Attitude….

We, are looking forward for becoming Superpower by 2020. We are looking for financial and economic strength that the world should recognize this nation as the power house.

When we speak of superpower, it doesn't mean only economic strength but also political and international recognition.

This is not just the battle of growth rates and wealth creation, but who can project it as boss to the world and world will feel respectful fear for the country.

Now the question if we think for becoming superpower, are we considering ourselves as superpower? If we want the world to consider us as the strongest nation, do we are considering ourselves as strong? If we want the world to recognize us, we should recognize our self first.

“If you want world to consider as king, you first should start behaving like king.”

This is a well known and accepted phenomenon. Unless we start behaving and showing the world that we are the boss, the world will never recognize. This is the matter of attitude. Attitude doesn't mean overconfidence. I am not talking of showing off your abilities. But there is a fine line of what you have and what you can project. If you can’t tell the world that you have something, your finest ability might be underestimated. Or people might not recognize you as the best, even though they are aware about your strengths. This is not showing off your ego, but yes believing on yourself and that belief reflects in you behavior. You should therefore first start behaving like a king; the world eventually accepts your superiority.

The question of our attitude came forward in few instances.

It was when Michael Jackson came in India. We got crazy. It has been really point of research that what exactly we are crazy about them. Its fine about their excellence, but don’t we sometime have blind faith? Do we still get away with white skin? This has been always the case, even today, there are people, who blindly believe what white people do is right. They are carried away by their words, even sometimes their presence. I have seen it in Corporates, in dramas where I have been in contact with such people and could see the reactions of other Indians. We still get hypnotized though, thankfully, the proportion has been lowered.

People went crazy; I remember there was one dinner organized by some organizer. People had to pay 1Lakh to have dinner with MJ. I heard that he just came had one spoon and went away…this is the attitude they have about us. And we still feeling blessed when they smile at us! We are still leaving in psychological slavery.

The recent instance was Mr. and Mrs. Obama visit. The visit was good. It carries importance. But it was really shocking the weight age that Indian media gave to every move of Mr. Obama. He came, he sat in car, now he left for Taj…It was a important event and you should give it due prominence. But why so undue importance?

Actually the purpose of visit of Mr. Obama was begging. He knows how strategically and economically important is India. He knows India has ability to lend helping hand and that’s for he was here. He has meeting with businessmen; meeting with Mr. PM. This is what he was for. But look at the attitude with which he was living in India. It was attitude of being first person of superpower of the world. Today even though US is living in all time of Economic crisis, with lowering growth rate and increasing unemployment. Even people of US are not satisfied with working of Obama. But we are mad for him. He had a chat with youngsters in Mumbai. It was definitely an attempt of creating soft corner for him. I liked the attitude with which these young people asked questions. You might be anyone, but there are certain questions we have about your and your nation’s behavior. We are the citizens of tomorrow’s superpower. And what was India’s current politicians. He was speaking with such a confidence. Our PM was looked lacking of it. We somewhere were down on knee before him. We should have behaved with him in a way that please forget all your US ego…and treat India on equity. We are of your status and please don’t forget you came here because it was your need. While he went with 50,000 employment and million $ agreements, its really a question what India gained out of it.

Now, we are becoming stronger financially day by day. We should understand our own strengths and the attitude now should reflect in our behavior. We should now start putting our demand more aggressively. Now the world knows that India is becoming superpower. We have big market with us. This is no longer our liability which others will exploit like east India Company. We are not a poor nation like in 17^th Century. Now, world knows we should treat India with utmost respect.

But we should look ourselves beyond what world is looking. We should gain the position of US. It’s not only financially strong but it has tremendous say in International politics, World Bank, UN. US attacked Afghanistan in the name of fighting against terrorism and world could say nothing even understanding the dadagiri of US. What if India today attacks Pakistan? We tomorrow have to reach the position where, world had to lift their head up to see India. And if we want to create such a respect in the mind of world, we should have recognition of our powers and behave with attitude…!!!

- Harshad Mane