The other day, a friend of mine called me to inquire if I would be attending the “India Night” celebrations at my university. Honestly, I had never thought of attending an event like that in the last few years, and so when my friend asked me about it, I began to drive the point home. Though I do not have any substantial animosity towards celebrations like these, I strongly believe that I am so Indian at heart that I do not need to reassure, and publicly reaffirm that truth to myself. I can celebrate my nationality, my identity, my origin and my roots everyday, and with friends and family, without all that perfunctory pomp and show.
Anyways, the telephonic conversation with my friend took a very humorous twist, and I took full advantage of it and convinced him of my heavily sugar-coated message that I had to attend to some other important assignment. I was not guilty of not making it to the event; I would rather cherish the India in me everyday with its glory and its pit-falls. Also, I try not to talk about India with my very own because most of my conversations with SOME of my Non-Resident Indian friends bring back memories of India in enormous ambivalence. We tend to complain of poor infrastructure, poor rural education, child labor, deplorable hygiene and sanitation, heavy traffic and congestion, ill maintained roads, the dormant Indian democracy, corruption, degradation of cultural and social values, degenerating morals – blame it all on westernization. However, we do admit that we miss our food, the quick snack shops that adorn our streets, our market places, the stunning garments and jewels of India, the beautiful weather, and everything good that one cannot see on BBC (The BBC seldom portrays India in good light, well the colonial syndrome dies hard, you see).
India Night was on the week end, needless to say, I stayed away and chose to go for my two-hour long walk around the neighborhood. As I walked past grandiose homes, and beautiful parks, I gradually began to drift back into my memory’s lane featuring India. Everything came back to my mind, as if I was there yesterday – how could it not, my Indian-ness cements the threshold of my identity. My appearance, vocabulary, accent, attitude, thinking, moral ethical school of thought and everything that I am, was molded and shaped by the rich social cultures and values of the Indian society. I felt so thankful for the ancient, and strong social learning that Indian culture offers to its own. If God were to ask me where I would like to be born in my next birth, my unflinching reply would be: INDIA.
I do not like hypocritical displays of patriotism; spare me please. One of the organizers of the show told me in an informal conversation a few months ago - on how she hated to be in India for a holiday and literally waited to come back to the US.
Was she whining ? May be I should use a euphemism here and say "she was sharing her views" - you decide, this is what she said:
1. "The roads are very bad and I hated to be on them" (Indian roads have always been that way, I was born and raised in India - used those roads to commute to school, college, work, and everywhere ) - Tell me something new.
2. "The drivers honk" - honking in India is not a sign of impatience as it is seen in Western countries. Driver's honk to self-regulate traffic and to make other drivers aware of their presence. Well, that is all we knew before we moved - so why is it bothering anyone now.
3. "We litter garbage on the roads" - (come on now, we are moving towards change, we will get better)
4. "I was scared to be on the road" - u better be, if u carry your NRI attitudes, you cannot see the sun shining or the feel the wind blowing.
5. "Traffic cops are corrupt" - they are not as venal as we think they are, they follow society's norms after all.
6. "It is crazy" - r u sure, you are not crazy !
7. "India has changed for the worse" - good your contribution would have made it worst.
8. "I was waiting to come back" - glad my mother land did not have to put up with the prodigal daughter for way too long.
Needless to say, India as a country has a lot to offer. We are one of the most ancient civilizations of the world that offers it's citizens an effective, and efficient social learning - based on moral values and cultures. We are so unique in that our food, culture, family values, and cultural values make us stand apart from the rest.
Being different does not mean that we are weird - we are unique. Despite being the second most populous country of the world - we have a say on wall street, and in all the major politics.
I wont go to India night - I will love my country as it is. I am an optimist, I hope to see change, but I would rather be realistic. No India night, No Whining !
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