I am Mohan Bhargav

Before coming to the UK, i had always focused upon the problems that my country would encounter. This did not mean that i hated my country, but it was because i cared for it that led to my criticism of the system. But, now, after being here for 6 months, i now feel that it is no use being somewhere else and just talking about it. I feel that the time has now come where i step into the problems of my country and sort them out. For that, i cannot stay in a foreign land.

This can be interpreted as a sign of Nationalism, or romantic patriotism or signs of an idealistic fool. But, the thing that attracts the people of the east to the west is the large sums of money that they can make, but compromising on an happy life that can be achieved back home. So many people have argued that they have money and wealth, but they lack happiness and they continue to search in a place which is other than their own home.

The title of the post is inspired from a film titled "Swades: We the People". The story is of Mohan Bhargav, who is a project manager in NASA. He remembers his matron who took care of him, and comes to India to visit her. In his stay, he looks at the hurdles that ordinary village folk have to go through to live life. Basic amenities like Food, water, electricity and housing are at a rare premium. He tries to bring about change, and in the process, he decides to stay in India.

His story can be replicated by ordinary Indians like you and me. But, it needs focus, bravery and a steely determination. It takes very few people to leave a lucrative opportunity in a foreign land and struggle back home. But, the last two words can compensate all the difficulties in the world. At home, you DO have happiness. The unfortunate thing is Happiness is absolutely ideal and contradictory to the dynamics of Money.

We are now in such a phase of Capitalism that every individual will have to live for only a glimpse of Happiness and longing. Globalization has meant diversity, but it has destroyed the longing to do something in one's own house. After all, where there are greater opportunities, individuals will flock there. Why in Earth someone must dirty their hands in doing something for their own country?

All these questions have no definite answers. The problem is that human beings have gone so much into the muck of materialism and home bashing that it is almost impossible to awaken Mohan Bhargav. Longing for one's own home is considered nationalistic, idealistic or crudely foolish. Problems will continue to be swept under the carpet, and it will pile up to such an extent, that probably a million Mohan Bhargavs cannot help it.