Yes. I’m laughing…and How!!! Now I know you have gotten used to my writing funny stuff but today I’m just not in the mood. Although I AM laughing! I was on the internet today…as is often the case ;-) and I noticed someone I know, an Indian, living and working abroad with a status message saying “saare jahaan se acha…hindustan humara!” And I said to myself…hahahaha!!
If that’s really the case then why the hell are they not in
The saddest part is the parents of most kids telling them how there’s better opportunity abroad, “beta wahan par aap Pizza Hut mein waiter ka kaam kar sakte ho pocket money ke liye…aur log kutch nahi bolenge! Yahan to society kya kahegi na…!” “but mom, the economy is booming here…I wanna live in
Now let’s take a look at what they are doing there. Well for starters they are forming Indian cultural groups that get together and sing Hindi songs, eat Indian food, and watch Hindi films. And might I add all substandard compared to what we get in the REAL
So here’s to the real
That has…
Real food (no matter its effect on bmi…)
Real competition (from a really young age…n that’s why we work so hard and do so well that so many foreign companies want to hire us in the first place!!)
Real smiles
Real pride
Real attitude
So when all those ‘patriotic’ parrots that took flight to greener lands have to return to
32 comments:
Jai Hind to that I say!!!
:)
could it be this way ...
this person who is living abroad, obviously got a chance to compare Indian culture/life with that of this another country.
hence he has the status message.
How can those who have been in India only say it. If they do, then they are same like Americans :for whom, winner of national baseball championship (World Series) becomes world Champion.
Hypocrisy is in Human blood !!! All of us are infected by it…
Hypocrisy is in Human blood !!! All of us are "Infected" by it…
wow...hit the nail on the head with this one...
i just met one of my friends on chat too who had the staus msg bharat mata ki jay...
hez in ohio by the way...
quite a coincidence that the NRIs' show their patriotism by supporting and filling coffers of political parties more than they ever give to charity...
such losers...
happy i day btw...
:)
Probably one of my fovorite posts to date. :)
@Mr.Anonymous...it would take only a fool to compare ...find one better than the other...and yet select the worse off!!!
As to people who 'have been in India Only' as you have put it...just coz they are living in India ...it doesn't make them alien to travel and tourism abroad my short-sighted friend. Just throwing some perspective..your anonymous way. Hope you find your identity soon!!
Hypocrisy is in Human blood... And all of us are "Infected" by it
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
U HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!
WISH THERE WERE MORE LIKE U
jus read your blog.. nice.. dont deny it.. but think u were a bit too harsh on the bloke who showed his patriotism in that message.
An indian outside india is not any less indian, then why should he face the flak for showing his patriotism anywhich way he can from his fellow countrymen for not being in india.
i dont have to tel you to consider the 'not so obvious' ways of how he contributes to our economy by being there where he is...
hope m not sounding pompous here like your blog.
@ mellow muse: - people flinch at the truth...its painful but nonetheless true. If you've flinched u can't really be blamed. However, it is true that a number of people I know have gone abroad to study there...exactly how they claim in their visa applications...only to study...and then they are true to their words...and return almost immediately after their course is complete. They return to Indian jobs...and to set up Indian companies. I salute these Indians who away from home right now. The others who seem to need to wear their patriotism on their sleeves...are fooling themselves as are you. Oh and yeah...I hope I am not sounding too mellow...as is your blog.
@Mr.Anonymous...it would take only a fool to compare ...find one better than the other...and yet select the worse off!!!
>>well, sometimes,life hits hard... you don't get option to select. Many take educational loan for studies ;some have family responsibilities etc. For taking care of all this, they stay abroad.
Though,at same time, there are few who just choose to stay abroad for what they call 'better quality of life'. & if they also display such status messages... WTF.
>>As to people who 'have been in India Only' as you have put it...just coz they are living in India ...it doesn't make them alien to travel and tourism abroad my short-sighted friend. Just throwing some perspective..your anonymous way. Hope you find your identity soon!!
>>Ever heard about identity Theft! :)
you may agree with me here that India is really competitive land. Its difficult for dumbs n asses to survive there..so, they run towards jungle.
Those who make their career in India only ..OMG! god bless you
First, I want to say that I missed you so much here....its almost after a really long time that you are writing. But I must say....the wait was worth it....As I had said earlier....you write in such an amazing fahion....that even if it is a topic of non interest....One is bound to read it. Waah Waah to that I say!
And yes, all that you said is so true....and the best part was the pictures that you posted....loved them all....especially the smile one and the real attitude one!!!!
We need serve our country too....and we sure will learn that one day.
By the way....your post inspired me for my next post on my blog....I will be posting it by nightfall....I hope you will read and appreciate!
Cheers till we meet again!
hehe....please dont thank me for anything....the post i was talking about has been published....please check it out if you have time....
Cheers!
Great Article!!!
I have just one question, can you define Independence? I know the definition in book tell me other then that.
I for one feel place hardly matters. It is all in your head. It is all your perception.
You have just explained one side of coin the other side is still in dark.
I am a big fan of your writing so far, but this article disappointed me a bit!
@anonymous #2 - im just gonna call u that...anonymous #2 since hide n seek seems to be so much in fashion these days...what with paranoia of identity theft!! (hint hint sarcasm right at all u anonymous posers)
Well it surely is one side of a coin...because that's what an opinion is...it is a point of view...and this on is mine. You could put your across on a blog post of your own...and then I could comment on that perhaps...however mine won't be anonymous...coz Independence to me means...not having to HIDE!!!! There you go...the meaning you seem to be tiring yourself searching for!!!
Bilkul sahi **If that’s really the case then why the hell are they not in India?
huh I really can't take that. Why are we so much interested in developing the developed countries more.
Try visiting me
the blog name is That's Awful
how much of an indian lives in us is wat matters rather than how long we live in india...how much of india, d culture, d language, d pride lives in us...
i wudnt wanna name but thr r states in india itself where hindi is looked down upon...where hindi books r burnt...m not talkin abt a language here...m talkin abt india..."hindustan"...this is whr our sense of being an indian shud come in...atlst when ppl make these grps outside or such communities they r not downgradin our national pride...but these things happen in india itself...i feel sad abt that...atlst d ppl outside dnt shy away from calling themselves indians
hEY smita,
gr8 post!!!"happy 2 b an Indian" was evident thru out.
@ Mayz: - You seem so sure of yourself it's ironic!!! If Indian's abroad are so proud to be India...why do they try to cover their accent with fake acquired ones??? Why does Nilesh change his name to Neil...Harish adopts a name like Harry...and you Mayank seem to go by Mayz...so I rest my case at that!!
@anwesa :- Thanks so much!!
@Priya Joyce: - Thank you!!! we need more people like you!
Although i do agree with your perspective to some extent. I would like to highlight a couple of examples:
a) Indian Americans are playing a major role in forming America's foreign policy towards India. Nuclear deal is an example of this phenomenon. Indian Americans are extremely well off- growing in nos and as you might have seen in the recent Amercian polls - both Obama and Mccain are trying their best to please this "group" by promising them a pro INDIA foreign policy stance. I dont need to tell you how good it is for India to have backing of the world's most powerful country.
Another example which will make this point amply clear is Israel. American Jews are among the wealthiest people in that country. And they have played an extremely important part in making Israel America’s closest ally.
b) As per the quote "the economy is booming here…I wanna live in India and do something for my country!" one would think that the person is trying to show signs of patriotism/love for his/her country BUT in my mind i think three motives/limitations form 90% of the reason for such a decision. I) "the economy is booming" ii) Inability in terms of funds C) Reluctance to stay in a totally alien environment. Imagine having a very prosperous country as our neighbour with no travel restrictions – similar culture/language – trust me you will see a huge decline in the no of patriots.
c) Most of the times Indians or Chinese change their names or accents for the simple reason of conducting business better. Working with a name like "balachandranaidu" just adds complexity to the process - also if i were to go to China on business, i have a better chance of getting the deal done if i can crack a joke or two in chinese in meetings. So this whole issue comes about coz ppl are business minded rather than anti-India or China.
When Uniliver entered India - they named their indian subsidary "Hindustan Lever" - some brits might have objected to this by saying that its insane to add a former colonies name to the great british brand. it's just business.
@ Madhu: - I am just so happy that my post made you write...and write so much!! :-D dude....how about an email or a call sometime!! a nilaya cheers ur way! :-)
Yo cant blame people for taking an easy path in life. It's human nature.
As for being patriotic, it is more a sense of belonging to a community. When you go abroad you are an alien in most respect. The only community and bonding that you may have initially is those of your own country.
u said it.wheres all the patriotism?well masa will be thrilled with this one. did u send him one.He will go to the U.S.only if they deliver his visa at home without going for an interview.Sare Jaha SE Acha Hindusita Hamara.
I like the pictures. They just show how India isn't only about the hungry, the poor and the downtrodden. That things are getting better for us.
Hey chech....frankly...i think ur post was fab!!!! straight to the point...n one tht makes so much sense...!!loved the pics too....!!:) :)
n man... i loved ur replies to both anonymous #1 n #2...!!the answer to their questions or statements rather, lies in their posts itself..!!!especially the meaning of 'independence'...kudos to u!!!:):)
Hey chech....frankly...i think ur post was fab!!!! straight to the point...n one tht makes so much sense...!!loved the pics too....!!:) :)
n man... i loved ur replies to both anonymous #1 n #2...!!the answer to their questions or statements rather, lies in their posts itself..!!!especially the meaning of 'independence'...kudos to u!!!:):)
awesome. well-written. thought provoking. hv fwded da link to my mdico brotha who wants to do his PG in US of A. hoping he wud change his mind!
Hi Smita,
I happened to arrive at your blog as I was blog-hopping. And as an Indian who is living out of India right now (well not in the US of A, as is typical), I am perturbed by your post.
The reasons people step out of India in the first place, are many. For a large number, it is about parents pushing or the dollar calling. But for an equally large number it is simply about seeing what is out there, about living in a place amongst a new culture. It is almost like moving from once city to another; quite like a Chennai-to-Delhi move. And the fact that the new city is in another country altogether, does not make it an act of betrayal in any way.
And often when people live outside of India they appreciate it more. I guess You can appreciate a scenery more when you are not in it. But that doesnt make them any less Indian or their love for India fake.
But then if they love India so much, why don't they come back? Simply coz once you have lived outside of India, you are never quite at home anywhere. When you are outside of India, you miss the sights and sounds and colors and tastes of India. But when you are in India, you miss the other country for all its convenience and uniqueness. And so, Indians living outside of India, try and create a little piece of India wherever they are- be it through songs, music, movies or food.
The Real India is not some geographical co-ordinates or a piece of land, It is a state of mind, a state of heart.
So the Indians outside of india, their Indian pride is as real, their Indian Attitude is as real, their Indian-ness is as real.
@six feet from the edge - thanks for your comment...i totally respect your view point as strongly as I respect my own.
it is honestly so refreshing to see you argue the other side of the coin so logically and above all..Honestly!...unlike a few others who seem to behave like their 'brains are in the drain'...instead of understanding brain drain! :-) it is almost as if i need to put up a disclaimer on my blog saying..."all similarities to any person living or dead is purely coincidental and a figment of your rather jobless imagination!
Anyhow, I am so glad somebody like you came forth with your viewpoint! Salute! A healthy debate can only ensue with people like you! thank you! i look forward to reading your blog!
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