One has to live in a western country - especially US to really understand where the Mom in this article is coming from. In the US, human contact is much rarer than in India - where you bump into someone or the other every foot of the way! People who have been born in India, but spent most of their adult lives in countries like US, tend to stick to their age-old impressions of India (some of which have not changed much) depending on the areas and walks of life they have originated from. Their kids are brought up in a very protected, constantly supervized and "sanitized" environment which is in stark contrast to the melting pot that is India. However, they fail to realize that kids are much more resilient and adaptive than parents and if they are mentally prepared to face minor challenges, they will do very well. What is striking for every western visitor to India is the "liveliness" that you find in the Indian environment, in general. People are ready and have time to talk if required (even if they may not greet each other - imagine what would happen if you started saying "hi - how are you?" to every one you meet on the road in India). Just the fact that you can stand on the road-side and chat with an acquaintance or the corner pan-wallah or have a cup of tea in a tea-stall. These are "luxuries" for people in the cold countries. Colourful clothes is itself a rare sight. So no wonder the westerners feel the "exhileration" of the human warmth which they are not used to. All th
What you have said bolsters my argument to a certain extent in my post below. Apparently, you have been exposed to life in the U.S and so have I. What about the readers who aren't? They are certain to take offense. The author has indeed a loving concern for her child, but she didn't have to portray India in a distasteful way to highlight her concern. I am 100% sure that the author will be equally concerned about her child if she were to stay away from home in any country in the world.
Parental concern is never overrated. But that is no excuse for belittling a country especially when it is your own. The author's last line reads "... putting up a mosquito net and dodging monkeys". Even when I lived in India around 10 yrs back, I did not have to dodge monkeys.My friends and relatives who still live in India have never had any problems with wild animals threatening their daily existence. Of course! if you live in a monkey populated area, you're bound to say hello to a monkey or two exactly like how one will encounter rattlesnakes or a friendly gator if one lived in Florida!
RE:Experiencing India
by Naveen on May 23, 2008 09:23 AM Permalink
Could'nt put it better myself, Shyam. I would have appreciated an article on parental concern - geez, I have seen my parents worried when I go some place 6 hours away. So ur kid staying some place half a world away can produce a really warm funny writeup. Ms. Banerjee gives an out-of-touch description of India instead
Yes, what exactly is the point behind this article? Doesn't even qualify as a rhetorical piece. Appears more like mindless ranting. The author is understandably concerned about her daughter being removed far away from home. But, that is no reason to be condescending. If that is unintended, she should now realize that it appears very much so.
I am really glad that the author did not lose sleep about snake charmers charming her daugher away. Equally disconcerting is the thought of her daugher having to evade cows, cowdung, potholes, elephants and people dressed as Indian Gods getting in the way of her child's daily commute to school. Oh! my, the travails of the author probably makes her vicerals churn in an inextricable vortex of leviathan suffering!
Since the author's daughter was very much resolved to visit India, a better idea would have been to send her bubblewrapped rather than waste all our time by writing a thoughtless article.
RE:RE:What is the point behind this article?
by Rahul Patil on May 23, 2008 01:44 AM Permalink
Sorry to disagree with you. I perfectly understand what the writer has in mind. It is difficult for people who are living in India to understand this particular article. Its like the movie 'Swades' which indians living abroad could identify with whereas for the local population the movie was acomplete humbug. perhaps if u live abroad u migh nurture such emotions.
RE:What is the point behind this article?
by Shyam Gururaj on May 23, 2008 02:33 AM Permalink
Dear Rahul, I've been living in the U.S of A for the past 10 yrs during which I've visited India only thrice. Despite that fact, I still have a fantastic connection with India. My only gripe with this article is that instead of focussing on her daughter being away from home and her emotions related to that, it seems to harp on conditions in India.
Every place is different. From the article, it appears that this author resides in New Jersey. Have you been to New Jersey? I can give you a first hand account of how life is there. It is not exactly a safe haven and neither it is a danger zone. It has its own flavor and so is every place.
As I had mentioned in my first paragraph, I can empathize with someone concerned about their child being in a foreign country. But, the topic seemed to dwell more on India's condition that her real emotions. The article itself is not outrightly offensive, but it definitely is not well written.
RE:RE:What is the point behind this article?
by Shyam Gururaj on May 23, 2008 02:41 AM Permalink
Continuing my response ... What I really wanted to say that if her daughter is visiting the country of her origin, she should be pleased about it and learn to accept the good and the not so good with it. Good writers have a way of saying even the most offensive of things and that quality is clearly lacking here. The main point of writing an article is to get the writer's point across to the readers. If information is not given in a way conducive to mass understanding, it will lead to misinterpretation and the point will be missed.
RE:RE:What is the point behind this article?
by Bigb tripathi on May 23, 2008 08:37 AM Permalink
I agree with you on that. I have lived in US for last 7 years. Still I love India. The problem with these cheap NRI's is they are blinded by material happines. This author sounds more american than real white americans. Shame on her. She thinks she is getting her staus elevated by making such comments. I bet she is a poorly educated child. She is a shame to India. I am sure her daughter's daughter will die to come to india oneday but will be denied a visa.
RE:What is the point behind this article?
by DS on May 23, 2008 11:25 AM Permalink
dont get complacent. it is good to be optimistic but let it be realistic.
RE:What is the point behind this article?
by Kishore Ramkumar on May 23, 2008 09:07 AM Permalink
I was trying to type up a good response when I read your comment. You;ve said it right bro'. There will come a time when these cheap NRI fellas will want to come to India and get their asses kicked out of the Indian consulate.
RE:What is the point behind this article?
by on May 23, 2008 09:35 AM Permalink
I am in complete agreement with you Shyam - there were quite a few messages in this discussion board that criticized this article but I think you had put in across in the right words!! Concern for her daughter is right but not at the cost of degrading one's own country!!
Ruby, Since how many years you haven't gone to India?. I think you also better have a visit to India with ur daughter...better don't try to write in such a way that others feel u r blaming India.
RE:How long?
by samson judas on May 23, 2008 09:30 AM Permalink
Yes, I agree with Venu, Actually before embarking on a journey the person must know the cons and prons of the place. It cannot be a blind adventure! If one is used to 5 star luxuries ,that person cannot just step in any part of the world without knowing the profile there. And surely one cannot criticize the place, just because its not upto that persons whims and fancies!!
Ghosh , It is an Indian who wrote this ..... This is really a shamefull day ... Did you born and brought up in US or your Ancesters born and brought up there ... ? Still you are an indian by Blood.How could one think about their mother (Land).Ofcrse , we have these situations in India but we cant generalise that India = (Rubbish things specified).If you have dust in your house don't run to neighbours house and stay there and complaing you have a dusted house.You are exactly doing that .I appreciate your daughter , atleast try to learn from her. GROW UP.
RE:Ghosh , She is an Indian
by sivaraja kaduva on May 22, 2008 06:49 PM Permalink
Mrs.Banerjea, Actually what message U want to convey?. Are U indirectly critisising Indian condition under the guise of your daughters's experience? Otherwise are U appreciating daughters love for India ? In such cases U should not have gone through the even minor details of "Indian inconvinences" as you feel. Your tone is in such a way that living in India your daughter is favouring India. It is ridiculous. Wait India will be better living place very shortly, which U will envy and love to return. Those days are not far away,
RE:Ghosh , She is an Indian
by sivaraja kaduva on May 22, 2008 06:57 PM Permalink
One more addition. India will be better its position means that is in its own way with more local colours in general and definitely not in any western way
RE:Ghosh , She is an Indian
by Abhishek Mody on May 23, 2008 09:06 AM Permalink
America is a big shit can.. these bloddy NRIs, may they die for all the abuses that they give to INDIA.. INDIA ROCKS U BLOODY AMERICANS
RE:RE:Ghosh , She is an Indian
by on May 23, 2008 09:13 AM Permalink
Frustrated soul..where did America and other NRIs come in picture.. talk about the person who gave this article
The author is writing as if she is a white American. She is after all Indian and she shoudn't fee proud of her daughter just "visiting" India, but rather be ashamed. I left US post-PhD and staying in India in a much worse conditions -- drinking the same water in a mosquito prone area driving in under heavey traffic conditions.
This is utter non-sense. In US you could be working in McDonalds, but act as if you are a celebrity. People who have seen that "vadivelu-parthiban" comedy in a tamil movie (the dubai return one), will understand what I say...
RE:shame shame
by Ganesh B on May 22, 2008 03:42 PM Permalink
Lesser souls, please don't jump at me for spelling mistakes, which are mere typos (it happends most often in rediff -- jumping for spell errors !)
Being in India is itself an overwhelming experience, and all the friendly people and warm welcome you get from every corner just makes one wanting more. Sreoshy no exception...
Vande Maataram...
Ruby should also once go to Ahmedabad, its not all that difficult in my opinion.
I really appreciate Sreoshy, who took up the assignment to come over to India. Even though Mrs.Ruby was concerned about her daughters visit, I appreciate the fact of how Sreoshy is bought up. End of the day, it all depends on how you are bought up. I wish good luck for her.
