Disclaimer : This blog was written before the author saw "Swades".
A topic that would hit the raw nerve of any Indian outside India. Well, I am out here, in the land of dreams(?) for many. To me, it was more a case of necessity - the desire to study higher in a field with limited opportunities in India. India - my motherland .. what would I not give to be out there again??
Life out in the US is totally different. It pisses me off when these very Indians who had been in India all this while start behaving as if they were never in India at all after coming to the US. People openly begin to criticize. Criticism without any action is useless. Nothing can be worse than that. Forgetting our roots for the sake of this very own materialistic comfort is abysmally bad. However, this is not to say that all Indians out here in the US are like that. There are a few voluntary social service organizations like AID, Asha, etc. that work for the development of India with a dedicated NRI volunteer base.
It is not prudent to generalize or point fingers at either side. There are people who would strive for the development of India, no matter where they are. As always, there would be these people who just talk and do nothing else about it.
The Indianness,available in India only, is something that cannot be possibly traded for materialistic comforts. I had been to India recently, and India has changed a lot. Materialism has hit India like a plague. Bangalore, an epitome of this sad phenomenon. People working in MNCs get paid a pittance when compared to their counterparts out here in the US and are happy. Wouldn't a starting salary of 5 lacs p.a. be enough for an Indian? What would they do with so much money? People go to these so called Western joints like McDonald's, KFC, Subway, etc. 6 visits to Saravana Bhawan/ Adyar Ananda Bhawan would be the near equivalent to this in terms of money. But, what would I not give to have those mouth watering Adai-Avial, 14-mini ghee idly, masala dosa, sambhar vadai, tandoori items, bhel poori, pav bhaji, chole samosa, etc..
The belief that the ABCD teenagers are floating without roots is not entirely true. I had been to a gathering of ABCD's and was surprised to find them engaging in pursuits like Gita Discussions, Bhajans, etc. They seemed to know a lot about India, despite their acquired American way of life. I do not blame them. They are doing the best in the circumstances. Finally, it depends on the moulding of the child by the parents.
I for one wouldnt want my children to miss India, esp. Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, Cricket, Carnatic/Hindustani Music, Dance, etc. India shouldnt just be a travel destination for them. Recently, this incident happened. The grandparents at best could show the snaps of their recently born grandchildren on their computers. The time, when they need to be told stories - Grandmother's tales and play with their Grandfather, they are sadly not there. A brother was not able to attend his sister's marriage due to some VISA problem. So Is it truly worth It?
Been in the South for a long time. So the following para might involve a lot of Madrasi flavour.
The very hustle-bustle of the Indian cities/towns is not there.. I miss that.. The narrow roads of Mandaveli-Mylapore, the crowded streets of T Nagar, flower-sellers on the roads, the potti-kadais, the Indian women in traditional sarees with jasmine flowers on their hair (way off from these ladies in the US.. ), the crowded buses, people on footboard on these buses, the tough bargaining on the streets with sellers, the umpteen cyclists and pedestrians, the haggling and fights with the autorickshaw-wallas, the electric trains, people crossing the railway tracks..not caring for their lives..the eternally crowded Madras Central Station, relatives coming to the stations to escort the visitors, the porters - how they are never satisfied with the "coolie".. the pathos of menial labour, the dignity of labour, the value of education, the school going kids - dressed to impress!, the temples, the gopurams, the beggars outside... the secular feel, the beaches of madras, Brigade Road of Bangalore, the kolams outside the houses, the smell of coffee, the early morning rituals of suprabhatam/ tiruppavai(now is the marghazi season, rite?), the Indian food, the smell of fried appalams, the hot sambhar with idly/dosa, the radio, bhoole bhisre geet, apki pharmayish, the december season, the kacheris, the monsoon, hot summer, mangoes, vadu maanga, curd rice, playing indoors with friends, ice creams, indian festivals, deepawali, pongal, dassehra, ..... guess could go on and on!!!!>
Money is not everything in life. The vicious circle starts like this. F1 visa for MS/PhD. H1B. Marriage. Investment in a house, cars, and all possible materialistic goodies. Children. When the children cross 7 years, then returning back to India is extremely difficult and in fact in most cases, next to impossible.
Being in the US/any other country has its own advantages. We interact with a lot of people, in fact people from those exotic places in Atlases, get to know their passions and culture, broaden our secular outlook, and begin to love India even more. With the separation, comes the love and pain. You can also possibly travel with your spouse to a lot of exotic places. But, all these should be treated as part of a world adventure, and when the time comes, we must return back to India. The latest should be when the eldest child turns 6.
Also recommended, please do read "The Indian in America" by R K Narayan in "A Story Teller's World".
Disclaimer Continued: Now that I have seen "Swades", what more can I say about "Swades" and Mohan Bhargava. Well, I simply seem to envy Mohan Bhargava!
