On Sunday evening (29th Aug), I was traveling from jaipur to gurgaon by train in the evening. in my compartment a german born austrian resident was sitting. as only angrej in the compartment, every passerby passengers were staring him. before i start my story, let me take you through what happened in my home town 8-10 days back.
There were college election in rajgarh college, some students attacked DSP, Kotwal of police deptt. three of them were seriously injured and admitted to hospitals in jaipur. Police arrested 19 students (according to unconfirmed news mostly were not students, they were part of group). All students belonged to one particular community, very dominated in my area and nearby. So one of the tallest leader of that community, and sitting MP ( not from my constituency) came to Rajgarh and protested against police. They sat on dharna on Railway tracks on the same date i was travelling.
so come back to angrej story.. Train stopped at Bandikui Rly Station (30 km from my hometown). Now this german guy stepped out of train and was wondering why train stopped. I went to him, smiled and then told that there are some technical issues with tracks. After that we started some general conversation as I also getting bored. after 30 min he asked again what's exact problem. so I described like this
me : there are some political protest by students and they are sitting on tracks, not allowing trains to pass through. this kind of protest are very common and probably are not good sign of democracy.
Angrej : really, in Europe, we have to give advance notice for protest and we are not allowed to stop the public transport. But I think you have more freedom here that you can raise your voice. I also believe that there are problem employment and poverty. I have read that after 60 years of independence Indian government is not able to solve this problem. People lives in hell situation.
this discussion went on, I took balanced approach. Train was still at bandikui station. we both got tired and went inside our compartment. and some further discussion from politics to caste, society, corruption etc...
me: how strong is family and marriage as an institution for you or in Europe.
Angrej: my family members are like my friend. I took advices from them but it is upto me to take it or not. I am not dependent on them. we all sat together and dine. during my childhood, my mom used to stop me where i am going and with whom.. but not now.. its not necessary for me to get married for having child. but there is a catch as pregnancy case on rise at earlier age. a child is becoming parent, bad for our society. I think we need to correct this situation.. What about you??
me: family are utmost important for us, We take family's permission and suggestion for a big decision. though in large city area where intellectual people are more they opt for nuclear family... trying to adopt european culture.. for a normal indian, its tough to get marry with a girl of his choice.. family has to accept that.. but now things are changing..
angrej: why you are saying that people are attracting towards european culture.. is it bad? people should have independence.
me: there is nothing wrong with your system because its working for you.. but it cant be for us.. if we try to inculcate the european culture.. neither we will be european nor indian.. he laughed and same me...
some futher discussion on those line than shifted to Asian countries and their power.. by this time we spent two and half hour at Bandikui Rly Station. finally train started...
me: I dont perceive pakistan as a threat to our nation but definitely from China.. Thanks God we have nuke weapons, which we called as weapon of peace.. Due to that we have peace on our borders.. But china got guts and any day they can encroach upon us. No europe and US can stop them..
Angrej : got some josh, you think nukes are good, my country doesnt have. but we are doing fine...you think that china can come and drop bomb on you, its a global era.. European and US will step forward and will stop anyway this kind of situation.
me: China has got more than 1 trillion USD on USA. think how much power they have.. I dont think Europe have got that power to oust China..China is causing petty troubles daily. but not direct confrontation due to the fact that we also got some nukes.
Angrej: its crazy man, why you think that.. whats the need of this..
me: During Indira Gandhi's first instinct as PM, we had to face shortage of food grains.. not many countries came forward to help. We didnt have good relation (not even normal) with USA. after the first bomb test, world took us seriously. and our situation improved after 1998 bomb test.. and after that we have never looked back. Every country want to have business and political relations with us. which was not a condition prior to that.. Though we are IT Superpower.. but bomb test opened the gate for us...
Angrej: (got more crazy after listening to me) let me tell you the fact, We European have purely business relation with India. do you think that we are interested in 100% indian population. Europe doesnt care about 95% of indian population. They are only interested in 5% of population. which have enough money to buy are product...
me: Dont worry they will be interested in 100%, we are on the verge to become developed nation. whatever may be the reason, Indian voices are being heard globally. Thats more than satisfactory for me..
My destination arrived, I shook hand with him ( we didnt ask each other's name) and told that Earth is round, we will meet again somewhere................
