Manmohan Singh says, "Yes We Can"

15th August 2010: Today, as I start with my first blog, with Independence Day celebrations around, I realize how much has changed since 63 years of independence.

People of our father's generation will tell us the stories of what was the value of 10 paisa, 20 paisa and 25 paisa and how the value has changed over the years (infact the coins are no longer in use) and how everything is getting more costlier than ever without any corresponding incomes rising. The joint family is seen no where except in Ekta Kapoor serials. Children spend more time in playing on their Nintendo or playstations than playing outdoor sports and so on.

But, I wonder whether such changes with every decade passing by comes with a good, prosperous foretelling?

Well, for starters I welcome that in the New India I have the option of choosing Ajay Devgan's movie over Sharukh Khan's, choosing none of the reality shows that flounder in almost all the TV channels and instead watch, TV shows such as West Wing, Boston Legal or 24 and then there is the choice of choosing the best foreign chocolates available in the nearby grocery store than getting it as gifts from some NRI uncle or aunty bringing chocolates in bulk every time they visit India.

Imagine those times when there was only Doordarshan (minus reality shows however), the Bollywood run and ruled by the three Khans, and when calling the NRI aunty or uncle was like a really big big deal and it was only when a serious occasion demanded.

The 'change' has happened so swiftly that sometimes we just look behind and wonder about those wonderful years gone past us - when Doordarshan and later Zee had hits like Mahabharath and Ramayana or when we never missed any episodes of Hum Paanch, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Hip Hip Hurray, Campus, Banegi Apni Baat or for than matter Tara (that shows why I have spectacles), or when there was the thing about writing letters or receiving post cards, or when friends used to meet late night everyday and discuss their married lives, neighbor's wives or businesses trysts.

Not any longer. Emails have replaced post cards, the 'specially occasioned' Kodak camera is replaced by the handy and portable 3 mega pixels phone cameras, the news is replaced by tweets and blogs and goods friends with busy schedules or hectic lives.

Barack Obama, during his running for the Presidential elections, went on with slogans "Yes We Can" and "Change" to attract the young desperate America. He professed that America was hungry for change. And the mystified crowd cheered and repeated, Yes we can, Change. Wow... But, is the change so damn necessary?

Yes and No.

Yes, because I believe that the nation must grow, the incomes must rise, the bollywood must send some character artists instead of those punks who waste our multiplex tickets and our popcorn expenses, the numero uno life time achievement award winner Amitabh should retire, the reality TV stars must be thrown away in some unreal world (read: Mars), the nation should have a young leader and get rid of the old blokes and children must be restricted to one id and not multiple id's on facebook, orkut, yahoo, porn account etc.

And well no, because equally I believe that, there must be some preservation of our old relics too - the joint families dining together, the comeback of Dekh Bhai Dekh season 2, children playing out in the field, the blood stained love letters, the neighbor peeking into others lives, the lush and the green gardens and the odd traffic - free roads.

With independent India, the nation has seen much since 63 and it will see much more with every decade bringing upon itself a new change. What matters importantly is that, the New India must take along with her the Indians who are left behind the revolutionary change - that is - the poor and the underprivileged and connect with them.

Happy Independence Day.