There is a news item which comes once in a way about the father or a witch doctor in a remote village who sacrificed a child, expecting great bounty from the gods. We shudder at that news! How un-civilized, we say ! We lament that after 60 years of independence, certain parts of India are still in darkness.
There is news everyday of modern day heroes who started successful companies and have amassed wealth. They are honoured with premium awards, recognitions and positions. The stories of how hard they worked to reach there, inspire us. Millions of young professionals across the country dream to be like them. We are proud that our country has become extremely hardworking in 60 years of independence, and that we are making it real big in our lives. Work indeed is worship!
What a contrast between the two images! Yet how sadly similar!
We are busy at work. Deadlines, payhikes, promotions - aren't all these very crucial to a secure future of our children? Don't these ensure them better education in premium universities around the world, in an age where money can buy everything?
We are so excited when our American or British boss answers our phone call during his vacation. We tell everyone about his commitment to work! How foolish of us not to realize that we have not taken a break, leave alone a vacation with family, in years!
In vain we fight Valentine days saying it is an assault on our civilization. We fight the silly ones. That's easy. The deadlier enemies are already part of our own genes. Deeply engrained within us. In search of the high salaries every month in our bank accounts, we have surrendered our time, our health, our energy, our society, our families, our children - all to companies all around - within India and without - who make profit.
Our children are growing up un-nurtured in the cities. We are not around to answer their questions. We are not around to spend time with them, to watch them play, to watch them grow up. We feel they will grow with the tremendous knowledge that they gather from the Television and the Internet. If only good gardens grew with good soil, rain and sunlight alone!
While we are away at work, our children are idolizing the TV soap role models. If we ever get time to watch our children play in the parks of our apartments, we'll see teen soap operas live there. The accent, the dress, the manners - oh how proud we are to be part of a globalized world!
We are sacrificing our children, our country's future, on the altar of globalization. The gods of the flat world will not come to our rescue. Cardiac arrests, strokes, wayward children will be our own retiral benefits, and we wil have all the time to enjoy it all till our death.
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