As two six-year something street boys, covered with muck, fought for a piece of bread, at one of the by lanes of the famous Juhu area of Mumbai, the band of rich and famous danced to the tune of wild music at the JW Marriot. Year 2000 was just minutes away and at the turn around of the millennium India had started to shine, in discs, in restaurants, in posh localities, in big cities, in big companies, and at every place which was concerned with big money. But the rest of India was waiting for the sun to rise, for them it stayed below the horizon for years together.

Circa 2007, India is still shinning, more than ever before. It is shinning everywhere, in schools and colleges, in offices, in call centers, in pubs, in restaurants, in hotels, in flights, in malls, on the roads. But the by lanes of all these places are still dark. We pass through them and don’t notice them; we live each day as if we don’t care of what happens to people who live on these lanes. Do we really care? I think we don’t.

Life in the fast lane has become increasingly complex; we are at almost all times busy with our own problems, small and big. India is shinning but we are still worried about our sisters and daughters falling victim to some preying eye on the roads in Delhi. We are worried about our kids going to school, as to what will some strange school teacher do to them, what will the results do to them. We are worried about how much more money do we need to feel comfortable, and from where to get it. We are worried about what reservations will do to our future. We are worried about so many things all the time. Who has time to think about those who cant even worry for themselves!

As I wrote this I got a call from friend for a Saturday night party at a happening place in South Mumbai, I get up and get ready to go, telling myself that I need a break as well. I partied all night, drank to the limits, and left the place at 3 in the morning to come out and see two hungry six-years something boys fighting for a piece of bread. I still have many things to worry about!