I am proud to be an Indian !(?)

hmm.. time for me to get more confused.. Lets start with the title. I, proud to be an Indian(?) how often do we use this term? If you are asked, are u proud to be an Indian? - what do u say? At least I say I am! why? lets c the dictionary meaning of the word "proud":
1. Feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an act, possession, quality, or relationship by which one measures one's stature or self-worth
2: Feeling or showing justifiable self-respect.

Why would I say I am proud to be an Indian or a Marathi or a Punekar - as I haven't done anything - no contributions towards any of the 3, to make me proud. But I will still say I am proud of it :) Shouldn't it be "lucky" or "fortunate" being an Indian?

Is hard-work a synonym of being Indian? I donno.. am quite lazy. Where do we stand in the entire world? What are we known for?
1: Second largest population (but one or just a few medals)
2: Software Giant (but nothing on our own - all we do is service to MNCs - sophasticated labour I would say..)
3: Clothing - Name a few companies which are at par with Levis / GAP / Tommy - some ppl wud say where do they get the cotton frm? India! I wud say - so what?? Do ppl buy Tommy or GAP as their cotton is frm India or do they sell on their brand name?
4: Kamasutra - where everyday more and more ppl are being found infected and sex is a BIG TABOO.
5: Secularism - Where caste and religion fights are common along with regional disputes.. I can go on..

Now ppl would say what I have done to improvise on these things on which I crib about so much? My answer - Nothing. I have no excuse either. I am just trying to be a good man, trying to make some change in few lives - hoping that wud contribute something towards my country.

Enuff of sounding non-patriotic - coz I do care for my country. I do have few answers with which I try to convince myself to be fortunate to be an Indian. I am fortunate to be borm in Indian family as I have learn values from them. I know how to respect - not just elderly, but everyone. I am aware that it was not my parents duty or obligation to raise me so that I can forget what they have done for me and just leave them alone to live their own life. I know the importance of "I" and "We" at the same time as this culture has taught me the self respect and independance, along with social ties and responsibilities. I do believe the morals we learn are much better than... nevermind.

So in the end.. I am still confused. It is more like a love-hate relationship. reminds me of a marathi saying - "Tuza maza jamena, tujhyavachoon karmena" :) All I can do is to accept the harsh reality and try to work on it, so the future generations wud have little less confusion :) Afterall, you can't get everything you want; the way u want :)

I know this writing has no proper end - no conclusion but I guess thats what blogging is about... otherwise I would have been a writer :) so.. adios amigos!

Vande Mataram!