The Indian dream!

What is an Indian Dream? Is Indian dream about attaining Nirvana and Moksha? Is it about fulfilment of human life through living a good life with freedom and attaining happiness? Is it about a good life with all material comforts? In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the divine ground of existence Brahma (creator of all beings) and the experience of blissful egoless; it is also the attainment of nirvana or moksha - the liberation from the repeating cycle of birth, life and death (reincarnation). In the Buddhist context nirvana refers to the imperturbable stillness of mind after the fires of desire, aversion, and delusion have been finally extinguished.  

Asks about the Indian dream to people in India, you get a different answer perhaps the end message is what matters ‘living a good, satisfying and fulfilling  life; life well lived!   Sounds easy but the journey is difficult as   collective national efforts are required to each other that each citizen help one another achieve the Indian dream!

Now let us in short examine “The American Dream”; the American dream is a set of ideals about a better, fuller and happy life for everyone with equal opportunity for each according to ability or achievement or hard work regardless of class or circumstances by birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Why an Indian dream?  The word “Indian dream” capture the imagination of the Indians and something that Indians are able to action, make each other accountable and responsible and realize human potential to fullest. The Indian Dream is what ensures every Indian irrespective of status the comforts, happiness, equal opportunity, justice, fraternity and liberty which ultimately leads to a blissful life a life well lived and remembered!  The Indian dream is necessary to hold all Indians together, to inspire, to get everyone pushing in the same direction and ensure accountability and responsibility for life that is well lived, is satisfying and fulfilling. Individual and collective accountability and responsibility will be required to ensure realisation of the Indian dream. Every one will be required to do their part; complaining, blaming others and procrastination will not help.

Where is the Indian dream defined? The Indian constitutional pledge ensures and secures the success, freedom and a blissful life for every citizen of India. Though not very clearly obvious and probably forgotten in the chaos of daily life, arguments on lack of  comforts and diversity on what is an Indian dream means to each individual, “the Indian dream“ is embedded in the constitution that secures to all its citizens JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all; FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.  

Does an Indian dream exist? The obvious answer is yes. India is littered with inspiring stories and many Indians are successful however most of it seems to have happened by chance or luck or inheritance (untrue). People do not give credit to the Indian systems and constitution, the democracy, individual freedom, diversity, complexity, culture and history, competition, individual hard work, determination, and skills. Naming a few only, Indian leaders like M/s Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar, now Narendra Modi et al, and successful businessmen Narayan Murthy, Azim Premji, Dhirubhai Ambani, et al were born with humble beginnings. These people despite odds succeeded by sheer hard work, focus, determination; the Indian political, economic, education, and judicial systems supported their journey and success. They humbly thrived on complexity, diversity, culture, values, hardship and the mess that India offered.

Many successful Indians have an easy time settling and working abroad as they had already managed and experienced the best or worst that India offered. The recent success of Satya Nadela as the CEO of Microsoft, Piyush Gupta the CEO of DBS, the many Deans at international schools, top and medium level executive’s and enter-pruners success at international level have to a lot extent been contributed by an Indian experience. Their success stories have an India DNA which also draws them back – whether the India DNA helped them succeed or made them rebels that ultimately helped them realize their full potential. Going by my own experience, the Indian DNA has also somewhat helped me succeed wherever I have worked or travelled; the Indian DNA with the international exposure is also a potent combination for professional and personal success.

Can the Indian dream be realized?  The constitution of India, the judicial, political, administrative, and education systems empowers the people of India and insures realisation of the Indian dream! If everyone takes it at heart and understand it clearly, ensures responsibility and accountability then the election mandates of political parties and bureaucratic polices just seems a rhetoric, noise and a cruel joke on Indians. 

2014 elections have been a watershed moment for India, a new decisive leader with a clear vision and mandate has been empowered by the people of India to realise their dreams and the Indian dream. There is a resurgence of hope that the new government and Mr Modi will help realize the Indian dream or at-least make it clearer to the people, bureaucracy and the political system on how to help people realize the dream. The new government will be required to do a lot of work that uplifts infrastructure, health, sanitation, education, pride and motivation, ensure meritocracy, etc. Mr Modi himself and his team is a meritocratic and self-made product of the Indian dream and the Indian system, it is obvious that the hope and aspirations of people are on the right horse. The motivation and momentum is building up which will only self-propel and succeed. Political parties and bureaucracy will work on an auto pilot to achieve the Indian dream and perpetuate the India story.

What is the ultimate goal of an Indian dream? The concept of Indian dream if implemented in substance and spirit will automatically lead Indians to access to basic necessities, safe, corrupt free, happy, respectful and caring society that ensures all round well-being, a life well lived and full human potential realized!  Just as the American dream is elusive for many Americans; Indian dream will will be elusive for many Indians until they accept that life well lived and full individual potential realized is the path to self realization. 

The Indian dream will automatically ensure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity among Indians and help realize individual potential. On a national level it will create a sense of nationalism which will inspire the pride or people and the nation. Happiness index will soar which will be self perpetuating. At an international level, India will potentially rise to be one of a respectable cultural, economic and political power.