India - London - India

I don't want to sound like I am criticizing my country and that I dislike it. India is a beautiful place, with amazing food, amazing hearts, heritage and culture. The love for one's own family here is commendable. I would not want to brag about how good it is, because I think everyone is aware of it.

I am not into politics at all. I do cast my vote, but that's about it. Politics never caught my attention. Bt now, something strange happened. It was always there. It always happened. But spending 40 days in London and coming back gives me a realization that why did it not bother me before.

I was amazed last night thinking about why I would have a sleepless night thinking about ghoos and corruption. It never bothered me before.

Apparently, my sister wanted me to get her an I-phone 5 from UK since it had released there already and I had an allowance to get it to India as well. The procedure was to book it online, wait for the confirmation, and buy it from the shop the next day. Since there was a shortage of stock, my repeated attempts to book the phone failed. I kept trying for a week, and then decided to visit all shops and try to get a phone by paying a bit extra as a 'penalty'. I am not proud of it at all. But well, I tried. I tried to emotionally get them to give me a phone as well, saying it was my wedding gift to my wife, or my parent's anniversary gift. All my efforts failed. I did not really feel bad because that was fair for everyone who was waiting for the phone. (I did get one booked later, btw)

The system impressed me. No one was ready for the corruption. It was the laws or mindset, I do not know, but it was wow.

The reason I am writing this now is what happened when I reached India.

MY first 20 minutes after landing.

Tired, I get off my flight and went to the luggage collection area.

A stranger walked up to me and asked me for the code on my luggage bag.

Shocked, I asked him why?

'I could help you get your luggage sooner out from the flight. Just give me Rupees 500'

I had never heard of that before really.

On shooing him away, I met another guy right before the customs.

He told me he would take me through the green channel if I paid him a 1000. I told him I have nothing to hide from the customs, so I can cross without a problem.

He started trying to scare me off by saying that the custom officers wouldn't leave me and I would cry with blood, and such crap.

He said he knew the custom officer and could drop me off the channel.

I told him I have nothing to declare and know the law, so i don't need to worry and moved ahead. Nothing happened really.

Right when I reached outside the airport, I realized I had to make a call and my sim-card wasn't activated yet.. Someone noticed this and offered to help. I thought that was sweet, when I later realized he was reading the flight tags on my bags. He asked me a dinar for it. 200 Rs for a call, when I could make it in 1 Rupee. I refused and asked him where the payphone was. He said it was on the other end of the airport, and he would let me call for a pound. (Rs 85)

After some bargaining, he agreed for Rs 5 (LOL) and let me give a missed call.

Corruption is not only at the top level, but at every step. It has seeped into our mentalities. It makes me feel so helpless and disgusted with the quality of thinking people are developing. It always existed, but seeing that a nation could be free from it, I now realize that it wouldn't change unless we compare it to other countries. Blaming the government for the scams is right and must be done, but then, it's also time to introspect how corrupt we unknowingly have become.

The ministers in other nations do not have a red light and 500 guards for their security. I am no Aseem Trivedi, but in my own way, I would like to be like one someday.

Anyway, this blog has never seen anything like this before, but it was just necessary to blurt it out.

As for my trip: Aaah !

It was mind blowing. The sophistication, the accent, the markets, the Turkish and Mexican food, the clubs, the     bars, the bridges, the cafes, the cupcakes, the English breakfast, the museums, the gardens.

The chilly weather, the rains, the enunciation of vowels, the photo shootings, the relatives, the cute shops, the giant ones, missing the family, the freedom to walk, the freedom to talk, the freedom to laugh, the late nights, the casinos, the pool, the bowling, the movies, the strolling.

One amazingly long vacation, and a very beautiful one.