We, The People
I recently came across a blog, while surfing. Clear from her post, she is in India on a holiday, and decided to post her attempt at “unraveling the exotic tapestry of mystery that is India”. I have never read a larger piece of patronising writing in my life.
She notices women dropping out of school at grade 4, but forgets to notice that we are the only country in the world to have an entire state of 100% literacy - Kerala. Or that right from the beginning, our constitution gave equal rights to women. Indian women never had to fight for the right to vote!
She notices our lack of efficiency and infrastructure, but forgets to notice that we are one of the few countries in the world with free press and the freedom to express opinion without being arrested.
Granted, all the problems she mentions exist. But India is not unique in its problems! Economic disparity is a problem the world over. The poor in the Americas aren’t any less worthy of sympathy simply because they live in so-called developed countries!
I would really like to know which part of India she is generalising the rest with. She says that we blare western music, without understanding the lyrics. Sorry to burst your bubble there, but EVERYONE I know can perfectly understand the lyrics of Nickelback, Alanis Morrissette, Usher and Alicia Keys, and enjoy them immensely, without forgetting the splendour of an Amjad Ali Khan or Ravi Shankar as well. Most people my age wear western clothes without having their chests “gawked” at, and frankly, I would be more uncomfortable walking down the streets of New York late at night, than Bangalore.
In any case, we aren’t half as backward as she seems to think we are. Today, Americans and Europeans lose their jobs everyday to more qualified or more articulate Indians. Ever heard that being replaced by a software engineer from Bangalore is now officially called “being Bangalore-ed”? These are the very Indians, who grew up in this – as she sees it – overpopulated slum.
It’s convenient isn’t it; to overlook that India has the oldest history, the richest culture, the largest film industry, and most free, enthusiastic and alive people in the world!
What really annoys me is that she still calls herself “proud to be Indian!” I wish she would refrain from doing so, if she is going to come here, talk about silk carpets and the Taj Mahal, and go back to talk about load shedding.
I say, either come and leave as a tourist, or do something proactive HERE to give yourself the right to crib. And PLEASE. If you think the same way she does, save your patronising sensitivity for someone other than us “poor Indians”.
She notices women dropping out of school at grade 4, but forgets to notice that we are the only country in the world to have an entire state of 100% literacy - Kerala. Or that right from the beginning, our constitution gave equal rights to women. Indian women never had to fight for the right to vote!
She notices our lack of efficiency and infrastructure, but forgets to notice that we are one of the few countries in the world with free press and the freedom to express opinion without being arrested.
Granted, all the problems she mentions exist. But India is not unique in its problems! Economic disparity is a problem the world over. The poor in the Americas aren’t any less worthy of sympathy simply because they live in so-called developed countries!
I would really like to know which part of India she is generalising the rest with. She says that we blare western music, without understanding the lyrics. Sorry to burst your bubble there, but EVERYONE I know can perfectly understand the lyrics of Nickelback, Alanis Morrissette, Usher and Alicia Keys, and enjoy them immensely, without forgetting the splendour of an Amjad Ali Khan or Ravi Shankar as well. Most people my age wear western clothes without having their chests “gawked” at, and frankly, I would be more uncomfortable walking down the streets of New York late at night, than Bangalore.
In any case, we aren’t half as backward as she seems to think we are. Today, Americans and Europeans lose their jobs everyday to more qualified or more articulate Indians. Ever heard that being replaced by a software engineer from Bangalore is now officially called “being Bangalore-ed”? These are the very Indians, who grew up in this – as she sees it – overpopulated slum.
It’s convenient isn’t it; to overlook that India has the oldest history, the richest culture, the largest film industry, and most free, enthusiastic and alive people in the world!
What really annoys me is that she still calls herself “proud to be Indian!” I wish she would refrain from doing so, if she is going to come here, talk about silk carpets and the Taj Mahal, and go back to talk about load shedding.
I say, either come and leave as a tourist, or do something proactive HERE to give yourself the right to crib. And PLEASE. If you think the same way she does, save your patronising sensitivity for someone other than us “poor Indians”.
posted by 
@ 9:50 am
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