Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Indian Dream

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 3; the third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-A-Ton

I have lived outside the country for most of my childhood years. While I spent my precious little adolescent years in the big bang city of Mumbai. In what little life I have lived I have been able to do what few people of my age have done, look at India from perspective of an outsider.

My Indian dream has shifted shape and changed colours over the years as I have grown from an innocent kid to a silently rebellious adolescent and now a more mature young adult.

Here I try to trace and chronicle that overcharging dream.

An Innocent Dream:

Being away from the real India and with little knowledge that I had about it from my yearly vacations to Mumbai, History and Geography textbooks and Rudyard Kipling’s stories, everything was just a passing dream a month long respite from daily routine, no school and freedom to do whatever I wished.

It was where I loved getting pampered by my grandparents, listening to the older children narrate ghost stories sitting in the society garden, being awed by the magnitude of devotees at the temple and watching the world go by from the window of a local train.

Innocence of childhood allowed me to experience the people, places, aromas and colours around me without any inhibitions.

A Shattered Dream:

I moved to Mumbai in my early teens. That’s when I got to experience the real thing. It was no more just a vacation, it was real life.

As I grew up in the big bad city, I realised a few things I hadn’t noticed before. Time and chhutta (change) were precious commodities and nobody was generous enough to lend you either. “All Indians are my brothers and sisters” was just another line from a long forgotten pledge, in reality the state boundaries not only separated the states but also they also alienated you from the Haryanvi vendor who sold you veggies, South Indian coconut seller whose coconut water quenched your parched throat and Maharashtrian dabbawallah who brought your daily tiffin. The adolescents like me, considered to be either rote-learning machines or temperamental hooligans, were never to be taken seriously.

I was enraged and frustrated at what I saw, heard and felt. I was an outcast not belonging to any community or region or even age group. I couldn’t do anything about the wrongs nor could I find the rights.

A Reawakening:

As life moved on many events occurred, which forced me to change my perspective. The Jessica Lall murder case made me understand that the masses still understood the difference between right and wrong, justice and prejudice and did not want to remain mere bystanders. The 26/11 taught me that humanity could be found among the very people, who I thought to be indifferent, in the darkest of times. Youngsters who work for charity, spreading environmental awareness and many other issues in NGOs made me realize that we, the youth, could bring about a change and gain the respect we deserved from the society. Such and many more lessons I have learnt and am still to learn in coming years.

In a way I have awakened to the one thing that drives us all – Hope. I have hope that India will turn out better than what it was and is with the efforts of all those who have a vision for India, of their own, their own Indian dream.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following

Blog-a-Ton.

22 comments:

Guria said...

Short, sweet and eloquent. Reawakening indeed and it is the hope that takes us forward. I like the tone, the spirit infused in the whole post. And the gradual pace. All the best for Blog-a-Ton 3! :)

narendra said...

this is definitely one of my favorites...i love the simplicity and not so much criticism and controversial stuff..u have high chances in my list :)

only that you must end your post with the html code given int he blog-a-ton blog...

MADHU RAO | (INDImag.COM) said...

ARJuna,
Simple, eloquent and sincere. It feels like it came from the heart and does not mince words.

"Time and chhutta (change) were precious commodities and nobody was generous enough to lend you either"

So true :-)

Pramathesh said...

Innocent Expressions. I really liked it.

Nανєєη said...

Changing perspective ... Good

"The adolescents like me, considered to be either rote-learning machines or temperamental hooligans, were never to be taken seriously."

This is happening everywhere :(

Siddhesh Kabe said...

Nice and sweet post

All Talk and No Action said...

good to see you back !

Nice little post...

Anonymous said...

I really liked it.. the best part about your post is that you have put some personal instances!! great!

Shruti said...

Short,sweet and cute! Relating personal experiences with Indian Dream! Nice!

Chetan Maheshwari said...

good one
truly original, and from your heart

ARJuna said...

Firstly @ Narendra
Thank you, I noticed the missing text but was in a hurry to get the post published and rush to bed so I have done the needful as soon as signed into blogger.

Sojo Varughese said...

Beautifully written and straight from the heart :) Liked the way you laid out the change in your perspective as you grew up :)

aativas said...

I like the way you expressed it.

Vipul Grover said...

Hey, ARJuna that was sch a refreshing post - sweet and simple. I rmmbr u wnt 4 sumthing similar evn in Blog-a-Ton 1 but u definitely gave in more feelings nd time 2 this one.
Jus loved each and every stage of ur dream- the innocent one was cute, the shattered one was a reality bite and the reawkening one, a reassurance.
Kudos.. keep reflecting:)

ARJuna said...

@Guria,Madhu,MrPrathamesh,Shruti, Chetan,Sojo,Swami,Sid,Evanescent,Vipul and All Talk
I can't tell how glad I am to recieve all your great feedback. I am at loss for words and so decided to address all of you together. Thank you for your support and encouragement thats what makes Blog-a-ton special for me. Thank you once again

Gomathy S said...

Let me tell you..you kept the pace..it was like watching a movie or reading an autobiography... beautifully written post..
but it ended abruptly may be I wanted more of it :)...

Prashansa said...

A true to heart post! I think we all go thro' these stages and gain maturity in our Indian dream factor.

Saimanohar said...

“All Indians are my brothers and sisters” was just another line from a long forgotten pledge, this really got me thinking boss..great one. .

Guria said...

Congartulations on tying in the second place of blo-a-Ton 3! I loved your post and you deserved it. You were my second vote (that got cancelled :P) you know! :)

Stu said...

Hello Arjuna,

Ill leave you with another thought, there is the Muslim neighbour and my mom and she are chatting together- like friends often do, find comfort and depart from the angst people close to you often cause, there is a culture difference, a difference in sensibilities, hearts open and a melody flows and that binds them.
So there are these various ways of division like language ,religion ,culture, they are also ties that bind.:-))

Really appreciate your comment thanks a ton

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Guria said...

Award for you! Go check! :)