Where are we going ?

Where are we going?

What are really the true parameters for assessing development and progress of human civilization? Today this was the question in my mind after reading two articles in a German newspaper, one on India and other on China. The article on India talked about the huge economic disparity in our country. More than 30% of population still living below international poverty line of less than 1$ a day. But on the other hand India has one of the largest number of millionaires too. The average annual income in India is less than 1500$ compared to more than 40000$ in developed countries like America and Germany. Today great civilization like India is rated backward only because it has lesser economic prosperity.The other article was about China where a local court had passed judgment asking children to visit their old parents at least twice in a year. Due to economic prosperity and migration to cities, children are finding it difficult to take care of parents in China.This has resulted in some parents suing their own children in court and asking them to visit them more often.This a pattern emerging due to rapid economic development that China has had in past few decades.

Today we generally respect people based on how rich they are or what is their social status. People treat a sweeper and a CEO differently. As per me both are important in their own place. The whole idea of creation is that no two things in the Universe are the same.For me our parameter of assessing development of country needs updation. Generally a country is considered developed based on its GDP and per capita income. But these are not the only indicators for happiness and well being in a society. The richest countries and people are not necessarily the happiest. We give too much importance to money. In real sense money is nothing but paper and it is up to us how much we value it. The whole concept of printed notes is only few centuries old. But humans have inhabited planet earth for more than 2 lac years. For most part of human history there was no concept of printed notes.Money was not always the most valuable thing or parameter for judging a society.India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. So there are so many things to be proud of our rich past and the present.

We still have family values and take care of our old people. We have lesser old age homes.

Most people stay in a single marriage through out their life. It is a big commitment and the sanctity of marriage as an institution is still up held.

We are one of the most tolerant countries in the world. India is one of the very few countries where people of all religion can practice their faith without any fear.

Even though we have so many problems like huge population, malnutrition, illiteracy we can still see smile and optimism on faces of our people.

Small kids are still held in hands by parents but and not carried around in trolleys. Trolleys are more convenient but can’t replace the early touch, warmth and love of mother which stays on throughout our lives.

In India we have huge tolerance towards animals too. We still find stray animals in India which is not the case in developed countries. We as a society recognize that even animals have equal right to live and they too equally share the planet with us.

India has generally never invaded other countries. We respect others right to freedom and territory.

In a Hindu dominated country we had a time when the President was Dr Kalam a Muslim, Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime minister who is a Sikh and Sonia Gandhi as most powerful woman an Italian born Roman Catholic. That is manifestation of true spirit of democracy. We can proudly claim to be the largest democracy in the world.

Four great religions of the world Hinduism,Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism have originated from India.India has been a great civilization for many millennia's. It’s only in past 200 years or so we have strayed away. But lots of progress is happening ,we are currently 9th largest economy in the world. Very soon we will become the 3rd largest economy after US and China leaving behind countries like Japan, Germany, Italy, England and France. Most important thing is we need to ensure that the development is more inclusive and we as a nation maintain our long cherished values on the way up.