tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post614197619264377153..comments2023-03-25T17:42:33.902+05:30Comments on Shooting Hoops: Origins of Indians anti-community behaviourNandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-48156276531934392542012-02-22T15:02:06.085+05:302012-02-22T15:02:06.085+05:30One more article on the same subject published by ...One more article on the same subject published by Deccan Herald..<br /><br />http://www.deccanherald.com/content/229049/a-nation-anarchists.htmlNandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-44870374543149973252011-03-14T16:54:42.712+05:302011-03-14T16:54:42.712+05:30Deccan Herald published these thoughts of Manu Jos...Deccan Herald published these thoughts of Manu Joseph which I thought was relevant to my post here!<br />http://www.deccanherald.com/content/142842/creating-society-unable-truly-respect.html<br />She suggests that for Indians "practicality" is above all rules and systems and values.<br />Well... it is true. That is indeed how a majority think. She uses the word <i>Jugaad</i> to describe it.<br />Reason for us being like that... is <i>it is a crucial survival tool in a difficult nation</i><br />Have to agree.Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-66335382955388650732010-12-29T16:39:56.186+05:302010-12-29T16:39:56.186+05:30@Bhaskar, thanks for sharing your thoughts. You ha...@Bhaskar, thanks for sharing your thoughts. You have picked one of the reasons, which lack of enforcements. That, I agree with you, is true for many instances. Ex, speeding, jumping signals, crossing over the divider, parking. <br /><br />However, it does not answer for other instances where punishment or penalty is not applicable. Ex. A Q to buy tickets to enter a park. People automatically form a line and patiently wait without anybody telling and with no threat of punishment. Here.. you know the story. <br /><br />Adding one more possible reason that a friend of mine gave. He goes by the theory that because western countries have to cope with a severe winter every year, they inherently learn to be community minded and co-operate with each other. Unlike our tropical weather where we can find food all around the year, being individual has more advantages. <br /><br />Interesting is all I can say! :)Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-17854406758110343072010-12-28T16:34:23.616+05:302010-12-28T16:34:23.616+05:30This is an oft repeated rant (for want of a better...This is an oft repeated rant (for want of a better word). In my jaundiced view, the biggest problem is that of enforcement. When we (indians) travel or stay abroad, we follow the rules to the T, primarily because we know the penalties are indeed very high for breaking the rules. In Bangalore, we care a damn for the rules - if i am caught jumping a signal, the fine is Rs.100/- which does not pinch most vehicle drivers. Or pay the cop Rs.200 - 500 (depending on your negotiating skill) if you are caught for drunken driving and you can scoot. Hence with low fines and lax enforcement, most people dont bother. Even if you are caught and dont pay, the authorities cant catch you. So you are free to do as you wish. Hence people ride without helmets, on the pavements, on the right hand side of the road - oblivious to any danger they are causing to others. I remember a long time ago - 1984 or 85, in front of the town hall circle, there used to be a black board with letters printed in bold in white : SPOT FINE Rs.100/- FOR CROSSING THIS WHITE LINE DURING RED SIGNAL. Everyone used to gingerly wait (and err on the side of caution) and then cross the white line after the signal turned green. I dont know a single road where you have a yellow line in the centre - earlier this would be the holy grail - nobody would cross this. While I agree that discipline has to start with me before i can expect others to follow, unless there is the "dhanda", nothing's going to happen.<br /><br />BhaskarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-67911413396345695752010-11-13T13:44:06.260+05:302010-11-13T13:44:06.260+05:30Just adding a point. The book by Raghunath is base...Just adding a point. The book by Raghunath is based mostly around the Prisoners Dillema game theory problem<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_dilemma<br /><br />While discussion this with a friend, he suggested, we go for the high pay-off possibility even though it could backfire because of opportunism among Indians due to resource constraints. Ex: Our roads are not that wide..if it was..we would be more civil to each other.<br /><br />I dont buy it, but it was worthwhile to add it here....Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-37919575695144390852010-03-30T09:54:21.683+05:302010-03-30T09:54:21.683+05:30Pushpa,
Ya sulekha would be nice, but I need to th...Pushpa,<br />Ya sulekha would be nice, but I need to think it through a bit more for consumption there...<br />I seriously dont think we are changing much. Even people like me, who know whats right sometimes slip because thats the way it is here. "In Rome, do as the Romans do!".<br />But as you say, I try my best to do the right as much as I can which I hope sets a good example to the younger generation around me...Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-49761485670372774312010-03-24T05:47:15.079+05:302010-03-24T05:47:15.079+05:30this is a good blog.. wonder why you did not put i...this is a good blog.. wonder why you did not put it on sulekha for consumption by a bigger audience :)<br /><br />anyways - i am glad i read this though i must admit i have no answers. like our previous president pointed out or atleast they said so in a forwarded email that indians in a foreign country would behave so well and on returning to his country would spit at the roadside etc. i feel it is changing with our generation or atleast pray so. why wait for a revolution? atleast let us - you, me, and a discerning few start now! never too late :)Pushpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13823685283028738230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-9442545236143399002010-03-22T15:56:13.419+05:302010-03-22T15:56:13.419+05:30Eshwar,
Thats a good, interesting observation. It ...Eshwar,<br />Thats a good, interesting observation. It is true that in India more than other countries, family comes first. That can explain looking the other way when relatives err. <br />But I dont see how it fits into daily obnoxious habits. <br />I think your point is that, others dont matter. Hence, people tend to behave selfishly in the public.<br />Somehow, I am unable to connect the 2.<br />I think you are looking at the bigger picture of why netas are corrupt and what motivates them to pile up truckloads of illegal earnings to the detriment of the larger community or country.<br />And I am only thinking of the small things like, parking right in front of a shop which will block half the road when 10-20mtrs ahead there is better spot. <br />I guess it is the refusal to see things as it affects the larger community that you say is due to our pro-family thinking.<br />Not sure....but good point! :)Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-43338181871779062242010-03-14T23:45:21.423+05:302010-03-14T23:45:21.423+05:30Hi Nanda,
I want to offer another reason why we...Hi Nanda,<br />I want to offer another reason why we're anti-community. It's because the only institution that has survived in our country unscathed is the family.<br />Everything happens because of, due to and for the family. Neither the larger community exists, nor does the individual. Every Indian family is a corporate house, fiercely protecting its own welfare. Every member in the family is part of the family collective. None of them exist in isolation.<br />So the boundaries are drawn around our compound walls. Everything outside those walls can perish for all we care.<br />That's why our babus and netas are corrupt. They're doing it for their kids and the kids of their kids. And why wouldn't they? They're being true to their "nation".<br />Of course, I'm generalizing. Deliberately so. But hope I was able to convey my drift.<br />We don't have a larger social identity at all.<br />Thankfully, things are changing.Eshwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985808192086167029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-80648100989821659002009-11-15T06:59:30.298+05:302009-11-15T06:59:30.298+05:30Charitha,
Thanks for some excellent points.
True, ...Charitha,<br />Thanks for some excellent points.<br />True, tolerance for obnoxious behaviour is low in other countries. Here there even if you point out something to the offending person, chances are 50-50 that he will argue back rather than being apologetic. <br />Evolution of mind is what I liked best. Bad community behvaviour can be because of primitive thinking. However, sometimes it is done by folks who are otherwise brilliant in their careers. That is an enigma. I suppose we have to differentiate intellectual capacity from our normal decision making capacity, ie inner conscience and ethical thinking which does not need any formal education. Very good and advanced in the first but badly lacking in the latter?Nandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12834117943572633726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30763498.post-12520373934423791772009-11-11T01:50:52.701+05:302009-11-11T01:50:52.701+05:30We do not see this in other countries as much beca...We do not see this in other countries as much because of the low tolerance to such behavior, People behaving like this will not be on the streets, because they will be either behind bars or their driver's license confiscated. This holds true for more serious misconduct.<br />Trying to explain the other more trivial misbehavior is a little difficult.<br /> Life is always full of choices, whether to do the right thing or that which is good [ good to oneself but not to others/ selfish].The basis for all selfish actions is primitive mind and primitive thought process. <br />Just as the human form has evolved from aquatic animals, amphibians etc.. human mind too has evolved from primitive mind. Some of us still cling on to the primitive mind which leads to selfish actions. The goal of life is to train and evolve the mind so that it listens to the intellect and does the right thing.<br />I agree with you when you summarize at the end that we should all wake up and listen to our intellect which has the discriminative power to do the right thing at all times and in all kinds of situations. <br />Thanks for posting, kept my mind busy thinking about the evolution of mind for a while. And I do not think this behavior is exclusive to any particular community/ region. It is a problem of the homo sapiens. Man is an animal and remains so unless he develops virtues to become human.....Charitha Sridharnoreply@blogger.com