MY COUNTRY, GREAT AND STRONG

 

38. MY COUNTRY, GREAT AND STRONG

In Britain in the old days, when the Raj was at its dizzying heights, Indian students in the universities there were generally looked down upon by their British counterparts. One such student, at Oxford, once wanted to break even and so told his British roommate: One British: whisky. Two British: golf. Three British: Colonisation.

The British boy countered. One Indian: sleep. Two Indian: sleep.  Three Indian: sleep

After completion of their education both of them got jobs. The British boy would get up early, do his morning exercise, have breakfast and run to catch the transport to go to his office. The Indian boy, would recline in his easy chair, reading the newspaper or dozing off.

The British boy asked him. How can you remain like this?

The Indian asked him: Why are you working like this so hard, without respite?

To make money.

Making money for what?

To start my own business.

Why?

To make more money.

Then what?

My business will be expanded.

What happens then?

Will make more money.

Then?

I will relax and lead a restful life.

That is what I am doing now, said the Indian.

That is old story. Today the whole world is looking at Indian students as role models. The situation has come to such a pass that if they need management experts they go to IIMs first and if they need technical experts they go to IITs.

But the truth is that we do not have respect for ourselves. Is it because two hundred years of servitude under the British has affected our self-confidence? Or have we come to a situation of not knowing our own worth, like the musk deer searching for the source of the aromatic musk, not realising that it lies within it?

The old saying is Indians march out of step when they a British officer. Now there is a reversal of roles, as they forget their steps when they see Indians. I had the opportunity many times to realise this first hand. One thing became clear during my travels in the United States, Europe, Russia, Korea and Japan for discussions on atomic energy. They have great respect for Indian scientists and Indian technical experts. In a way it can be said that foreign research centres are in competition to get scientists from India.

It will not be an exaggeration to say that it was information technology that mirrored the shining face of modern India to the world. The extent of development that we have made in this area is evident every day. The progenitor of hotmail that brought about revolutionary changes in the communication world is an Indian, Sabeer Bhatia. In the Fortune list of the richest in the world are Indians Lakshmi Mittal, the Ambanis and Azim Premji.

The president of the world renowned A T and T Laboratory is another Indian, Arun Netravali. Vinod Dham from India is acknowledged as the father of the pentium chip that is used in 90 per cent of the computers in the world. India’s Indra Nuyi heads one of the biggest softdrink manufacturers in the world, Pepsico.

Indians account for only 1. 5 per cent of the US population, but it is reported that 38 per cent of the doctors in the U S are Indians. Moreover, Indians account for 36 per cent of the scientists at NASA. It can be said that America is elevated to top of the Information Technology sector by Indians. It can also be said that the mainstay of Bill Gates’ Microsoft is India as 34 per cent of its employees belong to this country. The link between computers and India was not begun in recent times. According to Forbes magazine the best language suited for computer software is Sanskrit.

While attending the administrative board meetings of the Institute of Mathematical Studies at Chennai I used to get opportunities to interact with eminent mathematicians. That helped me to assess the value of the contributions Indian scholars made to the world of mathematics.

Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus originated in India. It was Aryabhata who conceived the zero. Even as early as in the fifth century, Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth for circling the sun as 365. 258 days. It is not without reason that Einstein had said ‘we are indebted to India as it is they who taught us to count. ’

When great cities like London, New York and Paris remained as jungles abounding in wild animals like lions, tigers and pythons, the Indus Valley Civilization was at its zenith in India. The world’s first university was established at Thakshashila 700 years before Christ. Nalanda university came into being in the fourth century BC.

The modern world has acknowledged the greatness of the oldest treatment system in the world, Ayurveda. That Susrutha had conducted surgeries 2,600 years ago continues to be a enigma for the modern world. It is not without truth that Romain Rolland said: ‘If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India. ’

At some point of time our pride in ourselves and our self-confidence got a beating. That may be the remnant of exploitation by colonial powers. But India is ready, after this setback, for the great leap forward.

A scene from the famous Oprah Winfrey show. Fashion moghul Tommy Hilfiger was the guest. That was the time when some of his comments that appeared in the media had created a controversy. His comment was that the goods he manufactured were intended for Europeans and if he had known that Asians and Africans used them he would not have taken so much care in their making. Winfrey asked him if he had made such a comment. When he beamed and said yes, Winfrey announced: ‘This show ends here. ’

The issue was taken up by Indian youth. They persuaded others through the internet to boycott products made by this arrogant, conceited man. India’s self-pride and self- confidence were not matters to be commercialised.

A poet had dreamed and said ‘the world will listen if my nation’s tongue moved. ’ But I never thought such a situation would come so soon. That time has come. What we should do is to try to see that it does not go. As Bill Clinton said after a visit to tsunami affected areas ‘from the stage of the biggest sorrow, India has emerged as the biggest wonder. ’ Mera Bharat Mahan. My country, great and strong.