10 Jun 2015

Even The Myanmar Attack Can’t Make Us Less Indian

I’m happy. In a hitherto unheard instance, the Indian Army entered Myanmar and avenged the loss of their brothers. Army officials stated that about 100 insurgents were killed and there has been no counter from them so far. Neither the media nor the terrorists’ intelligence sources saw this coming. The operation was covert, carried out in cooperation with the Myanmar government, and has made us Indians feel proud and secure. A lot of credit for this goes to Narendra Modi’s foreign visit policy.

Apparently I am not alone. Millions of other Indians are happy too. Twitter and WhatsApp are filled with updates on how proud the army has made us feel. Some friends and I were discussing this on a WhatsApp group. And then, one of them wrote “Myanmar is okay, Pakistan is different. It’s like the difference between nuke and a hand grenade.” In short, he implied that the army will only have proved its mettle if it attacks Pakistan.

myanmar attack Indian army


At first, I was livid. I seethed for about an hour. Then, my anger turned to pity. It reminded me of my younger days. Once I had scored 60 out of 75 in Algebra. Just once! I was so happy that I mentally was announcing it to the world from atop Mount Everest. Mom, however, thought differently. “Good”, she said “but what was the highest score?” Experience had taught me that when it came to studies, every time my mother said “good”, it was followed with a “but”. And my mom wasn’t the only person, was she? No. Indian parents have a reputation to uphold, and by not doing this, they are probably letting themselves down. 

It’s not just Indian parents who indulge in comparison. This sort of behavior and thinking reflects an Indian resident’s lifestyle. Indians are unhappier than Pakistanis. Can you believe that! We’re more frustrated than Pakistan, though everything we have is a hundred-fold more than them.

I think that globalization has made us Indians take what we have for granted. Nothing is enough, and that’s why Amazon’s Aur dikhao (show me more) resonates so much with us. The outburst of things to possess has driven us insane. If we don’t have more than the person beside us, we have failed (or so we are made to believe). We have become slaves to the media. Traits like appreciation, gratitude and contentment are just good for talks in a satsangh: ironic, considering that our scriptures teach more contentment and less desire. It reflects even in our conversations. Talk to someone about something you did or intend on doing, and they instantly plug themselves into the conversation. Comparisons begin, advice is doled out without asking, you’re often made aware of ‘how wrong’ you are… it’s all about how you stack up against them.

It’s time to evolve beyond the conventional mindset that has been a part of us for decades. Stop comparing events and people. Appreciate unconditionally, and be happy for what you have. Silently thank God (or your stars, if you are an atheist) for small things that you are fortunate to receive. And quit saying that your life is f*cked and you don’t have anything to be thankful for. If you can read this post, it alone means that you are more fortunate than 75 percent of the world’s population. If you earn 5 figures monthly, you are more fortunate than 90 percent of India’s population. If you have an iPhone, you are more fortunate than me ;)


Practicing appreciation is not difficult. This is not about appreciating the Indian army or the Modi government (though you should). Appreciate small things that people do, or their feelings when they share some thoughts with you. Quit undermining someone’s accomplishments by comparing them with yours. Be grateful for family and friends, learn to live with less, and witness your own life become happier. And since you influence those closest to you, you will spread happiness in their lives too. Now isn’t that something worth living for!

51 comments :

  1. Very well compiled article, Vishy. Excellent work done there. You have me totally floored

    ReplyDelete
  2. Its me who my friend is quoting here in this article. My friend I am misquoted here. I meant if Myanmar terrorist had retaliated they would have with grenades, but you know the kind of deep linking the govt of oak has with the terrorist. They will not hesitate or even have a second thought to use a nuclear weapon to retaliate on India.
    Having said that, I am an Indian and have no doubts about the capabilities of the Indian army, navy or the air force. I have a few friends in the army and navy and I know what's happening on the border with all the updates that I get on WhatsApp. So no one other than me is more elated by the success of this operation.
    But I will still say Pakistan is a different ball game all together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what this article is about, Pratik. Stop trying to compare these insurgents to Pakistanis and saying that something else is a different ball game. We are no one to comment on what Pakistan is capable of while sitting in air conditioned offices...

      For once, appreciate unconditionally... not just the army, but anyone in your life...

      Delete
  3. There is nothing unconditional in life. And I did not criticize the army but I am just saying that Pakistan is different from Myanmar.
    Pakistan will require more than such acts both on the military and political front. In fact both together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a lot that is unconditional in life, Pratik... I know people who experience and share unconditional love and contentment every day. But because we Indians choose not to discover it, we rank a poor 117th on the World Happiness Index...

      I don't think you have understood (or will understand) the point this post is trying to make... So I rest my case...

      Delete
  4. Well we have made a start in some action from just lip service ... so let us hope the momentum continues.. I am not much worried about the talkers around...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great response Prasad... Thanks for dropping by...

      Delete
  5. I think the response from many people about the army action was cynical because that is the way we've become -- cynical and sneering. It could also be because some people have an intense loathing for the Modi government and just cannot give them credit for anything.

    About your larger point, I completely agree. Gratitude for everything big and small is what we need to practise. It will make us compassionate and happier. Some people I know maintain a journal where they write 10 things at the end of day they're grateful for. It is something wonderful to do before hitting the bed. Great introspective post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Loved the point about being grateful before hitting the bed... Thanks Rachna...

      Delete
  6. There is nothing unconditional in life. And I did not criticize the army but I am just saying that Pakistan is different from Myanmar.
    Pakistan will require more than such acts both on the military and political front. In fact both together.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The big point to be made here is that creating a site for beginners is always a good idea if it’s done well, because there will always be new beginners, so your audience can only grow (as long as your topic stays popular, which WordPress has).

    ReplyDelete
  8. This blog takes the opposite approach and is all about atheism, and creates post on atheist news and issues.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great way to gain notoriety for a blog: pick a hot topic and stir up some debate, while still maintaining integrity by not being overly aggressive or indigent.

    ReplyDelete
  10. If there was ever a site that showcases the power of List Posts, here it is!One thing even I don’t get is that this site get’s authors to guest post, but doesn’t even give them a link…

    ReplyDelete
  11. This blog has gotten a lot of press, and one main thing the authors tout is their tiny kitchen.This selling point related to a lot of folks: you can make great meals even in a small kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is a comparing card game played between two hands, the "player" and the "banker". Each baccarat coup (round of play) has three possible outcomes https://www.dongtra.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well, for the maximum possible winning potential you should of course play with all the paylines active. If it’s a jackpot game you’ll usually be required to have all paylines active to be in with a chance of winning the jackpot. However, with that being said you should only be playing with what you can afford, so as long as you are playing responsibly it’s up to you how many paylines you have active. https://www.bme787.com/ 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  14. You’ve probably heard the saying “The house always wins.” As a new casino patron learning the game, you’re likely to lose money at the start. It takes time to understand the rules, come up with a strategy, and start seeing the rewards.

    Ryan Craggs, a contributor at Thrillist.com, wrote that he once saw a guy with a limited income lose $10,000 over the span of just a few hours. The guy told everyone at the table, “My pacemaker can’t take this.” Whether true or not, these types of negative statements are a real turnoff to others. https://www.cn-agency.com/ 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  15. In September 2017, Save The Children’s local chapter took the issue to the court, pressing charges against Boram’s guardians. qq
    카지노사이트
    호게임
    카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  16. Manuel Antonio National Park, an hour to the south, has easy trails through the coastal rainforest. The park’s white sand beaches are a bonus. https://www.jackpotcasino77.com/ 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  17. Welcome to my website. Thank you very much. There are many games to play. I hope you have a good time.
    https://www.woorigame7.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I always find the best way to get comments is to make a blatant typo or high-profile grammatical error. Works, a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  19.  I wrote “compell” instead of “compel” earlier in a comment. Gah. Writer suicide, especially for someone like me who uses a blog as a portfolio.

    ReplyDelete
  20.  Very good – and I also specifically address people by name and speak to them directly, leaving general comments at the bottom of my comment section. I also reply to *each* person, even if it’s just to say thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gotcha on the format. But considering that people need to be hooked right from the start in a split second, how would you start with your conclusion and grab that interest? Dare you to write a post…

    ReplyDelete
  22.  That is a great point. YES. I’ve noticed men are direct and post a comment that states their opinion (usually firmly). They don’t ask questions. They tell it like it is. I think women tend to encourage or express emotions of how they felt in a similar situation (don’t piss them off, though).

    ReplyDelete
  23. https://www.zxc66.org/ 안전놀이터
    https://www.zxc66.org/onlinecasino/ 온라인카지노
    https://www.zxc66.org/about/ 카지노게임사이트
    https://www.zxc66.org/yes/ 예스카지노
    https://www.zxc66.org/king/ 더킹카지노
    https://www.zxc66.org/first/ 퍼스트카지노

    ReplyDelete
  24. https://www.bme787.com/ 카지노사이트
    https://www.bme787.com/yescasino11/ 예스카지노
    https://www.bme787.com/thekingo/ 더킹카지노
    https://www.bme787.com/firstcasino11/ 퍼스트카지노

    ReplyDelete
  25. That all together is enough to make a convincing case for why football accumulators are such a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Aaron Gunderson, a contributor to SafeWise.com, shares that part of being a defensive driver means you never assume anything when you’re on the road.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The resort reduced the amount of plastic waste by 1.2 tons. This impressive figure can stand in many world casinos’ portfolios, they just have to follow the example of Resorts World Sentosa.
    https://www.top-onca.com 카지노사이트
    https://www.top-onca.com/sands 샌즈카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/king 더킹카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/first 퍼스트카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/the9 더존카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/yes 예스카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/mobile 슈퍼카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/coin 33카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/007 개츠비카지노
    https://www.top-onca.com/wooricasino 카지노쿠폰

    ReplyDelete
  28. The UK’s best online casinos all offer an instant play platform, but not all operators offer a download client. We have sought out those that do and put them to the test.
    https://www.cgg900.com/world

    ReplyDelete
  29. if you Love Sports Betting https://www.btlcasino.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Okada Manila, DeCree explains, would deliver Sands https://www.bomnar33.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. The company was encouraged by net revenue and recent acquisitions of new properties in Missouri and West Virginia and is looking forward to a full re-opening. https://www.euve777.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. https://www.oac900.com
    https://www.oac900.com/first
    https://www.oac900.com/sands
    https://www.oac900.com/liveca
    https://www.oac900.com/livebroadcast
    https://www.oac900.com/livecasino
    https://www.oac900.com/koreacasino
    https://www.oac900.com/sgame
    https://www.oac900.com/blackjack
    https://www.oac900.com/roulette

    ReplyDelete
  33. 즐기면 운이 따른다 샌즈카지노 https://www.dnfl150.com/sands

    ReplyDelete
  34. 더킹 카지노https://www.dnfl150.com/theking

    ReplyDelete
  35. 예스카지노 https://www.dnfl150.com/yes

    ReplyDelete
  36. 퍼스트카지노 https://www.dnfl150.com/first

    ReplyDelete
  37. 조이카지노 https://www.dnfl150.com/joy

    ReplyDelete
  38. 로열카지노https://www.dnfl150.com/royal

    ReplyDelete
  39. 스타클럽카지노https://www.dnfl150.com/starclub

    ReplyDelete
  40. 아시안카지노https://www.dnfl150.com/asian"


    ReplyDelete
  41. 슈퍼맨카지노https://www.dnfl150.com/superman

    ReplyDelete
  42. Nos ocupamos del arreglo de toda clase de equipos: lavadoras, secadoras, lavavajillas, microondas, vitrocerámicas, calentadores, termos, calderas… disponemos de los medios técnicos más avanzados de nuestro sector. Llámenos si tiene una avería en su Lavadoras Bosch y le demostraremos la excelencia de nuestro SERVICIO TÉCNICO, usted comprobará la calidad, economía y rapidez de nuestro trabajo, tal y como ya lo han hecho otras personas de Madrid y han quedado encantados con nuestro SERVICIO TÉCNICO DE Lavadoras Bosch.
    Life Experience Degree

    ReplyDelete
  43. You must also perform a little research. Know the kinds of outdoors pets that live in the forests and acquire knowledge of any harmful snakes or plants in close proximity. Monitor the elements. Rainfall or other situations may affect your journey efforts and your expertise with the campsite. Ensure that you have equipment that is certainly ideal for the weather conditions circumstances that you may possibly face. Change your leaving time as essential to attempt to prevent the bulk of the bad weather, when possible. 
    Life Experience Degrees

    ReplyDelete
  44. 진행하는 이벤트 외에 다양한 활동쿠폰을 지급함으로써 우리카지노 이용자분들이 만족을 느낄 수 있도록 최선을 다하고 있습니다. 우리카지노 외의 카지노 업체 또한 모두 3년 이상 운영 된 온라인 시장에서 검증 된 곳만 추천해드리고 있습니다메리트카지노.

    ReplyDelete

badge UA-22264662-1