Kanti Bajpai’s article in the TOI of March 2, 2013 – “A Nation of Five Indias” captures present day India very aptly. He categorizes India into 5 time zones of world history.
In the following paras I have tried to capture the 5 of them.
People in the two mountainous border frontiers and the forests of central India still live in the 16th century. Their pace of life, nature of existence (being totally dependent on the climate), their relationships with each other and the Government and the technologies used are all that was found in India 500 years back.
Then we have the rural predominantly agricultural India spread across its geography. They represent life as what it was 100 years ago. Here ordinary people are ignorant about today’s world. We do have new seeds and tractors and consumer goods – but those are with the rich feudalistic farmers. The terrible thing is that tight control is exerted on ordinary people by local landlords and upper castes. It resembles Europe of the dark and middle ages.
Second and third tier cities bring up the third India. The scenario here is what it was 50-60 years ago. (OMG – it is talking of times when I was born). The influential local elite do possess the necessities and to some extent the luxuries of life. Extensive travel within the country made possible by (marginal) economic surpluses is noticeable. Early to mid 19th century Europe (sans the TV and the cell-phone) they say was something like this.
The fourth category represents the first tier towns and big metros. These are nowhere near the metros of the developed world but the structure and speed of life even amongst the slum-dwellers here have got something contemporary in them. The power of community and clan is missing. There is unchained freedom for many especially the rich and the middle classes.
The final group of people lives in a globalized time zone on real time basis. They are connected to the world events, travel in and out of the country as and when required.
The five Indian worlds do interact with each other. But they are alien to each other. Mr Bajpai finally asks how can politicians representing these 5 worlds agree on anything? And how can they govern?
My conclusion is that this is not an Indian phenomenon only. Every country in the world including the western world has some of these situations prevailing within them in varying degrees.
In the following paras I have tried to capture the 5 of them.
People in the two mountainous border frontiers and the forests of central India still live in the 16th century. Their pace of life, nature of existence (being totally dependent on the climate), their relationships with each other and the Government and the technologies used are all that was found in India 500 years back.
Then we have the rural predominantly agricultural India spread across its geography. They represent life as what it was 100 years ago. Here ordinary people are ignorant about today’s world. We do have new seeds and tractors and consumer goods – but those are with the rich feudalistic farmers. The terrible thing is that tight control is exerted on ordinary people by local landlords and upper castes. It resembles Europe of the dark and middle ages.
Second and third tier cities bring up the third India. The scenario here is what it was 50-60 years ago. (OMG – it is talking of times when I was born). The influential local elite do possess the necessities and to some extent the luxuries of life. Extensive travel within the country made possible by (marginal) economic surpluses is noticeable. Early to mid 19th century Europe (sans the TV and the cell-phone) they say was something like this.
The fourth category represents the first tier towns and big metros. These are nowhere near the metros of the developed world but the structure and speed of life even amongst the slum-dwellers here have got something contemporary in them. The power of community and clan is missing. There is unchained freedom for many especially the rich and the middle classes.
The final group of people lives in a globalized time zone on real time basis. They are connected to the world events, travel in and out of the country as and when required.
The five Indian worlds do interact with each other. But they are alien to each other. Mr Bajpai finally asks how can politicians representing these 5 worlds agree on anything? And how can they govern?
My conclusion is that this is not an Indian phenomenon only. Every country in the world including the western world has some of these situations prevailing within them in varying degrees.
No comments:
Post a Comment