The best part about growing up in a country and living in another is observing the differences in culture. If we explain the recent RTE judgement to an American political analyst, he will quickly term India as a "failed socialist state". If Obama ever attempts to introduce NREGA to help the unemployed, it would be considered atrocious. Yet, these are schemes lauded by a majority of the Indian population and in the case of RTE, rightly so (I have my own reservations on NREGA).
Having spent most of my formative years in India, I must confess that my inclinations are closer to the Indian culture than it is to that of Uncle Sam. I am a vegetarian because of my upbringing (NOT by religion), have no inhibitions of living with my parents (even if I have a job) and can watch a cricket match for 5 days. However, if there is one aspect where I believe the Amriki's (sorry) have an upper hand, it's on the very Indian issue of being "hurt when opposed".Anything from accidental consumption of meat to improper representation of our gods to negative reporting in Time magazine (hey, any other magazine is fine, but not on the Time, OK?!) to detainment of a celebrity at an airport pisses us off! So much so, that our beloved foreign minister takes these up as "diplomatic issues". After all, the definition of the Foreign Minister is " The guardian of Indian culture in a foreign land". In no way am I suggesting that these issues are inconsequential or that the foreign ministry should not be involved in matters concerning her citizens. I laud the efforts of SMK in the student murder cases in Australia or the role played so far in Norway.
The recent issue of a Bollywood superstar being help at an airport for hours is a classic example. Indians all over outraged, called it racial profiling and humiliation to a "national treasure" (I am NOT kidding, watch this). Eating meat when you are religiously inclined not to, can indeed be harrowing, but to demand a dip in the Ganges?! Come on!A model in Australia wore Goddess Lakshmi on her underwear, surely, this can hurt your religious sentiments (not mine), but to have demonstrations and get the government involved is crazy!The list could go on...
Will we ever learn to look inwards? I remember watching an immigration officer in Delhi being extremely rude to in illiterate Bihari and throwing a form on his face and smilingly help an African lady with a similar issue. I was disgusted, but only as disgusted as when I heard that it took them two hours to verify Shah Rukh's identity or that Abdul Kalam was frisked before being let in. I agree that the TSA sucks (Hell, most Americans think the TSA sucks), but I was also pulled over multiple times by cops in India demanding to see my license and registration . Not when I was speeding or posed a threat to other motorists, these were "random" checks.
After four years in a foreign land, if there is a takeaway I have had, it would be that, India, as a culture, needs to have the ability to laugh at itself and accept disagreement. As Voltaire once said on free speech: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Lets face it, Eminem can make fun of Elvis Presley and still be accepted, however, If a modern singer mocks Lata Mangeshkar, the artist will be an outcast. If Jon Stewart was Indian, he would be shunned, behind bars or dead.
A lot has changed for the good in India over the past two decades. Dowry is no more a norm. "Curfews" and "riots" are not treated with a chalta hain attitude, everyone from the south are not "Madrasis" and everyone from the north are not "Biharis". Corruption is actually an election issue. I only hope we also learn to laugh at ourselves a little more.
Having spent most of my formative years in India, I must confess that my inclinations are closer to the Indian culture than it is to that of Uncle Sam. I am a vegetarian because of my upbringing (NOT by religion), have no inhibitions of living with my parents (even if I have a job) and can watch a cricket match for 5 days. However, if there is one aspect where I believe the Amriki's (sorry) have an upper hand, it's on the very Indian issue of being "hurt when opposed".Anything from accidental consumption of meat to improper representation of our gods to negative reporting in Time magazine (hey, any other magazine is fine, but not on the Time, OK?!) to detainment of a celebrity at an airport pisses us off! So much so, that our beloved foreign minister takes these up as "diplomatic issues". After all, the definition of the Foreign Minister is " The guardian of Indian culture in a foreign land". In no way am I suggesting that these issues are inconsequential or that the foreign ministry should not be involved in matters concerning her citizens. I laud the efforts of SMK in the student murder cases in Australia or the role played so far in Norway.
The recent issue of a Bollywood superstar being help at an airport for hours is a classic example. Indians all over outraged, called it racial profiling and humiliation to a "national treasure" (I am NOT kidding, watch this). Eating meat when you are religiously inclined not to, can indeed be harrowing, but to demand a dip in the Ganges?! Come on!A model in Australia wore Goddess Lakshmi on her underwear, surely, this can hurt your religious sentiments (not mine), but to have demonstrations and get the government involved is crazy!The list could go on...
Will we ever learn to look inwards? I remember watching an immigration officer in Delhi being extremely rude to in illiterate Bihari and throwing a form on his face and smilingly help an African lady with a similar issue. I was disgusted, but only as disgusted as when I heard that it took them two hours to verify Shah Rukh's identity or that Abdul Kalam was frisked before being let in. I agree that the TSA sucks (Hell, most Americans think the TSA sucks), but I was also pulled over multiple times by cops in India demanding to see my license and registration . Not when I was speeding or posed a threat to other motorists, these were "random" checks.
After four years in a foreign land, if there is a takeaway I have had, it would be that, India, as a culture, needs to have the ability to laugh at itself and accept disagreement. As Voltaire once said on free speech: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Lets face it, Eminem can make fun of Elvis Presley and still be accepted, however, If a modern singer mocks Lata Mangeshkar, the artist will be an outcast. If Jon Stewart was Indian, he would be shunned, behind bars or dead.
A lot has changed for the good in India over the past two decades. Dowry is no more a norm. "Curfews" and "riots" are not treated with a chalta hain attitude, everyone from the south are not "Madrasis" and everyone from the north are not "Biharis". Corruption is actually an election issue. I only hope we also learn to laugh at ourselves a little more.
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