Of Saravana Bhavans

Now in CNN, there is this whole saga of Lebanon-Syria thing going on with the US or rather Bush making the right noises about how the Middle East is going through this 'reform process' and trudging towards democracy which is the only accepted form of governance in the world today (according to the White House). Of course, the US (& its allies..Bush's words) are determined to push the agenda of democracy. But today I wanted to make a note on a different perspective.

America bashers, by itself, would probably form the largest population in the world given the manner in which Bush is pissing off people all around. But I am wondering on a different line...Why do so many people hate the US? It could be for the simple reason that they are successful and have come up with a system which kills the inefficient and allows the efficient to prosper. The rest of the world is coming with grips with how to manage the growth....and how to ensure that they create a healthy system within their environment. It may have nothing to do with the form of government or even oil.

My fear is that it is not the military power or the economic power of the US that the rest of the world should be paranoid about. I think it is the cultural eclipsing that is happening all around the globe. I mean..think of it...probably more than half the world is eating a Big Mac and the other half is hoping to eat one soon. Of course, the Big Mac is the same everywhere. What is happening is that, you go anywhere in the world, you accost the same Big Mac and Burger King, drive the same Fords or Chevrolets rented from Hertz or Avis, stay at the same Hyatt or Marriott hotels...Oh, I could go on...After a few years, we will probably not even remember what was truly Indian and what was an import.

I was reading this book by Thomas Freidman (NYT journalist) called 'The Lexus and the Olive Tree' where he mentions an anecdote. A Chinese kid goes to the US along with his parents. He see a McD and remarks to his mom 'Hey Mom, they have a McD here also in the US'. That is exactly what is happening. Our next generation will grow seeing the McDs and figure these are so much a part of the Indian culture. That is, I think, the true danger from the US (I am putting them as proxy for globalization which is not completely unfair since the US companies are the ones which are benefiting the most).

So coming back to where I started, I think part of the America bashing comes out of this feeling of helplessness that is being felt in different societies. Each of the societies react differently. We have the Left parties in India crying hoarse, some elements in the Middle East trying out violent means etc. It may have nothing political or economic about it..(although I have a suspicion that the US does try a little too hard for oil).

So then what is the way for us in the 'rest of the world'? I think it is stupid to think that we can stop this phenomenon from happening. So the only way to keep this in check is to believe in the strength of your traditions and culture and try all that is possible to keep it going. And this does not mean, not allowing McD to set up shop. It just means that have the idlis and dosas twice a week if you are going to McD for the rest of the week. Of course ensure our children also get to eat the dosas and the idlis regularly.

That is why I think our generation has an important role to play at least in the case of India since we are the ones spearheading this transformation.

Long live Saravana Bhavan!!!