No one can deliver “Mere Sapnon ka bharat” (India of my Dreams)

Last week, my son got a school assignment “mere sapnon ka bharat” (India of my dreams) and we discussed. I was really impressed by his thoughts and ideas. However, after we were done discussing, I started to think – How will India of my Dreams happen? Who can lead India to be a Dream India? My deep inference is – No One! Here’s my theory.

What are the first few things that come to your mind when you think of Dream India? I would categorize it into two parts, First is where you see India out of problems like poverty, child labour, people enjoying fundamental rights, no discrimination, basic needs fulfilled and responsible governance. I would call it India A “A not poor India”. The second is where you see India shining in the world, everyone is happy and enjoying life, India making new inventions and breakthroughs and leading the world – “An Abundant India” (India B) or a developed nation. Let’s see why its’ difficult to achieve India B.

India’s biggest strength is its vast population. So, India will become what 1.3 Billion people want it to become. The most significant step towards achieving that is our general elections. That’s where they get to choose who will deliver “unke sapnon ka bharat (their dream India)”. The first question you should be asking yourself at this point is whether you will vote for a person who is promising India A or India B. Many of you would want to go for option B but let me tell you, India B agenda will not win you the elections. The reason is the bad programming that’s been going into our minds for so many years. Let me share what I mean.

India being a developing nation has seen many challenges. Majority of the people here dream of miracles and super heroes and messiahs to come and save the country. Our childhood stories and film Industry has a huge impact on our day to day lives. An Industry that has programmed into people’s brain that the rich and powerful is evil and poor and weak is good. This feeling is so much programmed inside our minds that we almost pray the poor. You can look at some of the most the most successful movies India or even the world has produced. Be it “Lagaan” or “Om Shanti Om” or “The Titanic” or “Dhoom” or a “Krrish”. All these movies are about poor people being good and honest and kind hearted whereas the rich and famous being greedy and corrupt and the bad guys. That has become our belief system. That’s how we have been programmed and it has become part of DNA of the masses. It’s called poverty mindset, opposite of abundance mindset.

Let’s see another example. To win elections in India, all you need to do is to remind the 1.3 billion people how the rich and powerful of India are getting government contracts, getting away with crimes and looting the common man. The masses immediately feel connected to you, make them feel that you are one of them, “the aam aadmi” or “janta janardan”. To make yourself a hero, you need to give them a villain, no one better than the rich and the powerful. Then, you share your plans how you are going to provide them free education and electricity and food and shelter and jobs. Basically, how you can survive well. People’s memory is short term, some people are even willing to sell their vote for something as small as a blanket or a bottle of alcohol.

When such people come to power, they can try to eradicate poverty but they may never promote abundance because abundant India is something that people here don’t connect to and vote next time to. So, I started to believe that no one can deliver our Indian dream.

So, who and how will deliver Mere sapnon ka bharat? Let’s not give up. My belief is that it will take a lot of leadership to do so. APJ Abdul Kalam also had a vision India 2020 and I’m sure you also have one. If we want to see it happening, every Indian has to grow up. We have to believe in abundance and abundant mindset. Some of our political and business leaders are working towards a better India, we should trust them and support them instead of suspecting them. They can change the way people think. When 1.3 Billion people start thinking differently, then only we will move towards a dream India. Soch badlo, desh badlega.

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