India is the easiest country to be an expert on, since one can say almost anything about India and be almost certain that it is true. Throughout this section, we invite you to get to know more about its reality, more about the magic of a nation: India. We present it to you among shades of grey.
Is India a rich country? Yes, as far as natural resources are concerned (from times immemorial, great adventurers, explorers and conquerors have come in search of its fabulous riches). And if one examines the lifestyle of the elite classes, India should be a rich country.
Is India a poor country? Yes; one only need to see what great amounts of poor people there are.
Is India a developed nation? Yes, here are to be found the world-wide renowned values in science and technology, nuclear energy, aircraft assemblage...
Is India an evolved country? Of course. You only have to verify its national income.
Is it a strong country? Surely; look at the size of our economy (the fourth strongest in the world) and our military might (the third largest worldwide).
Is it a weak country? Some may say that India is incapable of wiping out terrorism.
Is India close-knit? Of course; look at what happens at times of crisis.
Is it divided? That is what many observers say, giving weighty reasons and so on and so forth.
What, then, is India? It is magic, mysterious, a world in itself. None of the traditional attributes given to a nation applies to it. Language does not define it as a nation (we have 170 official languages and a thousand dialects), nor does religion (all great known and unknown religions exist in India; at least three of them had their origin there), nor the ethnic issue (we have white, dark, oriental, and blackish people), not even culture (from north to south and east to west, many cultures and sub-cultures exist within India).
What makes India a nation, then? It is the feeling of 'Indiansome'; a unique, united nation that is beyond the confines of space and time. Anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time, can be Indian if he only believes in its eternal values and its temperament of peace, harmony, and tolerance. For these reasons, Indians call it 'Mother India'. Thousands of years ago Indian sages said that the world was a family.
What about the future? Look at what goes on in the world nowadays. The Middle East is in imminent danger of blowing up; a myriad of wars, intolerance, fanaticism, and tribal rivalries are consuming Africa; Asia has its own challenges and uncertainties. Europe is being witness to insane violence and ethnic cleansing. Latin America has countless revolts. The environment of our planet is under constant attacks, and so it is everywhere.
Are therefore violence and intolerance the biggest 'megatrends' of today? It certainly seems so.
Is our world lost? No, since light endures in the midst of darkness; truth endures in the midst of lies; peace endures in the midst of violence. Man is capable of setting the foundation of universal peace within his own heart and in his mind. Man must be at peace with himself, at peace with his neighbor, and let peace reign in the world. This is the message that India disseminated yesterday, emphasizes today, and will transmit tomorrow. While violence and intolerance intensify as man faces the possibility of his own annihilation, the strength of India's message of peace, love, and brotherhood will reaffirm itself. Sorry, Naisbitt, but the dominant 'megatrend' of today (violence) will evoke its antithesis (peace) tomorrow. This is my vision and my hope.
