Dil hai hindustani?
I was talking to a friend about another friend's visit to India. The 'dude' is born in America, of Indian origin. He happened to visit the country his parents were brought up in for the first time recently, at age 23. And he could not stand it. He says he never wants to go there. The filth, the crowd, the dirt... he cant take it again.
At first reaction, I felt a bit outraged, a little indignant. But the second thought was more practical. Can I really expect him to love India with her million ways, her myriad discrepancies and her galaxy of social levels? How can one who is not born in the middle of that hot, humid and grimy bazaar ever be in love with it. He, of the clean roads, the cool air, the public 'restrooms', and the covered chefs can never deal with the open air toilets, the sweat, the spattered roads littered with spit, dung, animals; and the roadside food vendors who so flout the word hygiene! And yet I can love all the simple things in India. Of course, I crinkle my nose at open drains and fold up my salwar to jump the smallest puddle... but my sense of belonging comes from being born there, brought up there. I owe my values and my upbringing to that nation of diversity. Above all, I owe it my tolerance... and my immunity. :)
At first reaction, I felt a bit outraged, a little indignant. But the second thought was more practical. Can I really expect him to love India with her million ways, her myriad discrepancies and her galaxy of social levels? How can one who is not born in the middle of that hot, humid and grimy bazaar ever be in love with it. He, of the clean roads, the cool air, the public 'restrooms', and the covered chefs can never deal with the open air toilets, the sweat, the spattered roads littered with spit, dung, animals; and the roadside food vendors who so flout the word hygiene! And yet I can love all the simple things in India. Of course, I crinkle my nose at open drains and fold up my salwar to jump the smallest puddle... but my sense of belonging comes from being born there, brought up there. I owe my values and my upbringing to that nation of diversity. Above all, I owe it my tolerance... and my immunity. :)
posted by LightRain at 11:50 PM
2 Comments:
Reminds me of a post of another friend where she had asked "what are the three things that you miss about India". Well I did lay down three but there are plenty. Infact looking at this, whats the real thrill without walking down the bazaar eating some hot pakoras. That experience can never be matched elsewhere in the globe. Whats the point in having pretty good roads, when there is no cow for you to cut across ???
Agreed Nana! In fact, looking at the cow leisurely ruminating can sometimes be a divinely humbling experience. Sometimes life just comes to a standstill when you are on a 2 wheeler and cant move the cow. :)
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