A little boy went to a telephone booth, reached for a stool and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the stool so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in the phone number. The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation.
Boy: ‘Mrs. Roy, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
Mrs. Roy: (at the other end of the phone line): ‘I already have someone to cut my lawn.’
Boy: ‘Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.’
Mrs. Roy: I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.
Boy (with more perseverance): ‘Mrs. Roy, I’ll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of Kolkata.’
Mrs. Roy: No, thank you.
With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.
Store Owner: ‘Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.’
Boy: ‘No thanks.’
Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.
Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the Job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!’
An attitude we can all do with. We are often referred to as the Elephant nation due to the inertia we exhibit. There are various other dysphemisms that refer to the sluggishness of the Indian people, society and economy. The worst part about it all is that it is true. We, as a people, do not strive for excellence. We do not work hard. We just shrug it off saying that we Indians are smart and hence we do not work hard. It is just an excuse for being a lazy ass. Probably, we have to be more like asses. More of us have to work harder.
Sluggishness is today a national disease. We need to shake it off if we are ever to become a Great Power that we claim to be and a Super Power that we aspire to be. China is a beautiful example for hard work and smart work. In the late 1940 and early 1950s, India was definitely better poised than China to be a Great Power. China simply responded better and surged ahead within a matter of a few years. There has been no looking back for China. Like the little boy in the story, we need to work harder, learn to understand our mistakes and improve. It is only through decades of hard work, vision and research that we can take the place that we so rightfully think is ours. Perhaps, a wake-up call to a sixth of the population of the World!