2 months hence

Its been exactly 2 months since i returned now. Life is settling into a new pattern, as i venture out to do more things on my own, though i have yet to perform tasks of any great difficulty (like say, driving on chennai roads!). Its pretty clear now that if you're willing to endure the hassle of the traffic here, or even walk around a bit in the atrocious weather (which is what i choose to do since it keeps me slim), you can get access to a wide range of stores, services, goods etc. without much problem.. Living with my folks, i dont have to buy anything large, like furniture or electronics, but smaller things are easy to get and the service is fairly prompt too. I wish my local bank was as prompt in answering my queries, but government-inspired incompetence has put paid to that for the time-being.

The work environment and attitudes are much more familiar to me..less intense than US, but also without unnecessary tension or office politics..maybe i'm just lucky in that respect! I now get time to really explore more options at work, and follow new ideas as i dont feel pressured to achieve a certain status by a certain time. This has made me more focused at work, and I am enjoying it more. Without the job and visa uncertainties, I can now focus on more long-term goals, which is very motivating.Finally, one can never overemphasize how great it is to see one's parents and relatives again on a regular basis. The benefits of this on the quality of life and one's mental and physical health is exrtremely positive.

Though i have yet to have any negative experience regarding my move personally (wistful thoughts of the cleanliness, pleasurable driving and nice weather of midwestern US suburbia aside), one thing that gets my goat is the status of governance and politics here, which seems abysmal. Although a few are maybe trying to serve the people, the majority are very narrow-minded, self-serving, power-hungry dotards; at least they come across that way when they make statements in the newspapers or TV. There is something wrong when people of age 60+ are allowed to decide matters of crucial importance to a country's future, specially when the present is changing so fast on account of the youth's energy. Also, there is such a thing as being over-democractic, though i feel it is unavoidable in a cacophonic conglomeration of cultures and peoples that is India. I also feel the priorities are out of whack; the govt. promises free TV's for all or reservations based on caste, but why not free garbage cans, trash disposal, health screenings for the poor or primary education for lower-income kids? Well, I know why of course, and it is not unique to India, since such mismanagement, logic-defying rhetoric and claims to be acting in the 'national interest' abound in the current US administration too, but it is quite endemic here at govt. levels. Anyway, I really need to get involved in making a difference to these things. Or else, I had better high-tail it from here, because it will wear me down.

There are also media-highlighted stories of several instances of primitive and lawless behaviour from various parts of india, which makes it very clear that emancipation at all levels (social, economic, cultural) is occuring at widely different rates in different parts of the country, and in some places, not at all. India has to deal with this anomaly at some point. Without attempting to contribute something positive to this worrisome scenario, i have not much more to say, except i dont believe in any 'manifest or demographic destiny' for India except that which future generations make for themselves.

So, after 2 months, I have to say I am now more involved in India and am starting to get bothered by things, though i'm fully aware that how i deal with it will determine how happy I am here. Either way, there is work to be done and that is a happy state of affairs to be in.