I’m Indian, I love mediocrity

An article that mirrors India
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I’m Indian, I love mediocrity
Rajesh Kalra, 01 June 2009 , 05:17 PM IST

I may be wrong, but I have this sinking feeling that we, as a nation, are getting to accept mediocrity even more than we did in the past. This 'chalta hai' attitude, which basically is a euphemism for accepting mediocrity, seems to manifest itself in more forms than ever before.

Whenever we discuss big projects in India, it is about time and cost overruns and not even mentioning slipshod workmanship and cutting corners as far as quality is concerned. However, one project that has always shone is the Delhi Metro. Not only does it finish all projects well ahead of time, the quality and other parameters seem to belong to a different league altogether. The head honcho of the corporation (DMRC), E Sreedharan, has been feted by all, and rightly so, for the exemplary project management on display.

However, even this veneer is showing cracks. There was a time when the roads around the project site were better paved than the best roads in Delhi, and clean as well. I remember seeing pictures of truck tyres being hosed down before the vehicle got on to the main road out of a construction site lest it makes the roads dirty. All this seems from a different era now. But if that is forgivable, the falling safety standards around their project sites certainly aren’t. For an organisation that had a blemishless record for years, the growing trend of accidents at its site is a huge cause of concern.

We all know various projects have been subcontracted to different companies to be implemented, which is how any project s implemented anywhere, but it is DMRC’s inability to control these contractors that is worrisome. Construction cranes toppling over, thousands of tons of concrete girders crashing down on vehicles underneath etc are no longer an exception. Just yesterday, as I drove along a metro construction site on Mehrauli-Gurgaon road, I was horrified to see a crane lift what looked like a huge container, to a height of almost 30 feet and dropping it on the barricade that keeps the road users away from construction. The barricade, in turn, crashed into a moving vehicle that had its rear glasses and right doors completely smashed.

There was a huge thud and people ran here and there. Fortunately, it was Sunday evening and there wasn’t too much traffic.

Come to think of it, there is no coverage of this mishap anywhere. It can mean two things. One, none reported it, which is bad, or, two, even the papers think this is par for the course for metro these days, which is worse.

Another disconcerting development these days is how even the private sector, which was supposed to alleviate the ills of the slow and bureaucratic government organisations, has failed to rise to the occasion.

The much derided Airports Authority of India, for example, had the reputation of being a stodgy implementer, but when airports were being privatised, it was expected that at least this part of the concern would be addressed. But the experience so far has been otherwise.

Bangalore’s spanking new airport is already bursting at its seams. I am not even going to compare ourselves with China here, for I know how it gets some readers’ goat, but shows how way off the mark our project planning is.

Now look at the largest such project in India, the one at Delhi. The new runway built by the private operator goes on the blink at will, almost. And can you imagine, last monsoon, the new runway had to be shut because it was flooded. Someone had forgotten to provide drainage. How wonderful!

But that is not all. The brand new domestic terminal at Delhi had a part of its roof blown away by a minor squall a day after it was thrown open. And the other day when I was transiting through the terminal I noticed nails and shards of wood lying under the check-in counter even as the rest was gleaming steel and granite. What had happened was that in the absence of any supervision, the cleaners had just shoved all that was unwanted, under the counter and all those who okayed it later either didn’t notice it, or if they did, thought it was no big deal as long as it doesn’t come under user’s feet. Mediocrity continues elsewhere too and one can go on and on with such examples.

Basically we have become a nation that accepts anything less than perfect. Why accept, we seem to thrive on it. We are so used to mediocrity that it’s now become a way of life. I would go so far as to say that so contended are we with mediocrity that we, as a people, will resist any attempt to make things better.

Main Problem if this 'chalta hai' attitude is that we loose our enthusiasm.

The one and only reason for great new technological advancements is that some great people like Thomas Edison weren't satisfied with present situation and wanted something better.

Rather I every day see what the writer has specified. We need to have some strong method to keep eye on all such projects.. ie. vigilance. Time to time Govt. set those vigilance team but then those vigilance team also need to be under scanner as they send "ALL OK" reports as they get "OKAYS in form of BRIBE" . ie. corruption.

The other big issue is as said by Bhvm.. ie. Chalt hai attitude. You know, we Indians lacks the attitude of giving best and those who try to give best are overlooked and thus they loose it eventually. I have seen this even in private sector.

May be we need to rethink about education we take right from childhood so that we can pave the spirit of doing things efficiently and at best.

Hi
A very nice article and thought provoking one as well. Another thing is that when such incidents happen, and if you care as much as it seems, then the 'Times Of India' want the readers to contribute pics showing such incidents, like the accident on Sunday evening you have mentioned. This way, the paper included your story and the company is taken to task.

Its such a brutal truth facing us today! The best of our face has a scar. Really speaks alot about what we have made ourselves.
but, it'll have to be us standing up and fighting for betterment. We can't blame govt or other agencies forever. they do such shoddy work because we let them get away with it.

I strongly agree with the author.

I completely agree with you, i feel that we are so very much contended with the way things are because we are too lazy to get up and even try to put things the right way.