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I could have been that!

I got this jnonodaya. No I was not sitting below "bodhi" tree. And no, I did not find a method to bring world peace or any such grandiose thing.

I think the reason behind the increased violence in our country or else-where is the statement " I could have been that". I could have been driving that beautiful sports car. I could have had that huge bungalow. I could have married that beauty. And so on.

Unlike good old days, the division between rich and poor has vanished. Today even a sweeper can be the proud father of an IAS officer. Or today's newspaper boy can be an IIT graduate tomorrow. So poor can also have grand dreams and aspire to become rich and famous.

But very few - poor or rich - have the capacity and inclination to work hard and smartness to achieve these dreams. The rest are unhappy. They see successful people around them, the people with whom they studied and played.  And they feel let down and deceived. By the society, by the system, by their parents or even by God. So what do they do? Some may become depressed, some may turn to drugs and alcohol. But few of them become vengeful on the society. They try unlawful means to get what they think is rightfully theirs. Be it money, property or women.  And thanks to media - TV mostly- they do not feel they are doing anything immoral.



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