Posted on: 14-08-07 12:35:20
This will be the 60th Year of Indian Independence. Very proud to see our country make progress in leaps and bounds inspite of all the challenges it faces. No other country has the largest democracy and diversity as ours. I am fortunate to know my roots are from this amazing country, at the same time I am aware that I am its brand ambassador whenever I travel.
On this occasion of our Independence day, I want to share a small incident that we experienced recently. It has triggered a question in my mind- are Indians proud of who they are? Are they respectful to each other?
We visited the famed Gerard street in Toronto recently as we felt like eating chaat 
. Went into a restaurant as we wanted to sit down and enjoy the food. The restaurant was quite empty with the exception of three tables which were taken. As no one approached us or helped us with a table, we proceeded to look for a table ourselves and seated ourselves on a table meant of four as we had some bags with us. After a while the waiter approached us with the menus and immediately asked us to move to a smaller table of two. We were quite miffed (reasons: he had not bothered to help us in the beginning, most of the tables were empty, there was a Caucasian couple sitting at a table meant for four) and given the circumstances politely refused and directed his attention to the empty tables all around. He gave us the silent treatment all along and had a sour face throughout!
We also noticed that when another white couple entered, he ran to the door and hovered around them till they were comfortable!
Albeit it was a small incident, the waiter left us feeling small for being an Indian in a desi restaurant. Why is it that Indians fail to show respect to each other? Does that mean we still have a colonial hangover and cannot treat everyone equally?
In the UK, I have visited some desi areas where people throw garbage on the streets with abandon, they keep the sidewalks outside their homes/ stores extremely dirty, blare loud music with little concern for others … I can go on.
Whatever happened to our values of cleanliness; concern for others etc?
I have met some desis overseas who at the drop of a hat trash Indian cultures / infrastructure/ lifestyle back home and try to change themselves completely and identify with western culture more than even some westerners!
India is not without faults. But again- who is India? Isn’t it the people who are from there? I have met many Indians who represent and carry themselves with dignity and pride when they integrate with other new cultures in new countries. I am therefore very aware and not generalizing the situation to all Indian orgin people. However incidents like the one above leave me feeling reflective.
Happy Independence Day to all!
Greetings Transition
I am completely in tune with your thoughts. As you said there are many such icidents that one can recount..some as simple as exchanging a smile that many "desis" reserve only for people who do not look "Indian"
Like many of us, I too am proud about the Indian roots nevertheless.
b
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Bombay State of mind
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I totally agree, have you noticed Desi's at airports, people are so stiff in there, no smiles, tight lipped, as if every second person is going to ask them what did you do to get this green card or PR and steal the info or their jobs there and then. The other behavior which embarrasses me is asking for liquor and liquor on board the moment they set foot in planes. The best Desi's I've met so far are Taxi guys be it, NY, Miami, WDC or Toronto (talkative and approachable)!
I completely agree with you guys. I call it a racism among the desi tribes. I can bet, I have faced more unfriendly behaviour from the desi's than white people. Especially desi's, who are born and brought up here in Canada than the immigrants who came few years ago.
Quote:
Originally posted by febpreet
Especially desi's, who are born and brought up here in Canada than the immigrants who came few years ago.
i agree with fabpreet, i was gonna say the same thing. i'm not saying tht all desis are like that but most of them have attitute problem but they will never admit it.
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Inderpal Singh
Sorry - yesterday was the deadline for all complaints
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Quote:
Originally posted by febpreet
Especially desi's, who are born and brought up here in Canada than the immigrants who came few years ago.
As Peter Russel's Father told him "These Stupid Immigrants!"
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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...
No wonder I have a hard time mixing up with one set of my cousins who were born here.
