That is what I think India is.
Changes are often bought about here after lives have been sacrificed. Progress is purchased with blood of innocents.
Three incidents which highlight this fact are:
1) Uphaar Cinema fire in New Delhi (June 1997) in which over 50 people (mostly families with children) died.
2) A school bus full of children plunged into the Yamuna (November 1997) killing 28 children.
3) The earthquake which rocked Gujarat (January 2001) killed more people than it should have because most buildings were made outside building regulations.
After the Uphaar incident the Munciple Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cracked the whip on defaulting cinemas. Many cinema halls across Delhi were closed because they did not have adquate fire saftey measures in place. Similarly after the bus incident it dawned on the Delhi Govenment that they should probably have some kind saftey regulations (and enforce them!) for school buses.
In India rules and regulations always get made after people have lost their lives. Thus it is logical to suggest that the people, who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that our city becomes safer, should be given sainthood.
I dont know if this total disregard for human life is unique to India. But it surely drives all progress in India.
