One step forward... two behind.

A step in the right direction. Or is it merely an illusion? One designed to raise our hopes, when we are actually moving backwards. Regression is masked by the hype surrounding progress, thus blurring the actual picture. Or is it just confusion, misinterpreting the signs or just simply not knowing the correct way. Whatever may be the case, why do we always end up undoing the good work done, and compounding the problem, due to some irrational logic of ours. Why cant a nation of a billion people collectively find even one person with the ability to think clearly. Why cant we take a step forward, without going two in the opposite direction.

Consider this, and you will see how we work. The government of Maharashtra, apparently one fo the most forward states in the country, has banned the telecast of anything not having a 'U' certificate on the screen. When India had embraced satellite television in the early nineties, it wasn't to inundate the viewers with a host of saas-bahu serials, but to expose them to the world. The best cinema could be accessed in your house, from a classic such as 'Godfather' and the hard hitting bollywood 'Arth', to lighter fare such as the romantic comedy 'Pretty Woman'. But it seems that the Indian audience is not fit to handle this fare, and it has been decided that we are better off without them.

I dont think the audience is even mature enough to handle the news. Thats why newspapers and current event channels have been put under censorship. And the internet, one of the last unregulated places in the world has also seen a lot of restrictions. So while supposedly modern India has satellite receivers and broadband connections, all that they are able to access is the Orwellian view of the world.

Lest one thinks that the I&B ministry is at fault, I can name a lot of examples to prove my point. While the rest of the world is waking up to the phenomena of getting "Bangalored", we want to get them "Bengaluru-ed". Just think of the money and time wasted when we also got mumbaied, kolkatted or chennaied. I'm sure a few million hungry children would have appreciated a bowl of rice instead. And you know that the problem has reached it's height when the whole nation cannot decide whether to drop or select a player in its cricket team, and end up dropping and picking him for alternate matches, as if to keep both sides happy.

Why is it this way? Is it because as a nation, we are unable to handle the responsibility that comes along with the power. Or is it a mistrust, a sense of under-confidence that we just dont believe we are as good as much as we give ourselves credit for. Whatever may be the case, we need to decide on a path, one way or another, and stick to it. Just think about it, a fork in the road, one may lead you on the correct path, one down the wrong one. Even the wrong way, may eventually lead to the destination. But by going ten miles one way, turning back and then ten the other way doesnt really get you anywhere - all you have done is reached back to square one, and burnt a lot of gas during the ride.