Stampedes, Crashes… Are We Really Not a Third World Country?

On one hand, our governments boast of comparisons with Japan and claim we're racing ahead like a developed nation. Grand declarations about being a trillion-dollar economy are thrown around often. But strip away the wealth of a few billionaires like Ambani and Adani, and you’ll see the real share of the average citizen — that’s where the truth emerges.

Ironically, many citizens in African countries — which we often label as "poor nations" — may actually be leading more secure lives than the average Indian. Yet, we are constantly distracted with entertainment, religion, and events like the IPL that mask these harsh realities.

Take the recent IPL celebration stampede — 11 people died. Before that, we’ve had stampedes at the Kumbh Mela, during temple visits in Tirumala, or even when filming large crowd shots during the Godavari Pushkaralu, where 26 people lost their lives.

Such stampedes, train accidents, and plane crashes — they’re all characteristics of so-called “Third World” countries. So, if that’s what we keep experiencing, are we really living in a developed nation? Or are we fooling ourselves with comparisons to Japan or claims of being ahead of America?

Consider the U.S. — about 45,000 flights take off every single day. What’s their aviation accident rate compared to ours? Even a single air crash here becomes a major international embarrassment, exposing just how fragile our systems are.

We keep hearing slogans: India is rising, the world is watching, we are a global guru, and international decisions revolve around our opinions. But when Pakistan-backed terrorists strike, we hold back our retaliation because someone like Trump intervenes. We’re reduced to sending MPs to obscure countries to “explain” that we’ve been attacked — even our victimhood needs a global roadshow!

Then there’s moral responsibility — remember when ministers resigned after accidents? That’s long gone. Be it intelligence failures in Poonch, or not tracking down terrorists after a massacre, accountability is absent. No one knows where the killers vanished, and no one seems to be looking either.

Once upon a time, if there was a train accident, the Railway Minister would resign — even citing moral duty. Now? There's no expectation of responsibility. Everything is left to fate. If someone dies in a stampede on the way to seek God’s blessings, that’s just karma. Governments wash their hands off it.

Even when such tragedies occur at temples or religious events, no one remembers the supposed sanctity of Hindu Dharma. Temple boards, trustees, and government authorities that oversee temple funds and safety face no consequences.

When a train or plane crashes, there’s barely a discussion about ministerial accountability. But fans go wild with celebrations when their city’s IPL team wins — and that sums up the awareness of the average citizen.

So are we really a developed country? These stampedes, crashes, and lack of responsibility are all markers of a Third World nation. Comparing ourselves to Japan or any other developed country, and claiming we’ve surpassed them, isn’t just a stretch — it’s tragic comedy.