Indian Stretchable Time (IST)

I happened to read an article with this title (IST), I am loving it, thought of sharing with good intention…enjoy reading.

Extract: We love to keep people waiting; we take immense pleasure in missing deadlines and appointments, and we revel in habitual tardiness.  When it comes to punctuality, we Indians are the worst offenders. A delayed arrival beyond the expected time has always made me feel guilty and have made good use of the mobile phone to keep the hostess informed, including a request that others need not wait but start on their meal or programme.

            Thinking back on pre-mobile phone days, it is possible that people were compelled to be more punctual.  The mobile phone is certainly an invention that has contributed to the lack of punctuality in people, but it also has its uses.  At least it helps to keep those who are waiting informed that the expected guests will be a little late.

            In the competition for the Numero Uno position between India and China, the general feeling is that China is racing ahead because it is not a democracy and people can be bludgeoned into delivering!  But more than being bludgeoned, I think that the Chinese have a sense of punctuality with regard to deliverables, which is sadly lacking among our country men.  The only time the people were probably conscious of punctuality was during the times of Mrs Gandhi’s infamous Emergency.  ( I have not seen, only heard about this).

            Starting from Tailor, builder, carpenter, house maid, vegetable vendor to suppliers to companies, are not bothered to stick on to the commitment.  Such things would never come to pass in a First World country.  Here, professionalism is the most important virtue to stay in business and no “swalpa adjust maadi” would work.  The driver of a suburban train in Tokyo will profusely apologies if he is delayed, even by a few seconds, once in a blue moon.  The time is ripe; we have to march fast in the race to secure Numero Uno personally and professionally.  Lets declare an emergency and call for a ban on Indian Stretchable Time (IST).