When people talk about India or Bharat as a failed middle income country that may not be able to compete with China or any developed country, it is for a variety of reasons. Firstly, Bharat must be looked at, as an amalgamation of different demographics, if you cross a sixty-mile radius you will find a distinct language, a cuisine and different customs altogether. This diversity is Bharat’s strength and its weakness. Till date nobody gave a vision for a Bharat that is inclusive, as well as competent. We may talk about people below the poverty line who survive on subsidies. Or the massive brain drain from the country as another major factor in play. Someone will blame the rampant corruption in the bureaucracy for the never-ending loop of chasing the carrot (aspirations). Some may blame the caste politics and the love of self proclaimed gurus and babas destroying the very fabric of the scientific temperament. I am sure you can add many more to the list. But what if I tell you? None of these reasons are valid. Brain drain has happened in the past as well, people who get opportunities in different countries will always move for better pay or better quality of life and that is applicable to every last one of us across the globe. Corruption has been rampant in many developed economies as well. Countries and societies have built their empire on corruption, which may have taken a toll on their mental health, that’s a different issue altogether. If you think problems in the caste system or reservations are the cause, think again, despite that we have achieved many milestones. So where does the problem lies, it lies within how we perceive merit. Bharat is eroding its values in terms of merit not now, but for many decades. We are probably the only nation who celebrates teachers’ day in the respect of a person who stole his own student’s thesis. The lack of originality and plagiarism is so rampant that it has eaten the very foundations of a robust democracy. And the spillover is showing signs, even in ivy leagues or academia of repute, which now stands broken. It reminds of the stark difference between the true mentor of the Mauryan empire and today’s wannabe. Kautilya or Chanakya made Chandragupta Maurya. A single Chanakya can mentor many Chandragupta, but the reverse is not true. In today’s time, the biggest bottleneck we have is people have become wannabe guru and acharya who thrives on cult following. And the same cult gives them political support, which adds to the menace. But all lack the prime essence which is a true merit of the person being called a guru or acharya, it is not his skills but the skills of his ward. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was known not because of his skills, but he gave the world; Swami Vivekananda. So next time you promote the credibility of any acharya or guru, test the potential of his ward. If he doesn’t have any ward, he is neither an acharya nor a guru, only a service provider. Without mentoring Arjuna, Dronacharya would not have the same reverence. Similarly, when we look for merit, we not only create a sustainable future but show others how it is done. Don’t complain about the past, people did what was best available then, focus on what you can create.