationals, and we have a corrupt and incompetent federal government which refuses to enforce the U.S. immigration laws. Our natural resources, which support life, are being depleted or destroyed. The future, if any, appears extremely bleak!
2007-05-21 15:44:16
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answer #8
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answered by john c 5
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yes you are right that their are many problems in India like corruption,population,traffic etc.
BUT as per change is concern this will not happen automatically BUT this is the responsibilty of individual to takle the problems for his country
i ask u a question that what have you done for your country
from past years (please don't mind )
rather blaming others for this we should step in to fight against such immoral activities
2007-05-21 16:17:41
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answer #9
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answered by amardeep singh 1
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The habit of preaching than practising.
2007-05-21 15:57:18
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answer #10
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answered by tyagi c 3
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