Two India
I have been visiting our ancestral village Mandhar (in Chattishgarh, near Raipur) on Diwali for the last two years after an interval of around 30 years. The present village is very different from what it was before. Industry has come in the village, which has provided jobs to some youths of this village and the neighbouring villages. It has brought pollution (plenty of carbon ash) and cash in the village. More cash is bringing in more liquor and gambling. More money does not necessarily mean good life. There is no desire of learning, no interest in politics or culture. Not even desire for better schools for children, hence better life for them. I was surprised to see that the villagers are not even interested in local politics. People do not read newspaper. There are too many issues like road, water, better education, health care, sewage system, etc. to fight for, but there is no talk about it. Urban population does not quite understand this. In metros, people have wider