Random Musings

India. What does this word mean to you? In these times of social media, it is increasingly becoming clear that the circumstances we are passing through as a nation, are bringing out different versions of this out into the open. As an Indian who grew up in the 80s, my first impression of India was that of an old glorious civilization that had post centuries of foreign rule become poor and decadent. First it was the Muslims who invaded India and then it was the British. And while the British were truly oppressive and never integrated with India (unlike some of the Muslim rulers), finally they left and the modern Indian state came into existence.  This state though was nowhere close to the ancient splendor of "Bharat". It was inefficient, poor and grossly unjust and unfair. And under the great concepts of "unity in diversity" et.al. lay an ugly underbelly - the horrors of partition and a wide Hindu - Muslim divide. This divide erupted from time to time in riots i...