“This is amazingly beautiful…I am sure it is in India!!”

It happened yet again… I flaunted my photos clicked while trekking in the wonderful countryside aka the magnificent Aravallis and pat came the ‘usual’ remark, “This doesn’t look like India. It looks as picturesque as places abroad!!”

Why do we underestimate the beauty of our country? Why are we hell bent upon always comparing it with other countries? Why is always a foreign country a benchmark for ‘my India’, my ‘Incredible India’?

Have we ever tried to explore the captivating beauty of our very own country? Obviously the answer is in a negative. I have been regularly trekking in the close vicinity of my house. We trek in Aravallis and enjoy the nature’s bounty. Through my posts on fb, I have tried to inspire people to join and experience these treasures. They never do… They are reluctant to join because they are unable to convince themselves that something so awe-inspiring or strikingly beautiful can be accessible for free. And when they themselves are not convinced then how would they weave a story around the experience and show it off to their peers, post it on fb or share on Instagram. Such a post would lack sensationalism which has become the norm of the day.

The other possible reason could be I-pay-more-I-enjoy-more syndrome which has been prevalent in the society since times immemorial. In the race to prove that the more I earn, the more I become important and happy, they forget that the best of the things come for free. A smile, the gentle touch of a baby, the love of a mother, the caress of a lover, the mesmerising sunrise, the riot of colours during spring, the numerous shades of green leaves, the sprinkle of chilling river water on a hot day, the fragrance of flora and fauna, the wisdom of the sages and the experienced…all are available for free! They do not need to even compliment a sale…sunrise ke saath smile free!! These gifts are in abundance. The only effort we need to make is ‘to make no effort at all’, just sit back, pause and relish these moments, these people and these spaces.

The foreign countries or specifically the Western countries have been unknowingly made a benchmark for ‘my India’ for everything beautiful and clean. But then this is what Aravallis are…clean and green!! I have experienced it myself. And our trekking groups that move around in the jungles take utmost care not to scatter any garbage or exploit the nature in any way. My photos testify the alluring bounty that is available at a stone’s throw distance.

Then why do we wish to spend thousands of bucks to experience something that is as close as my backyard? Maybe because this generation wants to have a sense of accomplishment by attaining something unattainable. Come to think of it, it is probably true because sailing to far away lands was something unattainable for the previous generation due to financial and other constrains. So, what my mom and dad could not do, I do and feel like a winner!! And in the process I find sensationalism which feeds my ego and provides me with enough masala to post on fb…Instagram…Twitter!!

Its time we start appreciating the wealth of our motherland and with a little more effort set it up as the benchmark for the other countries! Let them be insecure, let them feel like menials, let them look up to us because we are born the best! God has endowed us with enough natural splendours. So let’s also have faith in ourselves and our countrymen!!

“This is amazingly beautiful…I am sure it is in India”. I am optimistic that the day is not far when the melodious words like these ring in my ears!

Jai Hind!!