This posting is in response to an article in Today's TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1093110.cms
I am not sure whether to call it irony or paradox – but it sure is confusing to me. As a culture and religion – Indians puts a lot of emphasis on collectivism. Society is much more important compared to an individual. Western culture – particularly capitalism on the other hand is much more individualistic. One is expected to be ambitious, work towards goals that lead to self-fulfillment and so on and so forth.
Why is it then that Indians find it terribly difficult to contribute to and serve the society? If you look at politics in schools and colleges – bright students will always avoid it and student organizations are most often filled with goons. You would find people follow a linear path. A good student is expected to get good marks in 10th standard, take up either biology or math to get into either a good med school or an engineering college. Preferably do an MBA from a good school and then get a good job. There is no deviation from the path – and if there is any it is met with raised eyebrows. Taking time out in school life for volunteer work, sports or politics is simply considered a waste of time.
I am not aware of how it goes in the UK – but I've discovered that the US is a society built on volunteers. People go out and do all kinds of volunteer work. Students volunteer for pet societies, working people volunteer for public radio, the list is virtually endless. This social interaction is just the first step towards taking bigger leadership role in society – the culmination of which is of course running for an elected office.
But even in the US – one does not find too many Indians going out and doing any kind of social volunteer work. We come here on H1B visas, get green card if we are lucky, do our jobs, raise our kids hoping them to imbibe with “Indian” values always worried that they should not become like “American kids”, expect them to follow the same one dimensional path that we took in our life. But that is not always the case. I have read about and seen lots of 2nd generation Indians not willing to follow the path that their parents followed. They are willing to run for elected offices in schools, do volunteer work and in general take up leadership roles in the society. The first generation Indians might call them ABCD (American Born Confused Desis) but I feel that the first generation is a lot more confused than the second one. Hopefully things will change with time and we will realize that the time and money that we give to society benefits everyone.