You leave me speechless at times. Your concern for your homeland and patriotism gives me goose bumps. You are forever obsessed with anything and everything Indian – cricket, bollywood, kollywood, corrupt politicians, carnatic music, and everything else which one would associate with the word INDIA.
But somewhere in this love affair, you lose your objectivity. Your obsession for anything India gets transformed to a nit-picking campaign which you brilliantly blow up to ridiculous proportions. For example, if a kid gets lost in an Indian city even for a moment, for you that’s a sufficient enough evidence to conclude India is unsafe for children. Going by this logic, if an adult loses his way in an Indian city, I guess we should all conclude India is unsafe for adults too.
Every third post in your blog would be about the lack of discipline in Indian roads, the corrupt political system, the unscrupulous bureaucracy, the snail’s pace functioning of government departments etc. If only the rating agencies like Standard and Poor or Moody’s got a chance to read your blog, I guess India would be downgraded from ‘Sumaara Irukku’ to ‘Naasama Pochu’.
It is an irony that in this very nitpicking campaign, you betray the same Indian trait which you decry with all your heart among your resident brethren. I mean, you sit safely in a developed country and keep on gossiping about your underdeveloped motherland. How useful is that? Look at it in another way, you make a living in a foreign country and all but obsessed with your home country when you could do a lot to better your adopted country - typical Indian trait again.
We salute your love for India. But why don’t you show the same prudence and selfishness with which you decided to settle down in Amreeka or UK? I mean, devote sometime to worry about your own backyard. After all not everything is great there.
Have you ever cribbed in public about the inordinate delays in getting the coveted green card nowadays? I am sure some US government department is handling that too?
Why don’t you try to do something about the subtle racial discrimination you experience day in and day out, especially if you are in Europe?
Why don’t you work towards eradicating the gun culture in your US of A.
Most of my resident Indian friends who’ve been to the US have either heard or experienced first hand mugging instances, please do something about it. After all, that is much more dangerous than the fleecing auto-driver or the saavu dance amidst traffic jam in Chennai.
I also heard your White House is killing young American soldiers in the name of war while your President’s family and the notorious terrorist’s family are striking oil deals in the Middle East. I’m sure your blood boils when you read this. Please share some of your anger and agony with us through your blog.
The plight of an average resident Indian is not very different from the plight of the programmer who has to maintain a COBOL code written 35 yrs ago with a sev. 1 issue. We crib and complain because it’s tough to wade through a vast history, but yeah we can sort of handle it. You decided this was not worth your time and chose the easy way out. Fine, we respect your prudence and the premium you place on your time. Unlike you, we pay our taxes here. We’ve lived here all along and know how things work, with or without you and your cribbing.
If you still find India is getting on to your nerves, please stay where you are. I mean why
get into a country which is run by criminals and where the citizens are third rate when you have your place secure in paradise aka USA?
Just one friendly advice, don’t venture into your notorious troubled neighborhood during odd hours; you might lose your way for ever. But otherwise Amreeka is heaven, we know.
February 3, 2007 at 11:24 am
PK, my salutations to you!!! Indha maadhiri oru post dhaan naan edhir paarthuttu irundhen and finally it has come from you and in very apt, non-derogatory words. Superbly written, well worded. Now I am hoping that you don’t become one of them
February 3, 2007 at 1:33 pm
PK’s anger against NRIs who says INDIA SUCKS….
…
February 3, 2007 at 3:40 pm
We could nitpick on your post but lets tackle one item for now: There is no need to eradicate gun culture. It’s a right given to us in our constitution. Yes, there are an inordinate number of deaths due to illegal guns. That means, there needs to be better laws and sentencing for illegal guns. I don’t own a gun. But have several friends who own guns. Yes, plural, as in more than one gun. They are legal and can use them for legal purposes.
And we DO protest sending troops into war for the wrong reasons. You may have noticed the legislative branch just turned over to the other party.
Sorry, that was two topics wasn’t it? My bad.
February 3, 2007 at 4:07 pm
i’m pretty sure your other turbanheaded friends need all those guns to protect themselves from being shot by racist redheads who think you are all Osama’s distant cousin. Why don’t u admit that ?
yeah right so now all the dead students and dead soldiers and dead Iraqis are going to spring back to life because Amrikaans have turned their legislature over to a new party.
February 3, 2007 at 5:02 pm
..And all those kids that die in the war are in mid 20’s ,joining army for getting college degree and scholarships,but they either return in caskets or miamed .
Can they stand on their own legs ?
Turban head, are you listening ?
February 3, 2007 at 5:53 pm
You sound like the war-mongers who questioned the patriotism of Americans who opposed the Iraq war.
Some things about India do annoy me, as do some things about the US. Are you suggesting that I should not voice my opinion/issues with another region because I don’t live in Utopia? What happened to free speech? Che Guevara comes to mind. Should he have languished in Argentina instead of revolutionizing Cuba, Bolivia..etc?
Are you so defensive because you recognize shreds of truth in the criticism? Honest criticism & subsequent introspection should lead to growth.
February 3, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Hi PK,
Nice write up.
I have heard people praising the U.S regarding better facilities, cheap cars etc., Its like standing on the highest point of a ship and saying “I am up here. I am at the top. Everything is fantastic here”. But, they forget to realise that the ship is sinking. And its sinking real fast.
And to all of you who are planning to return to India, I am pretty sure that its not patriotism but the Economic surge of India thats bringing you back.
I have heard that there are localities in the U.S where 70% of the populatoin constitute of Indians. If you can live harmoniously there and follow the rules there, why not here?
How is that the Indians get along well with Americans and others in the U.S and not with themselves in the U.S or for the matter, here in India?
The list is endless.
Voracious Blog Reader
February 3, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Karthi….
why did u leave out the
hypocritical behavior some of them show in
day to day life..
I have heard things like “its primitive to eat
with your fingers”…..when in a party with Americans.
letters like “and now little Raj is all americanised”..(whatever that is)
and ” ohh….I hardly employ Indians…I know how they perform” (for god’s sake..who is he?)
Throw in a couple of white-skins in a party and our ppl bend backwards to impress them.
Why…I have seen little kids struggling to get accepted by their peers…what more punishment could there be.
Why dont they do something about this…..
I always get a strong feeling that they lead a compromised life-style but nevertheless like to put up a “oh its hunky dory out here” show.
Most of all..I feel that the kind of life-style they have lead in India is inversely propotionate
to the level of cribbing they do now.
@ VBR// How is that the Indians get along well with Americans and others in the U.S and not with themselves in the U.S or for the matter, here in India?//
That’s not getting along VBR….its putting up with at any cost.
Kudos karthi!!!(Nalla ketteenga).
February 3, 2007 at 11:55 pm
“The plight of an average resident Indian is not very different from the plight of the programmer who has to maintain a COBOL code written 35 yrs ago with a sev. 1 issue.”
, nalla analogy
- LOL
February 4, 2007 at 1:18 am
may be we shud pass a law saying ppl who dont plan to say in india are not allowed to crib, whine or blog about the issues they face in india…may be that would help… may be they shudn even think
why does this whining and cribbing bother u???
or are u saying ppl dont ahve rite to express opinion..
so does that mean even dont have the write to say “ppl who crib are not allowed here??”
ill tell u what the indian trait is…we dont have tolerance..!!! thats the truth…majority of us…
some body said ppl took the ez way out …and went to US…:)) ez out of what now?? didnt get u..
ppl go thru the same hardships as they go thru in india…
cheap cars??? what is this about now??
why are u bothered about iraq and all?? now..what is the relevance of this here???
some body said they wont hire indians..so? its their personal choice…??? its what we are..once upon a time pl in blore where killing who ever was speaking tamill…believe me..it seems funny now rite??
if indians behave like morons..it just refelcts what we are…better to accept it and move on..
it looks like ur cribbing..its like if i say if u dont like cobol leave it..would that be fine,..would u just leave ur job just like that.???
its not that simple rite..??
?? its the same way…u cannot just say u cannot come here….and all!!
if ppl cribbing about traffic in chennai bothers u.ignore them!!…
u say getting along…waht are u talking about ppl….diff ppl have diff ppl skills…lots of south indians dont even like north indians…there are thousands of blog posts…like that..so what are u going to do banish them and send them to andamans????
wake up…learn to be tolerant…we are supposed to be a tolerant bunch rite.?? dont we claim ourselves as??
ur post is no different from the post ur referring to ..he is cribbing ..ur also cribbing..i see no difference..
may be this one of the indian traits!!
we cirb about some thing..and then we crib about..how the other one cribs..and beautifully forget the issue..!!
nice
ill tell u a incident once there w as a article in outlook regarding kerala saying it was going to dogs..
one guy had blogged.. saying that all bs..all thats fine…
but thru out the blog and the discussion that followed…
nobody discussed about kerala..wether the issues were rite or wrong..
they were discussing why outlook shudnt have put an article like this they were comparing themselves to bihar and all
ill tell u..it is an unfortunate fact…but this is out trait!!
forget the issue..and discuss the manner in which the issue is brought up ..
think about it!!
no offence meant to any one plz
vijay
February 4, 2007 at 1:30 am
Nice sugar coated post. PK Style!
Please read Sujatha’s katradhum Petradhum! Really worth a read.
I am refering here to a post written by Sundar Narayanan.
What are your thoughts on autorickshaws filled with school kids, bad traffic around schools ( i read about an accident near a school last year).
What are your thoughts on Emergency services? Please ask Ram Viswanathan for details.
What do you think about Corruption at all levels? Even to get a Birth/Death certificate?
What do you think about pathetic roads, poverty, well..even water has to be bought..!
What do you think of a corrupt system when you can even depend on the Police?
What do you think of a country where education = Mugging and vomitting in exams?
What do you think of a system where corruption is a way of life?
What do you think of a system where ‘Quality of life’ is zero!
Let’s take a poll among educated Youth and see how many would like to stay in India ( if they are freely offered a chance to Migrate to your amereeca )
February 4, 2007 at 3:10 am
NV sir ,
The systems that you mentioned is slowly growing in the 60 year old free developing India compared to standard-streamlined services in 250 year old Independent developed USA.
So, whats your contribution as a NRI to alleviate those mentioned ills ?
With much respect..
Narada
February 4, 2007 at 4:32 am
Naradha,
Yep. thats one of the points.But i dont want NRI’s to alleviate India’s problems. Let them alleviate the challenges they face in their own adopted country.
Narayanan Sir,
We all know whats wrong in India very clearly. I’m saying devote the same energy to the issues you people face in US. Why is that we dont get to read any such issues in your or any of your fellow NRI’s blogs?
If LA has a population of say 10million now, i would like to see the crime rate and other so called ‘quality of life’ factors when the population touches 30-40million in LA. I’m sure the problems would be double that of Chennai with only half the population of chennai.
February 4, 2007 at 4:39 am
Vijay
All i am saying is please feel free to crib about the issues NRI’s face in US as well.
When the INS makes you wait for ever you just keep your mouth shut.
When the US consulate in India treat you like dirt when you go for your visa, you hardly whisper. The same situation in India will make you crib ‘India Sucks’. Why this selective cribbing?
February 4, 2007 at 5:47 am
NV sir, u have no locus standi to say that the quality of life is zero in india when u dont live here. on what basis do u make this statement, can u elucidate? dont tell me its based on media or ur two week trips.
yes the quality of life might not be as good as in USA, but people im sure are happier. using ur standards Bhutan will have a low quality of life, but people are the happiest in the world, last i heard vanatu followed a close second. the whole idea is to be happy. and if ur so cald development cannot provide that, people can choose alternatives. yes india is corrupt, autos are overcrowded, but then we living in india dont have a problem with it. its because it affected u ,u did that u left the country, now it doesnt really affect u rite? so why expect things to change? especialy considering those in india arent really bothered. if u want a change, sethula erungo, when ur not willing to do that, why do crib so much?
in simple terms india is like the like this wonly, seri padalaiya irukkathango.
and the youngsters choosing to live outside india isnt based on the factors uve said, its based on which country provides them more opportunities. if they can get a plum job in usa, its usa, if its india,its india.
February 4, 2007 at 5:52 am
Soonapaana,
thanks
Sree,
VBR,
Thanks. well said
February 4, 2007 at 5:54 am
vatsan,
S’pore la enna food da saapidare? Enakkum 20 kilo anuppi vai! I wish i’s said what you did!
February 4, 2007 at 5:56 am
shireen,
>>Freedom of speech.
I’m all for it. I’m just saying please open your mouth to those things which affect you the NRI. We have enough activists to worry about us.
February 4, 2007 at 6:00 am
Turbanhead,
Thanks for enlightening us as to how gun culture fosters peace in your community. Ignorance is the main problem when dealing with third world country citizens like is.
If it works for you, good!
But for once I’m thankful to the Indian constitution. I think this is one right we Indians can do well without!
So you guys protest against your govt? Nice to hear that. A little louder please!
February 4, 2007 at 6:01 am
Pablo and Karthik S
February 4, 2007 at 6:02 am
Ravi,
Thanks ba
February 4, 2007 at 6:15 am
@ Narayanan Venkitu
Nice blog, you have. Have been following yours for quite a while.
NV….If India has all the points that you say, how is that Indians (who have lived india for a minimum of two decades) shine outside of India?
If people can put up with Racial discrimination in the U.S, why is their tolerance level Zilch when it involves India?
As PK puts it, its “Selective Cribbing”.
Voracious Blog Reader
February 4, 2007 at 6:40 am
ooh one more thing sir,
india eppidi dhaan, we are like this wonly, if you cannot adjust to the system here, varatheengo. its simple, when in rome be a roman principle
February 4, 2007 at 8:22 am
LA county’s population is close to a crore. Slightly more than chennai city as it is.
February 4, 2007 at 8:33 am
Idulla #1 nonsense - dual citizenship. I am yet to digest what this nonsense is all about - Aathulla oru kaal, sethula oru kaal irukkara ivangalukka enna special treatment ? One of my friends who is now working in Bangalore, is a US citizen has applied for dual citizenship - he says if things don’t work out he will go back. Why do we cheapen ourselves like this ? The citizenship of this country is up for sale - I can’t imagine anything more scandalous. chk out this post - http://bangaloreblues.wordpress.com/2007/01/29/dual-citizenship-a-window-of-opportunism/
February 4, 2007 at 11:23 am
LOL PK, I haven’t read the comments yet aanalum paavum Sundar theiyaadha oorla pullaiya tholachuttu muzhikirappa avar patta kavalai avarukku dhaan theriyum.
Innum rendu vaarathila naanum edhachum ezhudheetu unga kitta naan thittu vaangav poradhu nichayam.
February 4, 2007 at 11:37 am
Oh when I meant theriyaadha oor on my above comment, I said that cos the young one had got lost in Mumbai and I am assuming his daughter doesn’t speak Hindi. As a mother who has travelled a lot with the child to places where I don’t know the local language and the child can’t even say the address, I can only guess how scared Sundar must have been. It must have been a nightmare. More later when I can access my blogger account
February 4, 2007 at 11:38 am
WA :Have a safe trip to India. Unga paiyan kai-ya 24 x 7 pudichukongo..appuram don’t write anything pricky..bye.
February 4, 2007 at 12:18 pm
correction 1 first of all saying US consulate treats us badly is not completely tru…
2 every body cribs about that…..selective cribbing..yes..u crib selectively about others cribbing..
typical indian trait!!..may be even i am like this…
thats all i can say..ppl are trying to change things..
i try work with organization that bring about social change…my 2 cents!!
February 4, 2007 at 12:54 pm
PK and friends - IMHO, Several things in life are learnt thru experiences ( good and bad ). I lived 34 years of my life in India, going around with ‘I LOVE INDIA’ stickers all around my motorcycle , my home etc. after spending 1 year in the Middle East !
Any ways - if these comments make me Anti-Indian its ok. I know what I am and I will stand by my comments.
No offenses to anyone. I am glad several people have expressed their feelings. This is a very healthy topic and I look forward to more such posts from PK.
To end - How many of you guys can name 10 Freedom fighters without googling them. I mean 10 from your State ! Just for fun…don’t read between lines here please.!
February 4, 2007 at 1:01 pm
1.Rajnikanth
2.Vijayakanth
3.Kamalhassan
4.Ajith
5.Vijay
6.Asin
7.Simran
8.Namitha
9.Sneha
10.Kushbooo
February 4, 2007 at 1:06 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6257057.stm
February 4, 2007 at 1:09 pm
NV Sir,
//What do you think of a country where education = Mugging and vomitting in exams?//
If there is one thing that US lacks that is good primary education.
We have no right to complain about our school system.
There are choices like ICSE and CBSE where the system is well planned.
I am a commerce student but if I know a good bit of science as well, its because of
our education system.
Mathematics is another field that is taught in a systematic way in
India.And this is one subject where one cannot ‘mug and vomit’ as u colorfuly said.
I assume you did ur basic education in India and I am sure u can solve arithmetic problems even today.
I see most of the kids in US attending KUMON or similar classes and only those
kids fare well in the school.
Languages are another very important subject here. All of us who studied in India are highly proficient in atleast 2 languages and have a working knowledge of another 2.
I think its the over ambitious parents who encourage the mugging vommiting scenario.
We Indians have a passion for studies thanks to our primary education system !!!
February 4, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Ada pongappa vera peraa kedaikala ungalukku ellam? and as to the advice thanks and don’t forget it applies to the non NRIs too, our children don’t know the local languages when travelling around diff states, neengalum ozhunga kaiya pudichu kootindu ponga. And as to writing something pricky, if that means complaining…don’t you worry I will do so if I feel like it, just the same as I have done during my trips to other countries. And yes bye
February 4, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Vatsan - You’ve asked why I go to India…Answer: It’s to visit my parents and friends.
Now - Question to you - Why did you opt to study wherever you are studying now? Aren’t there good institutions in India ??
Folks Again - This is a friendly conversation - No offenses meant…It would be good to brainstorm ….!
RELAX MAAME - LOL :-)…YOU MISSED NAYANTHARA
February 4, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I fully agree with Vatsan and PK. Narayanan Sir, I appreciate your sportsmanship as well but as PK says why target India all the time? I have been a regular reader of your blog as well. I still remember a post in the recent past about a day light murder near Kathipara. I know its very very bad but the point is that being in US, you never comment about the law and order situation there? Can you walk alone on the streets in US in the evening or even in the daytime when its isolated? And compare that to India, its much much better. Agreed India is lacking this and lacking that, but don’t you see the improvement at all? There was this day of the week when people were requested to eat wheat instead of rice because of shortage and then after Green Revolution, White revolution, we are the second producers of milk in the world and also largest railway network. People are coming here from all over the world for cheap medication. Can you think of walking into a hospital without insurance in US? And what about public transport? Give India its due time, it was looted, brain washed, crookery imparted by colonisation and it would take sufficient time to rebounce back to its past glory and I do see it getting there. People go to US and overnight want India to change. What logic is this? Just as US can never become India, I personally would not want India to become US. Facilties, improvisation, yes, but in other ways, even with its drawbacks, India would be special. And I think PK’s whole point it why turn a blind eye to the foriegn country’s shortcomings? Why?
February 4, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Ravi..Life is a Boon
Fun-filled, traumatic, joyous, troublesome, boring, cruel, pleasing, satisfying, challenging, tempting, misleading - yes Life is full of ‘em - that is why life is so very SPECIAL - and yet the thrill is in “living” life! And all the accompanying ordeals are the frills attached with the thrills.
WELL SAID ..Good arguement
February 4, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Here is another retarded rant.
http://sriramr.blogspot.com/2007/01/travel-notes-from-back-home.html
February 4, 2007 at 8:54 pm
@ NV sir, I study where i study because india doesnt offer me opportunities. it just substantiates what i said earlier. youngsters leave india looking for opportunities and not because of the conditions back home. if india was to offer me the same opportunities, i wouldnt think twice of leaving the country.
February 4, 2007 at 9:16 pm
NV sir,
We ppl study abroad because there is much competition here.
Not because there are no great institutions here.
My aunt (around 55 years now) took some money with her decades ago
to pay the fees and was cotemplating as to which course to take.
She decided to pay the fees for medicine then and there and
came back home to tell her parents.
Just compare that with the situation today.
That is the only reason we are flocking the schools abroad.
But I am proud to say we excell there only b’cos of our primary
education and also want to make a point that we get into the
best of schools anywhere.
February 4, 2007 at 9:23 pm
That was a good post PK. Being in any country for that matter has its pro’s and cons and I guess your article would have been better if you had advised/suggested on how NRI’s or Indians in western countries can help for the betterment of their brethren back in India.
February 4, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Vatsan - Please define Opportunities !
February 4, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Sree - So if you have competition …you go abroad to study. Why is the competition? And do you think it’s cheap here? without aid?
People still get into IIT’s , Engg. colleges, medical colleges etc? in India don’t they. How do they escape competition?
That is another big debate..which I don’t want to start. I’ve been burnt because of the same exact reasons not now..but in 1977 ! which turned my destiny not because of any fault of mine !
I would like to quote something for you. I attended a conference with some Silicon Valley tops a few months back. Reseach head of Yahoo..( forgot his name ) mentioned that the Ph.d’s from other countries are nowhere near the Ph.d’s given in the US - What does that tell us ?
Sree - Please update us on Education in the US compared to India ( at your level ) Do you like the teaching in India or here?? I would like a honest answer.
February 5, 2007 at 12:25 am
[…] Prabhu Karthik addresses a letter to the average NRI and asks him to stop worrying about India and instead, devote his energies towards improving his adopted country. Fair advice. I am sure Prabhu can take care of India singlehandedly. Have you ever cribbed in public about the inordinate delays in getting the coveted green card nowadays? I am sure some US government department is handling that too? Why don’t you try to do something about the subtle racial discrimination you experience day in and day out, especially if you are in Europe? Why don’t you work towards eradicating the gun culture in your US of A. Most of my resident Indian friends who’ve been to the US have either heard or experienced first hand mugging instances, please do something about it. After all, that is much more dangerous than the fleecing auto-driver or the saavu dance amidst traffic jam in Chennai. […]
February 5, 2007 at 1:20 am
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/books/review/Macintyre.t.html?n=Top%2fFeatures%2fBooks%2fBook%20Reviews&_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
February 5, 2007 at 1:35 am
The comments I post are going into moderation and are not displayed
February 5, 2007 at 3:17 am
NV Sir,
I am mainly talking about primary education in India. And also about the good institutions in India.
//Now - Question to you - Why did you opt to study wherever you are studying now? Aren’t there good institutions in India ??//
Defenitely our IITs , IMMs, AIMS are all good institutions in India.
I had a discussion with my father (who has given guest lectures in the UK)
and he says that these institutions are defenitely good but they are the exceptions and not the rule.
Apart from the premier institutes others are defenitely not as good as
the better ones in the USA.
So NV sir, you have scored a point there.
But how many of us can get into these premier institutions in India ?
Well, we are cursed with something called the reservation.
I may stand 5th in the rank but I cannot get into the institute as I may not fall
in the quota set for the reserved cartegory.
But a person who is actually 20th in the line moves forward and gets the addmission for the simple reason that he falls under the reservation category.
So we choose to study abroad for these reasons and not because they are not good institutions.
I am told that these schools are on par with the best in the US.
//People still get into IIT’s , Engg. colleges, medical colleges etc? in India don’t they. How do they escape competition?//
If you see the results of the students who pass out of junior college..you would be surprised to see how close all their grades are. The difference between the marks would be in fractions.
Last year around 50% of the students who took their 10th standard exams got more than 98% in Mathematics. This is the kind of competition we are talking about.
Just because we do not get into these schools it does not mean we are any less competent.
So we go for the next best option and that is studying abroad.
// Reseach head of Yahoo..( forgot his name ) mentioned that the Ph.d’s from other countries are nowhere near the Ph.d’s given in the US - What does that tell us ? //
Well he could be right. But the asians who do their Ph.ds there are ppl who have had their basic training in their home-land.
//Sree - Please update us on Education in the US compared to India ( at your level ) Do you like the teaching in India or here?? I would like a honest answer. //
I think I have pretty much covered the first part.
As far as teaching is concerned…I have no idea as I am not a student in the US .
When I said ‘we’ , it was just a manner of speech and I did not refer to me.
Sorry about the ambiguity.
But in my other comment, I have written about primary education in the US as compared to Indian schools.
I have closely observed the schooling of my nephews there.
I think we have very good teachers in India in the primary school level
and the inter disciplinary training is one of the best in the world.
I have noticed that the kids in the US are very strong with thier GK
but where it comes to being upto date with the lessons the kids here fare well.
After much discussion I understand that mugging and vomitting is prevalent
upto a level here and it all depends on that particular teacher and not part of the system.
As I said if you follow closely, you can see that each board is different in its outlook
and expectations from the students.
So the body that sets the curriculam and teaching method is very important and
it cannot be generalised.
We have syllabus that teaches us all the subjects vastly and then lets us choose
the subjects we want to specialise in. This helps us to have a good idea
about other subjects though they are not our majors.
In the US primary classes, I have noticed that only after choosing the subject do they dwell deeply into it.
I am not saying that our education system has no room for improvement.
Defenitely it needs to be updated and some changes are required.
But it certainly is not a bad system as compared to US or any other country for that matter.
High expectations and setting high goals are part of our educational system.
I think this also goes a long way in shaping the students’ future.
February 5, 2007 at 4:01 am
any country is good, standard of living is good anywhere as long as you have the MONEY to live in that country
ambuttu thaan!!!!
February 5, 2007 at 6:54 am
you club a large number of people into a single bracket called “NRI”.
It’s more complicated than that.
But oversimflication is the least of your crimes.
So NRIs crib and nitpick about india/indians.
And you crib and nitpick about NRIs.
What’s the difference ?
You demonstrate the very behaviour you decry.
“… with your home country when you could do a lot to better your adopted country - TYPICAL INDIAN TRAIT again.”
Now who is mocking Indians ?
I think you need to take it easy.. not worry about “NRIs”.. leave them alone if you
don’t like what you hear… but they have a right to crib/nitpick whatever.
- D
February 5, 2007 at 9:12 am
Someone seems to hold a grudge.
February 5, 2007 at 9:27 am
[…] dig at NRIs who crib about india […]
February 5, 2007 at 9:50 am
BNB,
Adhu epdi?? India vai pathi kurai sollanum.. but easy a nilam vangi poda.. aprom inna pira sowgaryangal ku citizenship venume? Not one real estate project in any metro city goes without NRI investment. Ask any real estate developer or any reputed flat promoter. I wonder why they should invest in India when they feel so hopeless about it.
February 5, 2007 at 9:52 am
WA,
Is it not the same if i go abroad and lose my mom who does not know english there? will it be valid if i scream US or UK is unsafe for adults??
February 5, 2007 at 9:56 am
vijay,
>>correction 1 first of all saying US consulate treats us badly is not completely tru
thanks. only after your comment do i realise that making someone stand in the hot sun near thousand lights film banners for hours (it used to be worse sometime back) is american style courtesy. And the way those visa officers interrogate you, my my i was overwhelmed with their kindness!
I appreciate you for working with some organisation to improve things.
February 5, 2007 at 9:59 am
PK, I am not going to say anything new here. I agree about NRIs cribbing about India. But if you think we don’t crib/complain about things in the US, you’re wrong. We take note of the flaws int he US as much as we do in India…:) We’re all cognizant of the fact that the US is no wonderland. It has its share of problems.
The issue is the bracket of problems encountered in the US and India. In India, it is regular, day-to-day, life issues - schooling, traffic, pollution, bad roads etc…In the US, the problems are a bit higher level - green cards, gun culture etc…For the most part, they don’t pertain to daily issues…
You’re right in that we shld take some action about the problems in India. How? I don’t know. But hopefully that’s chowder for future posts of yours?
February 5, 2007 at 10:05 am
Narayanan sir
I am nobody to question your patriotism or any other person’s patriotism.
If u opt to live in US adhu unga ishtam. To each his own reasons for whatever decisions. I think Ravi has put it very succintly in his comments.
February 5, 2007 at 10:20 am
relax machi,
thanks
sree,
neeyum NV sir um yedho pesareenga.. neenga pesunga naan interfere pannalai
Monu,
what u say is true to a certain extent.
Divya,
You too can take it easy. This is my blog and i write what i write. If you dont like its not my problem.
If people who dont even live in this country can mock us, i guess i have every right to mock my fellow brethren too. At least i am not selective. I mock the resident as well as the non-resident type. And btw Thanks for your advice
February 5, 2007 at 10:21 am
Vi
Welcome here. No grudge whatsoever
February 5, 2007 at 10:47 am
Subha
Guess u were the only one to atleast partly refute what i said. From whatever i’d read in blogs, I have not found any NRI cribbing abt his US issues in his blog. Maybe i’ve overlooked things, i dont know.
Day to day issues are everywhere and is just a question of adaptability.In all these years in Chennai,i am used to going to work in my vehicle, now ia m going in public transport. I am sure it will take some time but eventually i will adapt.
I know so many Indians who had been to short visits to US and who feel totally uncomfortabe when cars become mandatory for travel in some areas. But i’ve not found any who would complain even half as bitterly as some of those sulky NRIs who think their sole mission in life is to crib about India and glorify america during their 3 week stint here. If there r NRIs who r more balanced then this post is not aimed at them.
February 5, 2007 at 10:50 am
Dude, wtf? You petulant, whiny types are the worst of the India-based desi bloggers. We NRIs shouldn’t complain about conditions in India just because we live supposedly plush lives abroad? What logic! I hope you live by your words the next time a maoist rebel breaks into your train compartment and disses you for presuming to speak up on the plight of poor farmers, because how dare you, you have it so much better!
February 5, 2007 at 11:13 am
“thanks. only after your comment do i realise that making someone stand in the hot sun near thousand lights film banners for hours (it used to be worse sometime back) is american style courtesy. And the way those visa officers interrogate you, my my i was overwhelmed with their kindness!”
u really dont want to know how the indian consulate treats ppl here..!!!
its much better than them..and nobody cribs about it..
u dont get the point rite..its all relative!! man
what are u talking about…obviously ..u have no idea what ur talking about!! sorry!!
ur just trying to justify things…
its an interview…what do u want them to do..be kind to u??? ???? are u trying to be funny??? :))
plus i dont expect any coutesy from them..i dont care…i still dont understand why do u expect courtesy from them???
i have stood in much longer queues in india…if u have an issue with queues then living in india is tuf!!!…u might wanna think about other options!!
plus as somebody put it..the issues ppl face daily are day to day issues..its tuf man…to say that…u have to face all these issues..and not open ur mouth is..i dont know..why does it bother u? thats the big question u havent answered…are u afraid that the image is getting spoilt or some thing???
just a suggestion..any body using COBOL and who think/blog/cirb/whine that its tuf shud resign their jobs and never work in cobol any more ..
howz this..this is a literal translation of ur suggestion!!! seems dumb/funny rite??
think about it
February 5, 2007 at 11:25 am
PK - I still think you are being slightly unfair dragging Sundar’s post into this. Namma oorlarundhu north poravunga mattum solradhillayaa its not a safe place paathu pongannu ellam, apdi dhaanne idhuvum. I can only imagine what he must have gone thro during those few mins. You are making a mountain out of a mole hill with that little story. I also don’t feel comfortable talking about that little one so much. As to the other parts of your post, I don’t have much to say. There are good and bad points in every country and I personally like to complain about every single country I’ve been to. Will let you know when I get around to complaining about whatever irritates me in India.
February 5, 2007 at 11:25 am
vijay
>>why does it bother u?
Actually i shud ask this question. u guys r not here anyway, why does it bother u then?
>>what do u want them to do..be kind to u???
Nah! i expect to be flogged. i’m serious!! After all they r giving me visa to enter heaven, isn’t it?
Nobody said we dont have Q’s in India. Nobody said we dont have issues in India. I myself have written about India. But i dont focus on India specific problems alone and burry everything negative abt US under the carpet, but still maintiain investments worth croeres in India like some wise NRI.
February 5, 2007 at 11:33 am
Nandhini
Atleast we do not use such bad language.
I condemn it.
February 5, 2007 at 11:37 am
WA,
If one such incident will make someone call India an unsafe country, it still bugs me.
I can understand that as an emotional statment from a parent. But that does not make such a statement a reasonable one.
You, me and everyone else have every right to crib abt every country including india. Freedom of speech and expression of course! I just have a few things to say about some people who will focus exclusively on India bashing and keep their mouth shut about their adapted country on issues big and small in their blogs.
As i said and keep saying again and again, this post is aimed only towards them and not towards all NRIs. I dont have any intention of starting any ‘Hate NRI’ campaign. I’ve got better things to do.
February 5, 2007 at 11:47 am
Hey
>>what do u want them to do..be kind to u???
// Nah! i expect to be flogged. i’m serious!! After all they r giving me visa to enter heaven, isn’t it? //
ROTFL
February 5, 2007 at 11:47 am
[…] Here is someone talking with NRIs and letting an average NRI know about what he thinks about him. This post is meant for those who say - India Sucks, as one who commented, points out. […]
February 5, 2007 at 12:00 pm
next time…u intewview with some company if they are not kind to u..
ur trying hard to be funny!!
will u start cribbing about it…??
“After all they r giving me visa to enter heaven, isn’t it?”
dont take things to sentimental levels!!
ull start to lose ur capacity to reason!!
February 5, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Okay the Boss has spoken and here’s the link
http://mahadevan-ramesh.blogspot.com/2006/12/creature-that-came-from-outer-space.html
Somehow PK’s response to Sundar’s verdict based on him losing his precious one for a few minutes has certainly gone out of control. Let’s just take a step back and think this over. First of all Sundar was wrong in saying India is nowhere near safe for kids. I don’t see any NRI even questioning that comment from him. It’s like NRI-me scratching ur back and NRI-U scratch my back. When some anon pointed out this in Sundar’s blog, NV comes in and starts writing a whole of lot India is not having this and that. NV sir the point is not what India is lacking, the point is whether India is safe or not. If it’s not that safe why do you guys even visit the country ? Why do you guys still cocoon urself with other Indian people ? Why do your kids wearing Jasmine and pattu paavadai ? U want Indian culture but not India.
February 5, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Another thing, just wait for Bush to introduce draft and the whole of lot of NRIs will hurry and scurry for a Canadian GC or Australian GC. The fucking truth is that NRIs have no concept of loyality to a country, a vast majority of them. And to me they are good riddance from India. It’s nature’s way of cleaning up my nation’s gene pool.
February 5, 2007 at 2:20 pm
To all NRIs
someone mentioned that the problems in india are day to day. the point is essentially we, those living in india have learnt to adjust and adapt to those conditions. some of us have learnt to take advantage of those conditions. I repeat, in india, we dont have a problem, yes we do crib, we do whine bout it, but at the end of the day we learn to live with the system. and we are unlikely to change it. we crib because of our guilt. our guilt that we have accepted this wretched system.but then deep down, we have accepted the system. yes there is scope for improvement, but the essential structure of the indian system will remain the same. some of us have gained from it, like Ambani and Tata (JRD tata is supposed to have said we need black money to buy politicians and run their company)
If votes are sold, it is because those who sell the vote benefit from it, and it doesnt shock me. the voters know this is the only time they can milk the politicians. now this of course will shock the dear NRIs, and they will crib, but then if they really do wish for a change, please get down and get ur hands dirty. dont criticise and expect change from ur position of comfort sitting in ur ivory towers.
once again i repeat, if the NRIs hate the system to such a great extent, please get ur hands dirty and change it, rather than EXPECTING SOMEONE ELSE TO DO UR DIRTY WORK- Namely change the system.
I for one am sick of this armchair criticism over the mundane things which we living in india have learnt to accept and adapt ourselves to. there are other areas where we would like changes and will work to bring about a change.
February 5, 2007 at 2:25 pm
sivaji …well said..
but then that applies to every middle class indian…
WB says..we [indnan middle class ] are the most selfish form for human beings to inhabit this planet!!!
February 5, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Right.. since some mong has posted a link to my post without reading it or understanding it, I’ll try to be civilised as it clearly wasn’t you who posted the link.
Dude, why do you care about their rants? If people go to a different country and keep pulling our own down, they can fuck the fuck right off. Ignore them, because that is the treatment they deserve.
That said, the whole tone of your post reeks. You seem to be a little bitter about people going to the west, referring it as “entry to heaven” and the like. That pretty much devalues anything reasonble that you had or did say. The whole “you people who live abroad need to shut up or make india better” is absolute bullshit. You are in India and what the hell have you done personally to make it better? If as individuals, we do our jobs/roles and we do it well, that is all one needs to make society as a whole better.
February 5, 2007 at 2:48 pm
“I mean, you sit safely in a developed country and keep on gossiping about your underdeveloped motherland. How useful is that?” -
Missed that one in the last comment… and when you accuse NRIs as a whole, that is a blanket assumption and a rather naive one. Besides, do tell us what you do other than cribbing about NRIs who don’t do anything other than crib about india. You seem to be doing a similar thing and I believe this could be called hypocrisy.
February 5, 2007 at 2:54 pm
“I mean, you sit safely in a developed country and keep on gossiping about your underdeveloped motherland. How useful is that?” -
Missed that one in the last comment… and when you accuse NRIs as a whole, that is a blanket assumption and a rather naive one. Besides, do tell us what you do other than cribbing about NRIs who don’t do anything other than crib about india. You seem to be doing a similar thing and I believe this could be called hypocrisy.
If you are trying to make a point, try being neutral. if you are pushing your opinion on other people, fuck off. It is that simple. In this case, I do believe you are trying to make a point, but you really lose all value when you say things like - “After all they r giving me visa to enter heaven, isn’t it?”
Hope you get what I’m trying to tell you, unlike the mong who posted a link to my blog and not having the courtesy to let me know about it.
February 5, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Wow! I just feel like contributing my 2 cents to this discussion.
I live abroad and have been volunteering quite a lot at local organisations.
I find a lot of desis doing the same. Not only desi temples but libraries, after school activities, helping clean up after katrina etc. I also find similar desis helping raise funds for development activities in India like education, healthcare etc.. And the response from desis is overwhelming.
I have seen desi students at local universities doing lot of charitable work for India. Lot of desis settled here for more than a decade help build schools in their hometowns in India. They build places of worship for their own people in the adopted countries.
Whats wrong with cribbing once a while. Everyone does. Give them a break, will you.
February 5, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Declaring that India is nowhere near safe for kids is not cribbing btw. It’s downright slandering. Now do u guys still want to argue ?
February 5, 2007 at 3:58 pm
PK sir,
romba naal unga blog fan. From”"fruit falls but into milk..” attitude change nu sollalam.. ana i think i cant agree with this post.
it is not the question of why the NRI’s crib. It is only why India is still the same way after 50 years of indep and no change even in basi sanitary facilities. If you think no one in India cribs.,think again. Indiala erunthappo kooda there were lots of complaints and hopes that the situation will change. India la erukara ellarum ethavathu panrangala? to alleviate this mess? Is it only in the US that criminals rule? Namba oorla criminal illathavanga enga saar varanga politics ku? It is just that things appear bloated and over magnified when u look at it from here. It is not that people say, “India Nahh” it is still the same hope that somebody we can see a superb India. Also when it happens, it might not be we may descend in hordes to good ole India but rejoice and shout we are Indians..still.
Ennamo..I could have expected this post from a person who unable to come to the US hurls sarcastic comments at the NRI crowd.. But not from you.
Anyways..Not all NRIs are born in America. We are there too. Even if somebody was born here, does not mean they dont get the Indian sentimentality.
Gandhi padatha matti, kumbuttathan Indians nu kedaiyathu..
Nandri.
If somebody addressed these issues before, excuse me. I did not read thru 77 comments.!!!!
February 5, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Lets veer the blog back to the main point. I would see the situation as this:
” Double standard mentality of Indians “.
This whole double standard thing leads to pointing fingers at others.
As NV Sir said, this is a very good post and brainstorming will bring revealing truths, facts & suggestions.
What can be done to improve the condition in India? If Indians are ready to pay taxes, follow rules/traffic rules, keep surroundings clean etc., in an adopted country, why aren’t they doing the same when they are/were in India?
What can be done by us Indians in order to avoid other countries taking us for a ride? Will other countries tolerate such attrocities if they face what we face at their consulates? They will immediately take steps to make the situation better. That is exactly what we have to do now.
We have to stand up and show what a great country we are. Once we are proud of our country, we will not blame our country for its negatives.
Negative/Positive Criticism is very good. But to demotivate is wrong.
Freedom of speech and expression is a valid point. But calling India “all those names” is tantamount to abusing one’s own parents. One should certainly avoid that. If you can understand Tamil, I hope you get my point when I say “Pey aanalum, yen thai, yenakku thai dhaan”. [Loose Translation: Even if she is a devil, my Mother is for me My Mother]
As echoed by many people, this post is not being hurled at all NRIs.
In the process of the above discussion, we would certainly get hurt. We should not take it as a personal grudge nor should we indulge in getting very personal.
Remember: United we stand, Divided we fall.
I am sure that the situation will become better and I have full belief that we can achieve that.
Voracious Blog Reader
February 5, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Intha en 80th commentu
February 5, 2007 at 7:06 pm
81-vadhu comment saarbaga annan PK avargalukku indha ponnadaiyum malar maalaiyum sootigirom…
February 5, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Hey Karthi..
Maalai vizha ellam appuram pannungappa……..
neenga sonna maathiri naan lorry la kootittu vandha aalungalukku ellam dhuddu settle pannungapaa modhalla
February 5, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Haiyo idhellam oru postunnu idhukku ithana comment vandhadhu pathaadhunnu aal aalukku great postu, brainstormingnnu enna ennavo peseettu poraanga. PK, ipdi veveram theriyaadha makkal pesuradha ellam nambeedaadheenga keep your feet firmly on the ground. Appuram century adichadhum ellarayum koopittu oru virundhu vechidunga. All vetti people unlike me, vera ennatha solla
February 5, 2007 at 8:14 pm
PK, indha post ku 100 comment vandha, enakku treat venum
not at our urual pichu pillai street, saravana bhavan range ku edam 
naan dhaan andha sundar post lnk kuduthen so adukosram treat demand panneran
February 5, 2007 at 8:47 pm
ooh pk, i remember in another post, ur pazhaya company nanbargal saying treat vangarathu kastam. so avanglukku social service announcement
all podhu sevai, samadhaiya nalanpadu kosram dhaan
ellorum keetukongo, the Great Man PK is giving treat, for invites mail me, and i will let u in on the super location and other details. idhu dhaan chance to get treated by the great man PK
February 5, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Sivaji ‘The Boss’ ,
Thanks for the link. and for the info on ‘Draft’ whatever that means!
Siloh,
this post was not directed at you.
February 5, 2007 at 9:02 pm
sriram,
Since you r trying to be civilized, i cose to be actually civilised and am responding to you here..
>>The whole “you people who live abroad need to shut up or make india better” is absolute bullshit.
I never said that.
If every NRI is going to get offended with this post, i am not responsible. I’ve clearly explained who i’m talking about. People are expected to use their brains and see if its them.
And refrain from all your F words in my blog. Not that i dont know to respond in kind. I dont want to. I am even good at the tamil equivalents.. only that it won’t be pleasant.
I hope you understand.
February 5, 2007 at 9:09 pm
gayathri,
I dont have anything against someone criticising India. Heck, i’ve written so many things i’m angry about India. Its only when it becomes to india centric and almost nothing about their adopted country experiences that irrirate me. I mean that becomes the focus of their blog. Sure you can say, its their freedom of expression, the same way i need to express something about them! I guess thats only fair enough.
When some people can share everything off the record about US, why not blog about it is my question?? For some reason, they wouldn’t…
If the whole thing is oversimplified to RI vs.NRI debate, its not what i wanted. This is not like some India vs. Pakistan cricket match.
February 5, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Hey Karthi..
I wanted to say this..
“this is a non-colorful language zone” to these ppl.
NO colorful languages allowed here.
But then this is your blog and its for you say that…so left it at that.
I appreciate you doing it.
February 5, 2007 at 10:08 pm
if there are another 10 more comments, i get a treat
all the infuriated NRI podhu makkals, please meet the tally of 100 comments, i need
to get treated, and idhai oru social service-a nenaichu pannungo
February 5, 2007 at 10:09 pm
or i can do it myself 91
February 5, 2007 at 10:11 pm
its too much work. so i once again call on all the INFURIATED NRI Podhu Makkals,
please add another 8 comments to the tally.
remember this is podhu nalam sevai, social service
February 5, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I must say - all the infuriated non-NRI’s please continue this ! Vatsan - What say you.?. But next time I come to India ( to see my family and friends
)…PK has to treat me too !!!
February 5, 2007 at 10:24 pm
On a Serious Note - Nobody was able to name 10 Freedom fighters ! Where is the patriotism gone? Ellam vaai udharah??
February 5, 2007 at 10:55 pm
try imitate kazhagathu voice if u can
yaarai paarthu udhaar engireer ?
Engalukka 10 viduthalai poratta thyagigalai theriyadhu ?
10 enna 11ne therium. Aaanal ungalai pol egadhibathya naatil iruppavargalukku avargalai kaati kodukka maatom.
Kaati kodupathum kooti kodupathum ungaluthu ooril sarva saadharanagama irukkalaam. Aaanal idhu Tamil nadu. Tamilan vaalum idam. Inge periyavargalukku mariyadai koduppom. Avargal peyarai engal naavinil vandhalum avargalukku ava mariyadhai endru ninaikkum koveri maan parambarai engaladhu parambarai.
Enakku neramaagivittadhu. Ini veru oru kazhaga thozhar thodarvar.
Idho paarupa solliten, 100th post enakku dhan. illaina elloraiyum kaima panniduven.
February 5, 2007 at 11:00 pm
The issue on hand : a parent lost his kid while haggling with an auto driver.
1. The truth is, it is the parents fault for not drilling into the childs mind - that the child should not sit into an auto till the parents give the word go.
2. If India was unsafe, the child would have never been returned. He did not have to bring back the child and waste his oil on a person who just haggled and refused to purchase his business.
3. The first time the child jumped into an auto before the parents finished haggling was not questioned hence child assumed that’s what she was to do so again the parent’s are at fault coz you cannot blame a 5 year old.
I understand the feeling of losing a child - I understand the dread - I understand the slip in guard - but in no way is it India’s fault. India or any other nation cannot babysit your child for you.
That is precisely why everyone from India is fuming. The moment something goes wrong even if it is your fault you guys (NRI’s) are jumping the gun to blame India. I’m very sure it is easy to blame someone else for your slip in action but that doesn’t make it right.
No one here is proclaiming the country doesn’t have problems it does but it is manageable and though their problems may vary in degree of its severity every nation has similar problems.
Comparing a country who has only had 60 years of independence and 60 years to rebuilt itself from colonial clutches to a nation that has had 230 years to rebuild itself since its independence is absurd. If the 230 year old nation is not developed that it would be a laughing stock.
Yet the 230 year old nation has its problems - people have to relocate to secure good public schools, the number of children in such schools are beyond the recommended capita per classroom, it still has homeless people, while it is helping the world rebuild it has forgotten some of its not so important citizens during their disaster, because of its legal gun touting laws massacre’s have occurred at its schools, mugging still happens and so does rape, racisms is still rampant and so is pedophiles. So how is the US safer?
Corruption happens everywhere the only difference in India is it’s done openly. You might not have experienced it while getting basic registrations done but try establishing business anywhere and you will realise how similar things really are.
Opportunities are an interesting thing. It will never fall in your lap. Unless you look for something, it is not going to be given to you on a silver plate. NRI’s often tend to complain they did not get opportunities in their own countries however if they had not secured a stable education back home will they have been able to garner jobs or further their studies elsewhere? One of the reasons opportunities are lacking in India are basically because of the huge population and the number of students who excel and qualify for universities. Doesn’t that reflect a nations strength? You’re also not the only nation facing the same problem, we face similar situations and its not even because of a huge population.
The rule of travel is you learn to adapt to a nation’s ways, you learn to enjoy the cultural differences, you learn to accept its misgivings and go with the flow. However here’s the problem with NRI’s. You are neither an Indian nor a foreigner. You cannot decide which one you are. You are always in limbo on which is your nation. You like the easy living of ur adopted nation but you dislike the culture and hence you remain neither one. You are different from Indians who migrated to different nations 50 years back. They adapted to their adopted nation while still possessing a hold on their culture. They do not see India as their nation but only as the place of birth of their culture.
First decide who you are? An NRI, an Indian or a foreigner? Then act as one.
Ps : touchy post, touchy issue - I don’t have a grudge on anyone. I like the family in question but I also think it’s unfair to blame a nation for everything.
February 5, 2007 at 11:01 pm
ha..ha..ha…subash Kazhagathondane..sabash…..unarchi vasappattu vitten thangalin thamizh pulamai kandu.. vanam pozhigirathu endru sonna bomman vazhndha oorile…ithanai sirandha…thamizh pechala blogger iruppadhu..padikka, ketka sugamaka irukku..!
Vaazhga nin Thamizh Pulai.
February 5, 2007 at 11:20 pm
“you people who live abroad need to shut up or make india better”
This isn’t what you are saying, but this is EXACTLY what you are implying. Yet, I don’t find answers to the points I brought up. Strange.
“And refrain from all your F words in my blog. Not that i dont know to respond in kind.” - Again, missing the point by a country mile! I said that would be my reaction if you were trying to push your opinion on me. I’m still waiting an answer to questions I brought up. If you don’t care to answer, I wouldn’t mind. I’m tired of listening to every other NRI cribbing about India and every other Indian cribbing about how these people returning from phoren [sic] lands cribbing about how bad things are at home.
Both sides need to do their roles as individuals and just shut up.
To summarize, you started with a decent point, but completely made a mess out of it with your bias and comments. Take it how you will.
February 5, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Narayanan,
Forget all these freedom fighters. They got the freedom so a few people can use the facilities and get themselves US citizenship which is another matter for discussion. Tell me is Sundar justified in saying India is nowhere safe for kids because his kid got into an auto and he didn’t notice it ? Is this how you NRIs have ur logic all wound up ? And if we question that you will in turn question our patriotic fervor with a few useless questions.
February 5, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Yov,
Yaarai paarthu bommai kimmainu sonne. Enga thaleevarai geli seiyaraiya ? avarukku mandaikku mela venna verum naalu mudi irukkalaam. Aaana andha naalum vananga mudi theriumla. inna tamil kimilnu pesare. nee mattum silapathigara tamizha pesare ? Nee silapathigarathukkum naanga pesaradhukkum nadula keera tamil pesare. languvagenna change aavum. change aana dhan oru kick. idhu oru mana prechinai. enga naataiya oruthar galeej panitaarnnu vattam vandhu sollichu. ratham boil ayiduchu theriuma. iru 100vadhu post pottu vandhidaren.
February 6, 2007 at 12:12 am
Yay! 100 comments
now pk how come none of ur old company nanbargal have responded to my offer, only NV sir has, avar ippovae advance book panirukkar.
avanglukku vendam pola treat
and u shud treat NV sir PK, he helped u reach the milestone of 100 comments, avar oda comments ku dhan nariya badul
PS: NV sir, i helping u, in indian style under table la u give me something
February 6, 2007 at 12:22 am
NV Sir,
// On a Serious Note - Nobody was able to name 10 Freedom fighters ! Where is the patriotism gone? Ellam vaai udharah?? //
Neenga keta matha kelvi kku ellam bathil sonnen illa?
This sounded very silly and childish to me.
Vera yaaravadha irundha sandai pottu iruppen.
Adhu neengandradhaala ignore panniten.
( Evalo jaakaradhai ya first person singular la pesinen paatheengala?)
Avanga pera sonna ‘patriotic’ kaa?
e
February 6, 2007 at 12:23 am
Karthi….again moderation ..release pannunga
February 6, 2007 at 12:36 am
eppa…vatsan..naan indha vilayatukku varalai….I prefer over the table ….LOL
PK….at a time when comments have become rarity..I am very happy to see wonderful comments for a superb post which brought out the emotions from everyone.
Sorry if I was anal…but I have to maintain..that my vision for a 20/20 India is a little far away…but am hopeful it will happen soon !….with people like those who have commented here.!
Special thanks to all those who wrote replies to my comments
Congratulations!
Jai Hind!
February 6, 2007 at 1:54 am
Interesting show of patriotism, rationalism, irrationalism and egotism.
It’s just easier to back down and agree that one wrote something in a hurry, without thinking. There is no need to defend something like that. An open statement “India is nowhere safe for kids” leaves a lot of negativity to the readers mind. Moreover, how many parents or adults have the courage to just leave a kid by himself/herself anywhere in the world, that is not familiar or one’s own place.
Karthik raises some interesting points, though I personally don’t agree with everything. I am sure he has picked at some nerves, which does point that there must be some truth in what he has said. There are loads of problems with India, but if you are sitting on your ass in some other country, and do peanuts worth of your ability to help such a country full of problems, then it must be hard for even sensible people in India to take the criticism.
Visithra seems to have made the most sensible comments, in those that I have read.
I know nobody likes to admit to mistakes, but it’s rather the easier and sensible way. Let’s not just preach good conduct, and practice it.
February 6, 2007 at 2:31 am
hi,
I am addressing this comment to you and all the people who jumped in on my post.
1. I own up to lettting go of my kids hand.
2. I am clearly not qualified to comment on todays Kid safety levels in any country other than the US of A. (that link to the Delhi happenings was only because, after this incident practically everyone around me said India is not as safe as it used to be when you were a kid (which is 30 years ago ).. and they quoted this incident. I then read about it and this is a classic case of “summa irundha sanga naarasamaa udiththu”.. enakku annikki keyboard-la Sani !!! I wrote a half assed sentence without details.. normally I am verbose in my posts, but at 2kbps, I had to try and be quick and brevity is not my forte ! that said, I did clarify the whole thing in my next post..
and what do I get ? general NRI spite ! I am expected to throw around money to auto fellows who rip me off just because my salary is in $ and not in Rupees..
I think most comments were at generic NRI’s.. not me. But I recently became a citizen, went to vote (finally) against guns, child abuse, etc. etc. That is pretty much what I would have done in India. I am not going to go do Gandhigiri in India or in US.. If I do my job, pay my taxes, give to charity where required and not litter the streets and teach my kids to do the same, I consider myself a good person..
ps. a lot of people have it in for NRI’s.. there is a blatant double standard for NRI’s.. even if they dont have an attitude, people generically attribute a certain high handedness and attitude to NRI’s which is uncalled for…hopefully, the same people who are ready to trash me purely because I am an NRI, will see this ..
February 6, 2007 at 2:56 am
@ sundar,
sir, dont expect u to throw ur money, that is ur personal choice. but please distinguish a honest mistake, which is of the auto guy in this case, and nitahari, that irked us i guess.
and u holding ur childs hand or not is ur prerogative, just like spending the 1$ or 2$.
February 6, 2007 at 2:57 am
@ sundar,
sir, dont expect u to throw ur money, that is ur personal choice. but please distinguish a honest mistake, which is of the auto guy in this case, and nitahari, that irked us i guess.
and u holding ur childs hand or not is ur prerogative, just like i dont approve of people commenting on the way u spend ur money. just distinguish a honest mistake from nitahari sir.
February 6, 2007 at 3:01 am
@ and to clarify, sundar sir, the honest mistake was on the part of the auto guy.
February 6, 2007 at 3:03 am
NV sir, Here are few great people who fought for the freedom of India .
The list here was generated on top of my head and I swear i didnt google or refer any books.
To start with :
Kattabomman /Marudupaandiyar /Umai thurai /Pulithevan
Subramaniya Bharathi/ V O Chidambaram pillai /Thirupur Kumaran /Vanchi Nathan /Swaminatha Iyer/ Sathya moorthy
Bhagat Singh ,Azad , Mohandas K.Gandhi, NSC Bose and many more..
I can send you special email dosa if you still want Freedom fighters as per various states in India.
Btw, this should never be a reference parameter to “measure” an individuals patriotism.
Can your kids name the capitals of Indian cities or atleast the states in India. Am sorry but i dont want to take it to a personal level .
All that we would expect is that If you dont have anything good to say about our country ,Its good not to say any bad.Thats all.PERIOD .
….
With much respect to Dr.Sundar,a US citizen :If only he had paid attention to what he had typed,much of the hoopla wouldnot have happened here.Anyways .Its good to know various people’s views.
February 6, 2007 at 3:05 am
Dei Sriram Baadu ,
Your brash comments just explains about your ruffian attitude. What an effing jerk you are.
Did you even *read* Pk’s post, Mr.Poop head ?
All he says is if you don’t have any good to say about India,just shut your pisshole and fuck off and talk about your san diego’s traffic on I-5. You puked about the people in India as you landed here . WTF bothers you ?
And now dont even let another round of intellectual jackoff here. Go suck Nilu’s dick or get fucked by San diego Bulls..:-)
February 6, 2007 at 3:08 am
110 comments, 10% more than the target, so PK i demand bonus for exceeding my target of 100. 10% more translates into another treat at pichupillai street
February 6, 2007 at 3:09 am
and since its pichu pillai street im sure NV sir wont come, so dont worry, its just me
February 6, 2007 at 3:09 am
old company nanbargalukku Pk, the great man, erkaname treat kuduthuttaar
but i am still kind enough to give him anotehr opportunity to give us all treat
we will happily join!
PK kaattula mazhai thaan
en blog la naan potta ella post-oda comment total panninaa koooda 100 varumaa nu sandhegam
nadathunga nadathunga
aduthu naanum untha maathiri ethaavathu ezhutha poren
February 6, 2007 at 3:22 am
yes yes, please join us, he is treating us once at pucca hotel and once at pichu pillai street aduku approam mint street la oru badam milk oda topping it off :D.
this is in summer when the famous NRI blogger from USA comes to india
February 6, 2007 at 4:57 am
Very nice write up PK!! Our country is developing in all sections. soon we would see our India a best place to live.
we can’t guess in which situation they settled in foreign land. i agree with u as they concentrate on their home lands, they must also concentrate on the land they live.
February 6, 2007 at 5:12 am
Well,well,well….
I find it so interesting that folks in India talking of racism in Europe….
Making all sorts of random statements about how NRIs should clean up their own backyard- both in the post and comments. Very, very ‘ORIGINAL’ ideas, aren’t they?!
**Clap**Clap** Clap**
All this pontificating with stuff being written in ‘Taminglish’ which I bet not many understand. Oh sorry, racism/exclusion doesn’t exist on this post/comments does it ?
Wake up people - let’s all look at own backyards too.Let everyone express their opinion and let’s have talk about this than act like - I stay in India so somehow that gives me a moral highground to tell the rest what should /shouldn’t be done.
PLEASE.
PS: Would love it if you gave translation of the Tamil terms you sused in your post. Seriously.
February 6, 2007 at 7:36 am
Narayan V sir, indha entire discussion-laiye ennakku oru vishiyam dhaan puriyala.
“February 5, 2007 at 10:24 pm
On a Serious Note - Nobody was able to name 10 Freedom fighters ! Where is the patriotism gone? Ellam vaai udharah?? ”
Patriotism-a yaaru define panna? Adhvum indha madhiri?
February 6, 2007 at 9:31 am
This is an altogether brilliant post. Genuinely funny and kicking NRIs where they need to be kicked the most. In the balls and ovaries. Ouch:)
February 6, 2007 at 9:33 am
This is an altogether brilliant post. Genuinely funny and kicking us where we need to be kicked the most. In the balls/ ovaries.
February 6, 2007 at 10:36 am
All,
Hereafter i will altogether delete all comments with profanities in my blog.
Visithra,
Truly remarkable! you almostmade up for your absence in my blog for sometime!awesome!
Narayanan sir,
india pathi evoo kavalai padreengalo adhile 10% unga ooraipathiyum kavalaipadunga! Enga oorla 10 per utkara edathile 1000 per thoonguvaan. Our problems are different. If u r safe and secure there well and good
February 6, 2007 at 10:45 am
>Oh God! I am an NRI since 2 years
Thanks for your advice
monu,
No stomach fire please.And thanks for your opportunities
i gave u an opportunity this sunday, you missed it
kajan,
Thanks
February 6, 2007 at 11:02 am
Sundar Narayanan sir,
Yeah your post irked me to write about this, but as you’ve said, that was just the beginning. Your post was just a catalyst if i may say so.
My sole contention was this, can u write in the same vein about america, with or without its problems?if u can, all power to you. But in all these 2 yrs in blogosphere, i am yet to come across one who does it. I know one rahul browne writes. But he is American born desi.
Typically NRIs will come for 3 weeks in a year and go on and on abt how bad India really is. I mean, say i come to US for professional purposes and then, i crib about how i am not able to get groceries for cooking after i’d ignited the stove like i used to do in India, how sensible will it be?? Am i not expected to be aware of the cconditions there?
My main conern,
Quite a few NRIs i know whine abt India and only abt India.
When it comes to US, all u can say is voting and paying taxes.
Trust me, there r millions who do vote and pay taxes in India too.
But we are never spared in some NRI’s blogs. Its always like” why this? why that in India? How can you live like this? US la ellam epdi theriyuma?, India urupadaadhu. etc.
This was my main reason for this post.
All else was secondary to that, though i do have opinions abt some who find India too much of a disgrace and i’ve conveyed that in my post too.
February 6, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Prabhu Karthik —
good job on writing what is a very debatable topic. A lot of what you said are truth, whole truth and nothing but truth.
I normally dont comment but this post was referred by my brother, so I did. I did not read the 123 comments
there are issues with both countries. There are many good and bad. But one thing people should remember
We are Indians — we have a passion for excellence and that passion makes us to question every darn thing in the world — be it open sewer or corruption. Unfortunately, we dont get to vote in foreign countries so we dont have a direct say in their politics. We do in India and when we see who we elected is bad ( even though we voted for him knowing he was bad), we go bonkers.
People who are abroad have a longing to return to India and that longing is far more deep than a person in India wanting to go abroad — I have it in me and have seen it in a lot of people like me. Its not related to job market, its not related to just parents, its not the stock market collapse or world peace. There is a sense of belonging when one thinks about their homeland.
I am proud of India — I read “World is flat” and I wrote about in my kavithai. I am proud of Vaali and Valaiyappatti getting “padmashree”….I am proud about the new law to abolish child labour. But above all I am proud of being Indian. No matter what anyone says, when they have to raise their hand during citizenship and say “I relinquish all affiliation to my former country”, it will choke them ( which is one of many reasons why I did not apply for one, although I am duly eligible).
I teach my kid tamizh, I teach her carnatic music. I teach her indian culture. I teach her good food habits, good thinking. I also teach her good things from america. I order books from Vikatan site directly for my family to read. They come within 7 days ( amazing service). I keep myself abreast of whats happening in India.
Everything is in how one views the situation.
February 6, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Ganesh venkittu Sir,
This post is not about NRIs like you, I am sure.
Apt comment from an NRI.
February 6, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Hi,
Really nice article. I also criticized India a lot a few months back but experiences in US of A have made me realize the importance of India.
I think I would just like to say 2 things,
“Koi bhi desh perfect nahin hota, use perfect banana padta hai” from RDB. We will make India perfect.
Secondly, one of my close friends always says that either don’t crib or if you want to crib then fight against the wrong things. If you are migrating outside India then don’t blame India since you also did not have the courage to fight against it (like millions others)
February 6, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Venkitu brothers-ku oru O podu….OOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!
I appreciate your thoughts,Sir .
Thanks
February 6, 2007 at 1:23 pm
This has been a very debatable sensitive issue but it feels great to know that many bloggers have comeup with their perceptions of whats right and whats wrong.
Thanks PK for stirring people’s emotions and it was interesting to read varied views from people across the globe
February 6, 2007 at 3:10 pm
What is really sad is that even with so many committed “patriotic” Indians all over the world, we seem to have big hiccup in almost all the major developmental activities. Take the Golden Quadrilateral project, it’s been going on and on. Take rivers connection project, we have made absolutely no headway. Lots of energy in the country that it’s not being channelled properly. We need another Gandhi to do the channeling of this energy.
February 6, 2007 at 5:07 pm
pathavum vachitu, 15-20 comment ku oru thadavai vanthu ennaiyum oothurathu..
IMHO I dont crib about India and I wont, I love India from wherever I am, Jai hind.
February 6, 2007 at 8:38 pm
ROFL @ relax maame
February 6, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Over three years ago, I wrote about how there’re 20 similarities between India and the USA. Perhaps things have become even more similar now!
February 7, 2007 at 8:09 am
Much angst here against NRI’s! Nothing wrong with that, you are entitled to your opinion. Just as NRI’s are entitled to theirs. Fact remains that we have a link to India and we have a right to comment on what we feel, see, hear and experience. Hopefully we can also be contstructive and perceptive as outsiders can sometimes be.
But we have no monopoly on the truth (and neither do you). That certainly doesn’t mean we must shut up (and nor should you!). It’s a free country and if you are not able to digest views that do not agree with yours then that is really a reflection on you.
Secondly, there is no such generic animal as an NRI that behaves is some generic fashion that you imagine- you need to talk about individuals and individual opinions, not stereotypes you have constructed. If I were to characterise all resident Indians by your rant, I would certainly be painting an incorrect picture of them as a rabid, intolerant, haranguing people- which I hope you are not.
@ divya
@ nandini
You have said this already, I find now. Goodonya.
February 7, 2007 at 10:59 am
True facts, presented well.
February 7, 2007 at 11:03 am
I forgot to add that I hated the idea of getting tied up to an employer till I got the Green Card in USA and also the fact that bringing up of kids will become tough and culture shock issues are there…
(I did visit US on a short term basis with family in 2004, and do intend to do mroe often!)
February 7, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Some of the comments look like - “Sour Grapes” !
Comeon guys - There is a reason why ” India is still 3rd World’. I feel it will have negligible improvments …even in a decade !
All you ‘Pseudo Patriots’ please learn to sing your National Anthem first, learn to respect India’s Freedom Movement ! Look back and look at all the struggles that have happened !
By the way - When you walk…please wear your ‘Chappals’….you might landup with Cow poop on your foot !
February 7, 2007 at 12:38 pm
DesiDownUnder has taken the words out of my mouth
I have rarely seen the desis in my area gather together to whinge about how pathetic India was, especially given the way it is now. Hardly 5 in a 100(the folks I have seen would approximate to that number) would diss India and 3 out of those 5 might be having a white girlfriend or got all their parents/kids with them in their adopted country
There might be a few loonies who might fit PK’s stereotype but they will be exceptions
February 7, 2007 at 12:49 pm
must clarify, I concur with DDU’s 3rd paragraph, as for the first 2, we(wherever we live) are merely the smallest entities of a culture that evolves over several generations
and it definitely takes several years to change or refine one.
February 7, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Ganesh Venkittu SIr,
I remember our telephone conversation and know the person you are. So indha post ungalai pathi laam illai for sure
I am not questioning yours or anybody’s patriotism here. Thanks for your comments 
February 7, 2007 at 1:07 pm
TTM,
As is always the case with my blog. whatever i’m writing is based on my interactions and things i get to hear from other people. There is no way i can take a survey for writing a post and come with any sort of quantitative data. so 100 ku 5 va illai 45 nu ellam enakku theriyadhu. India vai pathi polambaravanga egapatta per blogopshere laye irukaanga. Whats more they kinda specialize in this. This post is about them and to all those who sit somewhere and do nothing but pulambufy abt India and think they r involved in some high end intellectual analysis which will make their motherland proud. We have enough in our country already.
Adhai daan naan sonnen.
February 7, 2007 at 1:12 pm
DDU,
I guess i know a thing or two about stereotypes and am yet tocome across a human being who does not decide based on a few. This post is for what i believe is a section of people who have this set of particular traits as discussed. If it was for a particular person and not a generic one, why would i even post it in a blog. I’drather send a mail.
If the people i’m talking about were irrelevant or miniscule in number, I think I would not have got the kind of angry response i’ve received now.
February 7, 2007 at 1:27 pm
[…] The NRI’s India obsession Published February 7th, 2007 Ramblings , India , Immigration , NRI , Immigrant , Anti-immigration Just came across this excellent post by Prabhu Karthik, titled – My Dear Average NRI. It is a short letter, well, sort of, addressed to the average NRI. I guess I also fall under this category and everything mentioned in this post holds true for a majority of NRI’s, at least the recent or 1st generation migrants. […]
February 7, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Somebody sure stirred a hornet’s nest …
NRIs, please get back to your ‘ball park estimate’, ‘touch base’, bullshit bingo - remember it’s thursday tomorrow - time to start chatting about your weekend drive.Desis let’s get back to slacking/under-the-table stuff or whatever we do best. Cheers.
February 7, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Your letter is so spot on.
Except one minor point,
very few NRI is an ‘average’ (they tend not accept they are).
They are all super or superior Indians.
They have to be, because they are not third world citizens anymore.
I recently read this, and was really annoyed.
http://parsingtime.wordpress.com/2007/02/03/india
My response was not appreciated by the author, as you may see.
I came across two Indian women from USA, in transit at Heathrow.
They were talking of their trips to India.
To my horror they were trying to outdo each other on how few visits they have made and how less frequently they visit their families.
I am an NRI,
and I know numerous NRIs that fit accurately with our description in your letter.
Good one.
February 7, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Hello guys,
I have been hearing the words “sour grapes” from the time this post
was put here.
What is the meaning behind this?
Except for a very few, not many (the ‘average’ NRIs) have addressed the question that PK has posed here.
He has been repeatedly stressing on what the main issue is, in his comments.
Inspite of that there are unneccesary comparison between India and the US.
Its like comparing chalk and cheese. What is the point?
And the A.NRIs are again ranting about….bad roads, corruption, bad education system etc.
And questions like “unga oorla enna perisa education…enna quality of life..freedom fighters per sollu etc.”
Give me break !!!
Did PK or any of us say that things are hunky dory out here.
But yet ‘we opted’ I stress this point to live here and the enjoy the good things
that India has to offer us.
There was just one thing that I liked in the US , career for women and that was then.
But please NRI friends..take some time to understand the oppurtunities that we
have in India now…or read the book….”The World Is Flat”.
My brother is a classic example of an Indian refusing to leave India inspite of great offers and he stuck it through thick and thin here and is now leading a life-style that none of you NRIs could even dream of ,the Harvard and Wharton products included.
If there are educated Indians who stay back in India its because they want the life-style here or want to be with their parents or some other personal reasons.
I know umpteen men who refuse to leave India for the single reason that they feel it is not fair to abandon their parents at the fag end of their lives.
Defenitely not because we cannot grab the “sweet grapes” that is hanging out there.
Do any of you A.NRIs really believe that PK or most of us who have commented here are sad and sour that we cannot make it to your great US of A?
One thing..it would have been “etta kani” in your days.
But the situation is just the reverse this time around.
Please educate yourself.
And friends…please dont lose perspective ,address the issue that PK has raised.
We are bored of petty fights !
February 8, 2007 at 2:14 am
pk,
ineme unga popoularirtykku blog ellam podhaadhu..vera idea pannunga..
btw, post message super!!
February 8, 2007 at 2:16 am
arasiyalla gudhinga!! lexington makkaloda family friends relatives vote ungalukku dhaan
February 8, 2007 at 4:38 am
sree,
En saarba comment pottadhuku nandri. I’m really pressed for time the last few days…
My sincere apologies to those whose comments i could not respond in time.
priya,
Rombo nandri! ahaa indha nakkal laam venaam
February 8, 2007 at 7:58 am
pk how bout starting a rasigar mandram for u? romba popular-a poittenga, 150 comments,
i will be defacto permanent treasurer
and u shud contribute a montly stipend to conduct narpani activities of the rasigar mandram 
PS: the activities are for the good of the members, need not benefit u
February 8, 2007 at 8:05 am
Exhibit 1: http://parsingtime.wordpress.com/2007/02/03/india
typcal NRI crap. which PK addresses. before commenting read the above post, sorry puke. vetti banda from one kenai. the author bitches about india yet moves back. why the fuck cant tht fuckr stay put in the usa and live in peace?
February 8, 2007 at 8:11 am
I already added this comment to http://chennailiving.blogspot.com/2007/02/whats-wrong-with-that.html where it still waits approval but i would like to share my thoughts with you. (please don’t spam my email address)
I really don’t see anything wrong in criticizing your own country/city. Specially if your adopted country/city simply offers you more. I am very young compared to you and have not seen much “life”. I did the whole R2I thing after finishing my studies and was very disappointed. I had to escape.
Whats wrong with criticizing a place where it takes 10 times longer to get anything done. Where you have to pay bribes to get things that are rightfully yours. Where you are respected as a human only if you have good “connections” or a fat wallet. Cannot really trust anyone, breath clean fresh air!!!. A lot of the people using the pavement for their morning business are doing so because they dont have an option. If you are not rich in India you are not human, Nithari killings are a prime example, human life is so cheap!!! I want to ask the people complaining about bashing India, have you ever been to a public hospital?
Someone who goes to another place where most of the things work like they should, your efforts are properly rewarded, society is very accepting will surely feel the difference. In India one does not even get acceptance in the society even if you move from North India to South India. Things like post Godhra riots (worst example of human hatred) are unheard of in some countries. The discrimination experienced by Indians abroad is exaggerated and many times it is simply a cultural misunderstanding (I am not saying that it does not happen).
If India was such a nice place to live why would anyone who can and who has the resources is trying so hard to move out of the country (legally or illegally) This speaks a lot about the country. Most of people who are Ring2I are the people who have lived abroad for a long time and have made their fortune. They have a lot of money , a US/UK/SomeRichCountry citizenship or a permanent residence and they know that there is a lot of money to be made in India.
The developed countries have built a high standard of living for their citizens and are also willing to share with visiting workers and immigrants. This did not happen overnight, there are a lot of factors responsible for their prosperity and they have all paid the price. While it is important to be proud of your own country and feel patriotic it is simply foolish of overlook the very obvious flaws. Rude taxi drivers, corrupt politicians people peeing on the street are not really the problem but the symptom of the problem. The real problem is that Indian society, culture collapsed a long time ago and now most Indians’ attitude is that of a scavenger.
Although India is starting to turn around. A country that had famines 60 years ago is now one of the major exporters of wheat. The population explosion(a major problem obviously) is evidence that there is better care for the newborns and the mothers and that they are not dying like they used to. This list could go on. The developed countries have their problems too… no one is perfect. The US prison system, the state of the inner cities, health care for seniors and social security are major problems but compared to some Indian problems they don’t even look like problems.
I want to end on a happy note and say that I am hopeful about India but I feel that just more money will never solve Indian problems, there needs to be a gradual social change. And since India has become the new darling of various US multinationals and several country heads want to romance her things do look good. But I just don’t think it will happen in 50 years like many are predicting but maybe 150.
Anyway I would like to hear your thoughts about this.
February 8, 2007 at 8:32 am
Gaurav,
Thanks for being decent and civil even while not agreeing to my post.i appreciate it.
I personally dont have problems when someone critcises India.
FYI, this post is not about India’s condition and nor did we say we r better than the so called developed countries.
This post is about NRIs whose sole mission in the world is to complain abt India.
They are no different than RIs who keep complaining here and yet do nothing. For me, its all the same. Nothing wrong but nothing great too! You will neither be the first nor the last to criticise India. Will India change or improve bcos of this?NO.
Comparing India and a developed country is no-brainer. Population is a HUGE issue.
Have you ever tried driving in Indian roads on a Sunday? i find it very comfortable. No prizes for guessing the reason - relatively less vehicles on the road. When 200 people live in an area where only 100 can live, the problems do not multiply by 2, it increases to the power of 2.
There r lot of things that bother the NRIs in US. But they will never write abt it, atleast thats my expreince. And another thing, if u dont like here, please spare yourself some
headache by not coming here. In that sense i understand and appreciate what you did.
February 8, 2007 at 10:49 am
[…] I recently founds 2 blog posts that just made me itch and I just had to scratch. I typed up a hurried response and although it was hurried it was not very bad. The blog posts are http://chennailiving.blogspot.com/2007/02/whats-wrong-with-that.html and http://expertdabbler.com/2007/02/03/my-dear-average-nri/ […]
February 8, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Hmm.. read all 152 comments.. interesting insights..
February 8, 2007 at 8:16 pm
http://www.littleindia.com/news/146/ARTICLE/1190/2006-02-12.html
February 9, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I have read blogposts on topics like these that software yuppies who should strictly stick to debugging Hello World programs:
1. How to catch Veerappan(as if the STFs of 2 states need to listen)
2. India’s economic policy(dude won’t even know how to make a balance sheet or explain a basic Demand-Supply curve)
3. Indian team selection(as if he knows to read a cricket pitch)
4. Arsenal team selection(enough said)
5. Catching terrorists(Chief of Armed Staff, are u listening?)
When there is such a lot of nonsense going on, surely, NRI(I as in Indians) can write about Madras auto’s or Saravana Bhavan as Ram asks?
February 9, 2007 at 9:53 pm
TTM,
Of course they can by all means! I’m all for freedom of speech etc..
All I am saying is, it will have as much value as an Indian writing about US Issues sitting here.
And Ram says about tolerance, i agree to his point but i think anyone can differentiate between a viewpoint which atleast tries to give a solution and some statements which just want to put down India. If thats what you guys wanna do, go ahead by all means, but we will listen as much as Vijaykumar would’ve listened to s/w yuppies to catch Veerappan.
February 13, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I have lived in a few places in the U.S. for significant periods of time before moving to California and so what I am about to say is not a mere generalization. Somehow, even despite all the “racism” that might exist in terms of how people see me in this country, I honestly dont think that any of that has affected how the majority of people here treat me when I want to get on with my daily life.
I spent 24 yrs in India before coming here the first time and I also spent a whole year recently and I dont think I can say the same of India.
btw, even if I do get to experience the lousy aspects of racism, it’s not like I dont experience similar bigotry and nonsense in India (talk about reservation, talk about the North-South divide, etc). So am i really missing much? the sad answer is no.
I used to think like you before I left India, I used to hate India being branded a ‘developing country’ - but know what - it is only after you see what is actually possible and how India is her own worst enemy, you feel lousy and you realize that India is indeed a developing country - more in terms of attitudes and grass root ethics, not to mention the tangibles.
also, most Indians that talk about India the way you describe, are not coconut Indians (brown on the outside, white on the inside). We all truly love our home country and we truly aspire for much better things. so, why cant we talk about such stuff? is there anythign wrong with learning more about what one is capable of, as you move on in life? I dont think so.
February 13, 2007 at 9:42 pm
and when i talk about lousy attitudes and grass root ethics, I am talking about the “educated illiterates”, not the majority that is truly lacking exposure - at least the true illiterates have an excuse!
February 15, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Wow!
You might not even get to my reply - but I have to say this….you are very much like those NRIs you describe….a hypocrite.
You generalize - not everyone (every NRI) thinks this way. I for one - dont. You fail to see the difference between NRIs and plain stupid, hypocrites.
Before you write something like this - address the generalizations - take the people out of the box.
I personally know a lot of people who bash India just as they bash their own country. These are the same people who recognize the talent that is pouring out of India as well as talent coming from their own country. People who stand against Bush’s war policies and Ballu Thackrey’s dictatorship. There is difference between these people and the people you describe - which are not only NRIs. They are people who also live in India - who dream about glorious America, love the country but would prefer the luxury that comes with living abroad. That is a totally different catagory of people.
I find it so offensive that you would write something so naive and so strong without actually looking into the details…..you give everyone who reads this a wrong impression without taking responsiblity for it.
February 16, 2007 at 7:06 pm
PK – I apologise for being late. After reading your post about NRI-s I could understand that you are agitated by some post and have written in general. I take the privilege to comment about this post.
You seem to have a biased opinion about NRI-s and talking only about the other side. Please try to understand that everyone is different. Do not jump to conclusion by just reading something. I have been a regular reader of all your posts. At times, do not have time to comment. You seem to anlayse things well and write well. I have admired your writings. But please do not generalise everyone.
“You leave me speechless at times. Your concern for your homeland and patriotism gives me goose bumps. You are forever obsessed with anything and everything Indian – cricket, bollywood, kollywood, corrupt politicians, carnatic music, and everything else which one would associate with the word INDIA”.
Anyone who is away from their motherland will definitely get more attracted towards it when they are away. I know many who were ‘Petering’ as long as they were in India, and turned totally opposite once they went abroad. Everyone is not matured. Man is always attracted by going behind something which is not available. Also only when they move out they realise more. I know a friend who wanted to see Taj Mahal after he went to US. The first time he went back to India he visited Taj Mahal. There are many explanations hidden behind this. I hope you will understand.
If any NRI crib about India it is because they love it so much. Let me give an example. I know a doctor who was very ordinary person, as long as he did not study medicine. After becoming a Doctor he realised the importance of health and the causes of bad hygiene and started advising everyone around him. People started cursing him. It is not because he has become a Doctor he started advising others. Only after becoming a Doctor he realised the importance of being healthy. In the same way, as long as we were in our country we never realise the importance of many things. But when we start travelling our mind goes into comparison.
Honestly tell me, have you not been inspired by someone or someone’s house, room and have you never thought about correcting yourself or changing your house for good. It is only out of concern we crib about our place. There is nothing wrong in that. At the same time probably you are unable to see anyone cribbing about their newly found heaven because they are perfectly in order for small things.
I can quote 100 examples. I have lost many friends and many children of friends families due to carelessness of drivers and traffic chaos in India. Those lives are precious and do not deserve to die in such a way. In abroad, plenty of care is being taken to avoid such silly accidents. I have personally attended to many old age victims, in bus stops and railway stations when they fainted or met with accidents in our country. The emergency care is zero in our places. Last week a train was delayed while I was travelling to Manchester, because of a sick patient in the train and medical attention had to be given. On seeing this, as a NRI, I wish how nice it could be if such thing happens in my home land. Is it wrong to wish so?
“Your obsession for anything India gets transformed to a nit-picking campaign which you brilliantly blow up to ridiculous proportions.”
I do not know whom you are talking about. There may be few like that but please do not generalise everyone.
“Every third post in your blog would be about the lack of discipline in Indian roads, the corrupt political system, the unscrupulous bureaucracy, the snail’s pace functioning of government departments etc”.
Last month I received a gas bill which was estimated exorbitantly. I just called up the office and read the exact meter reading. The reply I had was “ Just ignore our last bill sir. You can pay the new bill which will reach you within couple of days”. As promised I received a new bill within 2 days.
I have to bring a personal incident which happened to me to my tenant in our homeland. My tenant was asked to pay INR 4000. Do you know the reason? Because the electric bill had gone down from INR 2500 to INR 250. When my family was living, they were using Air conditioner, Fridge, Washing machine and etc. But my tenants are only 2 in number and use only one celing fan and live in a room. Naturally the consumption will go down. But our officials, thought that my tenants were doing fraud and did not believe them. After prolonged obstacles, they were asked to pay the demanded money of INR 3,000 or so.
For two years, when my family was away from India, my aged mother was living on her own. When my family returned back to India, they were surprised that the Telephone bill was credited to wrong account. My wife called up the Telephone department that we were debited from our account and the credit was going to a wrong account. Telephone department woke up and asked us to pay the two year outstanding bill of our account ASAP failing which we were threatened that the line will be cut.
So… I can keep adding things like this a lot. Again, whatever said, let us not take it deep into heart.
I feel for your age and maturity, you should not get boiled for somebody’s writing. A person like you should not blow it to this extent. I am also disheartened with some of our fellow bloggers language in your comments section. I would request everyone to calm down and take things in a positive way. Everyone has got right to talk about everything. There is no need to bounce on each other.
Everyone is right in their own way. Let us give respect to each other’s feeling and thoughts.
I apologise if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments.
February 16, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Balaji Sir,
First things first, thanks for responding in a positive way. My apologies if something in this post have hurt you. Again, there is nothing personal here and I cannot stress this enough.
First and foremost, I dont think i said no NRI has the right to crib about India. I just said some NRIs get too obsessed with the problems in India and focus primarily on that when there are issues worth writing about with a fresh perspective in their adapted countries too. Again i’m nobody nor is my responsibility to ask them to stop doing this. I’m just saying its a very typical Indian trait.
Lets say i’am from Bihar and am right now working in Chennai as an IT professional. You have to tell me how useful it is if i write a blog in which i keep on cribbing about how bad my home state while compared to Chennai or Bangalore. ‘Its true’ is what you say. Some other folks say its their birthright and ‘freedom of expression’. It does not matter much is what i say. I am no different from a person who cribs sitting in Bihar, except that I know to blog and that i’ve seen better places to live.
I dont think comparing UK or US with India has any logic. We are the second most populous nation in the world, with sixty yrs into independence. As much as I hate to say this, human lives are not a premium in India. Oru veetla orupayyan irunda mom will ask ‘Kannu raja sapidariya etc’. If there are 20 children, the mom will be concerned but would still never care and do as much as she would’ve for asingle child.
I think considerably large number of people live in Mumbai alone than in many small countries of the world. When something as fundamental as population is out of control, its but only natural that other problems compund. Its not an easy problem and there are no easy solutions.
I would be the last person to deny or dispute the way things work in India.
My basic point is, just because you know seen examples of a good house does not matter much if you cannot build it in your place.
Till you build it,
You need to learn to live in your old hut,
Work hard so that one day you or your children can live in a better house.
If all this is too much of a headache, its better stay comfortably in your rented luxury apartment that is the developed world.
I know I’ve hurt a few NRI’s who’ve taken it very personally. But thats certainly not intentional. Having said that, each post of mine might potentially hurt some section or other in some way and they are going to call me names. If i get too concerned about that, i guess i would need to close the blog and move on. Right now, i dont see why i should do this.
Again, thanks for taking the effort to comment here. And my apologies again if i’d hurt you in any way personally.
February 17, 2007 at 12:59 pm
PK - Thanks for your reply. No not at all. I was not hurt at all. I have been a reader of your blog for a while and I know your thoughts. I do agree with you in many views. I fully understand your views and thoughts. Please do keep writing. As Ram had said, it is not easy to evoke 162 comments by one post. You have touched it well. But let us maintain the healthy arguments and conversations as NV had said. I welcome such good articles.
February 17, 2007 at 11:48 pm
…. sixty yrs into independence, donot compare to a country of 250 years..blah blah..
these are lame excuses for not letting a country develop. So what, Singapore/South africa got independence after us.Arent they in a much better position than ours ?
Its every indians agony and anguish that the services they receive elsewhere were not being received in their own home land.
Any NRI that moves to a foreign country with just 2 suitcases and the skill grow up to be a successful person in a new land. Can the same skilled person survive in India without much hassles ?
Talk about bureucracy, red tape, back stabbing…
Its those people who wouldnt want to spend their life time fighting for each and every single damn basic right move on to other places to lead a life.
Its just the epitome of frustration expressed in few others blogs.
hope you got my point.
February 18, 2007 at 12:15 am
…. sixty yrs into independence, donot compare to a country of 250 years..blah blah..
these are lame excuses for not letting a country develop. So what, Singapore/South africa got independence after us.Arent they in a much better position than ours ?
Its every indians agony and anguish that the services they receive elsewhere were not being received in their own home land.
Any NRI that moves to a foreign country with just 2 suitcases and the skill grow up to be a successful person in a new land. Can the same skilled person survive in India without much hassles ?
Talk about bureucracy, red tape, back stabbing…
Its those people who wouldnt want to spend their life time fighting for each and every single damn basic right move on to other places to lead a life.
Its just the epitome of frustration expressed in few others blogs.
hope you got my point.
February 18, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Hats off to PK sir for bringing this subject……….
Unge varutham,vedhanai ellam puriyathu…Ana unmaiye sonna, sila nalla vishayangal foreign country la nadakiratha parthu ,athu indians ikkum samama kidaikiratha parthu , avanukkullae oru yekkam indha mathiri namma oorlayum nadantha, ELLORUKKUM kidaitha eppadi irukkumnu aasai padddu athuve konjam aathanga padurane appathan sir gopama varuthu..adhu oottu motha india va solrangunnu neenga ninaicha athu thappu….
Namma ooru makkal innum niraiya peru foreign tour poitu, inge paru eppadi supara vaichirukkan intha oorai, namma oorum irukkenu comment adikarangala……..athan sir vedhanai pada vendiya vishyam…
Clinton, monica matterla irunthu , Anna nicole matter varikkum parthu Enge ooru Enge ooruthann inge sollikitu irukirappa , namma ooru CM , Governor en kaiyapidichu manabangam padutha muyarchi seitharnu statement vidarappa , enna panrathu sir cooni kurikithan poga vendi irukkirathu..
Sex offenders kitta irunthu eppadi kidsa safetya kappathanumnu ninaikirappa, nmma oorula intha mathiri ellam payapada vendiyathu illaiye ninaithu kittu irkkum pothe , Noida mathiri incidents kekkurappa konjam bayamum vedhanaium gopam varathan seikirathu..
Sir, oru unmaiya sonna, Airportla parunga theriyum, 2 weeks 3 weeks vacationukkaga india airportla land agarappa NRI kitta ore poorippu oru santhosam varume, athuve return porappa ore sogama povangala …athan sir “Sorkkame Endralum Athu Nammooor pola varuma”..
Amma Pillaikala parthu gopa padarathukkum , Pillaikal ammava parthu gopa padrathukkum difference irrukku..
Amma gopa padarthu, than pillai kettu pogakoodatha avan nalla padiya varunumenu than sir………NRI gopa padarathum athu mathiri than Sir.
February 18, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Pk sir,
Mannithu vidungal, Ippa than namma Vijaya TR padam parthen, athan commentleyum antha effect vanthurichu…
February 19, 2007 at 10:05 am
First and foremost, I have to admire your post, it did touch everyone who read it, and it even made people respond.
I am one of the person, who you are referring here as an average NRI. You know why as an Indian, I am respected in this country? It is the same reason you are mentioning. I do not get involved in all those things you mentioned in your post. Gun culture, US war, or even mugging on the streets of this country. Who am I to talk about all these things? I am an ALIEN in this county and I am willing to be that way. If I understand your post correctly, it feels like you came to this country and returned back. Good for you and may be you did return to India to help eradicate the corruption, or to help all the kids kidnapped in Bihar or to fight against bureaucracy. But at the bottom of my heart, I still have a lingering feeling that you might have returned to India because India is really shinning these days.
See, India is my country and yes Tamil Nadu is dearer to me. My father was strict, he used to be hard on me, and I never liked it in my childhood. But I did not hate him for that, what I hated was that he was hard on my cousins too. Can you understand the difference? I don’t think your post does. I complain about the road, I complain about corruption but I do not hate my country. I want my county to be a shinning star. I want every one in the world wanting to come to my country. That’s the reason I am hard on my country, it’s my country. But here in USA I am an Alien, I am here on business like the British in India. They did not care about you, they did not build the railway system to serve Indians, and they built it to serve their business.
I am an NRI and you are not, that does not mean that you are giving your life for the benefit of India. Gandhi gave his life for the people of India but even the great one failed his family. I am not willing to fail my family. I cannot be Mahatma, and yes as every Indian I am living in a dream to get another Mahatma so that I can live under his shade. Until then all I got is “Complaining”.
Murali
February 25, 2007 at 5:40 pm
>>#33
>> All of us who studied in India are highly proficient in atleast 2 languages and have a working knowledge of another 2.
This is not true for a vast majority of kids in Tamilnadu, which is the only south Indian state where the kids don’t get to learn a third language. And yes, that includes me. This is not by choice, but due to the way politicians impose their views on people.
>>@159 Lalith
“educated illiterates” - otherwise known as useful idiots. :-). Agree with you completely.
February 27, 2007 at 9:14 pm
one last thought…
More than the post itself, or as much as the post, it’s this post’s title that possibly rubbed some people the wrong way. Elsewhere you say it’s not directed towards all NRIs. I quote from your comment #65:
“As i said and keep saying again and again, this post is aimed only towards them and not towards all NRIs. I dont have any intention of starting any ‘Hate NRI’ campaign. I’ve got better things to do. ”
But this post’s title says “My Dear Average NRI”.
March 2, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I enjoyed reading this blog. It has accomplished in accurately venting your feelings. But it is very subjective. Most people move to the US for personal development and that is not to say they feel ashamed of having born in India. If all NRIs return to India we would have no global presence and what do you have to feel proud about India? It’s like saying your are a tamilan and you should never leave the state. Just accept that you returned to India for personal reasons and don’t try to justify your decision in public because I’m pretty sure it’s not the guns or bad president that drove you to India neither is love towards your motherland. As someone mentioned neither prejudice nor pretense is going to make you a Mahatma - Just live in peace wherever you are.
March 11, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I am not an NRI as you all assume. I have been to India twice for a total of three weeks, but I appreciate your commenters calling me names and assuming they know me from one blog post. It has been illuminating to say the least.
March 11, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Parsingtime
Welcome here! if you have the time to run thru these comments you might
know who was the catalyst in writing this piece and it most certainly was not you.
I did even know your blog when i wrote this in the first place, so me assuming u to be an NRI does not arise..
My readers’ comments and opinions are their own…
October 19, 2007 at 7:37 am
Hope this informs the discussion, I happen to be an NRI and wonder how my efforts will be measure up with the author -
Much of the world wide web is full of sarcasm & mocking of driving on Indian roads.
This site http://driving-india.blogspot.com/ has been created with the purpose of providing driver education and training rather than criticism.
At present I have produced and made available 17 driver education videos aimed at changing the driving culture on Indian roads are available. To watch the videos, please visit: http://driving-india.blogspot.com/
The videos cover the following topics:
Video 1: Covers the concept of Blind spots
Video 2: Introduces the principle of Mirrors, Signal and Manoeuvre
Video 3: At red lights, stop behind the stop line
Video 4: At red lights there are no free left turns
Video 5: The Zebra belongs to pedestrians
Video 6: Tyres and Tarmac (rather than bumper to bumper)
Video 7: Merging with the Main road
Video 8: Leaving The Main Road
Video 9: Never Cut Corners
Video 10: Show Courtesy on roads
Video 11: 5 Rules that help deal with Roundabouts
Video 12: Speed limits, stopping distances, tailgating & 2 seconds rule
Video 13: Lane discipline and overtaking
Video 14: Low beam or high beam?
Video 15: Parallel (reverse parking) made easy
Video 16: Give the cyclist the respect of a car
Video 17: Dealing with in-car condensation
Many thanks
December 13, 2007 at 9:21 am
i am looking to travel cheap in asia and was advised against tour packages but your post has given a different perspective, thanks .
December 16, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article My Dear Average NRI, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.