From Race to the Riches to Race to the Ditches

In my recent visit to India, I was more disillusioned than delighted to see the rate of the civil society changing. Numerous people, presently, in my estimate 6 out of 10 have leaped out of deprived riches and money in the last 4-5 years. They have just been bestowed with this sudden wealth that can pale what people have in developed economies! The wealth-building is good but there are collateral damages to society. One of the most disturbing trends I noticed was that there is a terrrible decline in respect, decency and moral values in civil society.

I call this phenomenon "PEOPLE'S RACE TO THE RICHES LEADING TO A MORAL RACE TO THE DITCHES".

I can identify three reasons:

1) Indians are hard working, and take care of their family to the fullest possible extent, but, this has eroded, because money is easier to come by than before. Hard work and little money has given way to easy work and fast & big bucks, sometimes even at the cost of (extrended) family's welfare.

2) Simply put, Indians in general, like to gloat. Rewarding themselves is not bad but to do it to show off is. This has made the race to riches even worse.

3) Multi-party democracy has been a bane. Law enforcement is pathetic to say the least. Judicial system does not work for the average society like how it is for the upper (rich and powerful) society.

If India is allowed to run this course, I see two or more mega trends happen. Civil unrest, societal breakdown or may be religious revival.

Money is a bad thing, when a society cannot keep its moral compass. Its even worse when the politico-judicial system is inept.

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