A true Indian....

DISCLAMAIR: This post has been written without any intention of dishonoring anyone living or dead. The author has nothing personal against any individual.

In 2003, as a ‘proud Kannadiga’, he bought back to Karnataka Tipu Sultan’s sword from England for Rs 1.5 crore. Two years later, he put down a million pounds at a Sotheby’s auction in London to purchase some more Tipu’s items. In 2009, as a ‘true Indian’, he bought metal-rimmed glasses, sandals, pocket watch, bowl and plate for $1.8 million in a controversial New York auction.

I am a little confused. I am confused about who a true Indian is? Is it a soldier who gives away his life while fighting for us? Is it a pilot who crashes in the mountains, evading it from crashing into the city, without caring about his own life? Is it a honest taxi driver who returns a bag back to his passengers who had forgotten in his taxi and does not accept any favors in return or is it a poor-hungry man who gives his food to the people who are starving, in spite of the fact that he does not have sufficient food to feed himself and his family. Is it a young girl who along with her friends, goes every month to an orphanage and sponsors a days meal? Or someone who spends crores of rupees to bring back to India, the possessions of someone, who is no more alive ????

The World Bank has estimated that a third of the global poor now reside in India. The planning commission of India has estimated that 27.5% of the population is living below the poverty line. Literacy rate is 61%. There are lakhs of people who have no proper home,living in slums and footpaths. I just can’t understand one thing. When there are so many needy and poor people then why not to help the destitute instead of spending so much money to bring back the belongings of someone; even though that someone is the one because of who we are free today. I am sure that if he had been alive, he would have cried at the situation. And what are we going to do with this stuff?? We will put them in a museum for people to look at it. Spending so much money just for this doesn’t make any sense to me.

I was discussing this with one of my friends. He said it’s his money, his wish. I am no one to say things like this.Yeah right! Who the hell am I to comment on this. But as I said; I am a little confused. I am confused that I have an objection of people calling him a true Indian or his spending his own money in such a way. Is it correct to waste so much money on this when the same can be used for making the country a better place?? May be it is correct because its his own money, may be it is more important to waste crores like this when the same can be doled out to help the needy, may be its just my narrow mindness which is not letting me see the bigger picture, may be its just my mind which doesn't know the meaning of a 'true indian' or may be I should mind my own business as it's his own money. So many may be's.. Aahhhh....I am confused....

P.S: This post has been written in a hurry without any RnD. I have no clue if that ‘true Indian’ is actually involved in any kind of charitable activities. I apologize if I hurt anyones feelings or emotions.