Being the mother

A mother has an intrinsic hunch about her child's needs, be it nourishment for the body or the mind, and she provides naturally knowing what is best for her child. 

As a child I would wonder how my mother knew that I was up to mischief even though I would take all the care to hide my clandestine acts. So, whether it was stealing money from her purse to go and buy myself an ice cream from the local tuck shop or not finishing my homework feigning some illness or lying to stay over at a friends place for homework when actually it was for a party; mama somehow managed to get wind of things and quiz me in such a manner that would slowly but surely make me confess. 

What was awesome was that she never punished me. Yes, she made me aware and then proceeded to counsel me asking me why I did what I did and what the consequences could be for me to deal with. Eventually we would collectively conclude that I would not to do whatever I did again; and a lesson was entrenched for life!

When I became a mother I adopted the same philosophy of upbringing and added to this the freedom to question the ways of the world allowing them to make their own life's decisions on the value principles they wished to adopt. And I did so without judging my children or without an over bent bias. I did answer questions if they came to me for advice but largely I have let them take flight on their own terms. I did caution them of my fears and put things in perspective from my point of view but eventually let them ride the waves with their own skills and intellect. 

I trusted my upbringing and although there were times that their judgement proved wrong but dealing with that itself has been an education for them and they have come through stronger and with a larger belief in themselves and the confidence of soaring higher.

India wants more

Indians are a curious people. They have an unquenchable thirst for more. We believe in the word MORE, more than any nation. And this I believe is because we are used to plurality. For example, consider the number of languages, cuisine, cultures, clothing, Gods & Goddesses, customs, terrain, colour of skin etc. we have within our subcontinent. Clearly, variety is the name of the game and the people of this expansive land despite their strong individual belief have been accepting of the co-existing varieties that abound. And because there are so many types more often than not, in an average day you will witness or experience something new. The wonder of India is that there are are just so many types of Indians and ways of Indianness!  This typically Indian trait of wanting to see more has been captured beautifully in the #Amazon campaign "Aur Dikhao Aur Dikhao" 

This desire for more amongst Indians has grown multifold with the opening of markets and the internet. 

Today even the lower income group Indian is suddenly in touch with the world through handheld smart phones, sponging the juice that the world has to offer with an urgency like never before. It's almost like wanting to keep pace with the speed at which the world is forging ahead. Indians are an intelligent lot and have proved this on the world stage enough and more times. And yet there was a lack of exposure before the outburst of telecom across the country. With the onset of this revolutionary industry, the tiny screens have been made into a window to all that is happening in the world beyond. And we Indians are lapping it all up, learning from others, around the world. 

However, although it is great to ape the world for the amazing ways of life that they have achieved, Indians have to do so by sifting through what they see, hear and experience so that their minds and eyes open wider and they are willing to adopt newer ways of life that will enrich their otherwise rich culture and topography manifold. The quenching will undoubtedly take time but it will be sooner than later and before you know it they will be at par if not ahead of the world, as their desire for more ..will most certainly make them achieve more.