You know what really hit me during my Japan trip? It wasn't just how clean everything was - it was how people actually cared about their country and culture. The Japanese aren't shy about showing off their heritage. From their perfectly maintained temples to how they use anime and manga to tell their stories, they're proud of who they are. Back home in India, we often act like our culture is something to be embarrassed about.
The little things I saw in Japan really made me think. In Tokyo, I saw people waiting for the green signal to cross even when the roads were empty. And on escalators, everyone just knows to stand on the left so others can walk on the right. It's like they all got the memo about making life easier for each other.
Meanwhile in India, we can't even line up properly at airport baggage claims. The funny thing is, the same people who push and shove at Indian airports somehow manage to follow rules perfectly when they're abroad.
Sure, you could say China handles their huge population better because they're not democratic. They can enforce rules strictly. But in India, try to pass any law and people will be out on the streets protesting. Democracy is great, but it makes getting things done really hard.
Look, I love India and our culture. We have so much great stuff going for us. But we really need to work on our civic sense. We need stronger laws that actually get enforced, and judges who understand today's world, not just old-school thinking.
I'm not saying we should copy Japan completely - that wouldn't work. But we could learn a thing or two about respecting public spaces and following rules. Maybe then we can have the best of both worlds - our amazing culture and a country that actually works properly.