With my sign language, my frustration started decreasing. I was no more a loner and I learnt one important thing – language is essential to communicate but expressions are easier and better. Strange enough, in Japanese thought, expression is not at all important. I mean, physical expression of an observation or feeling or emotion seems to be missing but that is a western outlook, I must admit. Public display of love and affection (hugging, cuddling, kissing, holding hands), professional display of warmth (shaking hands, back tapping) and personal display of liking or displeasure is almost absent and makes me wonder. I am learning that it is wonderful to be this way as well. I will never say that it is the best way of living or leading life, but is one of the recommended ways of living.

I have started my journey into this kind of living life.

It is said, society and individual are one and the same. Both reflect each other. In developed nations it must be true. For developing and under developed nations, it is a different story altogether. Japan seems to have mastered its society and people into an ever progressive thought machine which builds on itself, preserving the past and experimenting with the present and preparing for the future. The past gives it, its unique flavor in the world of distinct communities, the present gives it, its strength in economic exploitation that it did in past half century and future is being fed by it industrious people with forward looking thoughts in science and technology.

I wonder why our recent Indian thinkers never have thought of society as a progressive means of our nation. We seem to preserve our past so vigorously that we loose on the opportunities of today and potential of tomorrow. In India, no one knows who feeds whom – society to an individual or otherwise. So, there is always a confusion of what is right or wrong and there is no national consensus on how the modern Indian society should be. Our great thinkers and leaders lead their separate ways and never seem to arrive at a consensus of shaping the current society. They are very good in their respective areas of interest such as business, academics, services, sports, political endeavors but they never ever converge to lead the nation from all sides with a common agenda of a progressive society. A progressive society is the key to the new world order that we live in. In a recent thinking that I did, made me wonder that India is very well known in services industry and we have won genuine world appreciation in information technology and services industry but there is no recognizable Indian brand even in Asia! Japan is a developed Asian nation and India largely rests on its past glory. Things are changing in India very fast and it is a great destination today for businesses worldwide, but are we cashing on this opportunity from all sides? I think, developed nations think and plan their advancements from all angles. And my thought says that all begins with a ‘progressive yet preservative’ society. India can learn from Japan and everyone knows our learning and adaptive skills!

Life could be rewarding in many hidden ways. Japan was one of it.

My family joined me in another 3 months time and it was a moment of reunion and rejoices. It is first foreign adventure for my wife and my daughter. In is first experience for me to handle my family and family affairs in an international way! Lot of issues will be discussed with international angle and perception and not just Indian ideas which are so self contained and self sustainable.