When a Ram or Krishna or Uma enter a BPO call-centre and assume identities under names like John or Tony or Liz, we can expect their minds to experience a change, a broadening of horizon, and of their own worth.
Thus the admirable peace that prevailed following the Mosque-Temple verdict which surprised everyone, was achieved. Some politicians are now trouble hoping they, and not other politicians would land the biggest fish. I hope they don’t succeed (in creating a frenzy). But on looking back, I realise that we shouldn’t be too amazed about the reaction of the people and the youth in particular.
Why I harp on the youth is that most of the kar sevaks of 1992 were young – youth who in the normal flow of life would be expected to enter the job market. Just have a look at this photograph of December 92.
Today, the young people of similar background would have spent upwards of Rs. 400,000 to get their degree (probably in engineering) and earn about a tenth of that per month. In 1992, they’d have been lucky to earn that one tenth in an *year*. Naturally, the young of today would rather concentrate on building his home up than on demolishing a mosque. There is little chance of them taking to the streets –they’d prefer their pizzas and air conditioned cubicles. And these youth would give an earful to their uncles and advisors, if any of them dare to instigate them.
The IT revolution unleashed after 1992 has also exposed a large group of young people to a ‘corruption-bribery-red-tape’ free environment. Pre ‘92, these same people’s best chance was to get into a government or quasi-government organisation and an immediate exposure to red-tape and corruption. In the IT and allied service industry, these are thankfully missing.
Yes, we have the Satyam scam, alleged tax evasion by Vodaphone, and emerging cyber-criminals. But they are all either at higher levels of the industry or consist of criminal elements, which are a bane of every society. Generally, the entry, junior and middle level organisation in the Indian IT and Service sector is clean and people in such an environment are least likely to engage in anti-social behaviour. They would rather connect with others on Facebook or play GTA.
Imagine the days when you were finally allotted the long awaited telephone connection from that behemoth BSNL? The lineman and technicians will first visit and do their ‘chai-money’ deal with you – which I’d seen in 90-92 amounted to anywhere between Rs. 200 to Rs. 500/- Today any private service provider installs your broadband connection within 3 days at no charge at all.
Pre ‘92, the migration of labour was predominantly restricted to daily wage earners. One found construction labourers, household help or hawkers were mostly the people who moved to other cities or states of India in search of work.
The educated middle class generally stayed close to or in their home towns or states. Today with the IT explosion, the educated middle and upper middle class youth are the largest components of migrant manpower in India. Even if he wants to rabble-rouse, the guy is going to feel a little out of place in an alien city. Even if this Idea cellular ad suggests otherwise.
Thus the admirable peace that prevailed following the Mosque-Temple verdict which surprised everyone, was achieved. Some politicians are now trouble hoping they, and not other politicians would land the biggest fish. I hope they don’t succeed (in creating a frenzy). But on looking back, I realise that we shouldn’t be too amazed about the reaction of the people and the youth in particular.
Why I harp on the youth is that most of the kar sevaks of 1992 were young – youth who in the normal flow of life would be expected to enter the job market. Just have a look at this photograph of December 92.
The IT revolution unleashed after 1992 has also exposed a large group of young people to a ‘corruption-bribery-red-tape’ free environment. Pre ‘92, these same people’s best chance was to get into a government or quasi-government organisation and an immediate exposure to red-tape and corruption. In the IT and allied service industry, these are thankfully missing.
Yes, we have the Satyam scam, alleged tax evasion by Vodaphone, and emerging cyber-criminals. But they are all either at higher levels of the industry or consist of criminal elements, which are a bane of every society. Generally, the entry, junior and middle level organisation in the Indian IT and Service sector is clean and people in such an environment are least likely to engage in anti-social behaviour. They would rather connect with others on Facebook or play GTA.
Imagine the days when you were finally allotted the long awaited telephone connection from that behemoth BSNL? The lineman and technicians will first visit and do their ‘chai-money’ deal with you – which I’d seen in 90-92 amounted to anywhere between Rs. 200 to Rs. 500/- Today any private service provider installs your broadband connection within 3 days at no charge at all.
Pre ‘92, the migration of labour was predominantly restricted to daily wage earners. One found construction labourers, household help or hawkers were mostly the people who moved to other cities or states of India in search of work.
The educated middle class generally stayed close to or in their home towns or states. Today with the IT explosion, the educated middle and upper middle class youth are the largest components of migrant manpower in India. Even if he wants to rabble-rouse, the guy is going to feel a little out of place in an alien city. Even if this Idea cellular ad suggests otherwise.
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