familiarity breeds contempt here...
Almost 4 weeks into another country and what I am about to speak of was something I could never believe was true till I was smacked in the face again and again and before I would have time to recover- again.
Day 2 in Bern : I walk pass the COOP (grocery and personal goods superstore spread across switzerland) and see a familiar face- positively tamilian with the trademark curling knots. He could not have been more than 35 years old. I smile at him from a distance, readying myself for an acknowledgement when in closer proximity- nothing. I hold the flaming curve of my mouth hoping foolishly that he had bad eyesight, he turns away - almost in disgust, but what is really there in that expression is the harsh truth- contempt. My pace slows, a bit shocked I wonder at that time " what the f@$#$ was that?"
Well Im going to face it and blurt this out: Indians it seems are ashamed of each other's existence in a foreign land. I guess the time they fled the county of 1 billion familiar faces, it was in the thought and nature as that of a refugee. The very sight of another indian now reminds them of a terrible past and a truth they dont want to face- they're Indian. Yes you bastards, no matter how much german, dutch, french or bulgarian-romanian hybrid you pick up- you're still Indian, and I dare to ask...why the contempt? why the disgust??
Ok, so thinking of this furiously , I guess some1 up there wanted me to see I was right. Im sitting on the train back from wengen (the beautiful hill station which overseas 3 swiss mountains and a valley - pictures below) and zuzka realizes that the elderly couple in front of her are slovak. She can tell , even though they speak in hushed tones- the kind you only see elderly people engage in. She gives me a big zuzka-like smile (a smile of a baby when she's given a lollypop the size of her arm:)) and says " I have to talk to them, this is so exciting"...I say "go for it!"...the rest is history and sadly enough, what makes me as despondent about this reality.. I fall off to sleep as Zuzka chats rapidly with this elderly slovakian couple for over 35 minutes...she walks off the train bounding and eager to tell me of this couple's story...they ran away in the late 60s, the communist regime had the husband in prison for the longest time. they are concerned of what's happening today' etc etc etc etc...
I come home and think....i've probably seen atleast 20 Indians who could have reacted to my open stance and willingness to talk...heck even a smile in return. Nothing. Zilch. Nyet. Nuet. Nichts ...you get my drift?
Piyush, my main man:) was in zurich 2 weeks ago...gosh it was nice to see a fellow countryman happy to see a familiar face:) as we joked over how the feeling of meeting in another country was kickass, I regailed my confusion to him. The reaction- "Dhruv, its not just here, any part of the frickin world man- especially developed countries. New York is supposedly worse, europe is ridden with such people. Ignore them, no point wasting your time."
Everyone has a chip on their shoulder.
After much thought, Im left feeling pity. My pity turns to laughter and to gratefullness of the wonderful ethics and pride I was brought up with... I will travel the world in the next half decade and come back to my beautiful home, my beautiful country, I will rejoice as I smile at the piccadellos and respect the great gains she has made....
Day 2 in Bern : I walk pass the COOP (grocery and personal goods superstore spread across switzerland) and see a familiar face- positively tamilian with the trademark curling knots. He could not have been more than 35 years old. I smile at him from a distance, readying myself for an acknowledgement when in closer proximity- nothing. I hold the flaming curve of my mouth hoping foolishly that he had bad eyesight, he turns away - almost in disgust, but what is really there in that expression is the harsh truth- contempt. My pace slows, a bit shocked I wonder at that time " what the f@$#$ was that?"
Well Im going to face it and blurt this out: Indians it seems are ashamed of each other's existence in a foreign land. I guess the time they fled the county of 1 billion familiar faces, it was in the thought and nature as that of a refugee. The very sight of another indian now reminds them of a terrible past and a truth they dont want to face- they're Indian. Yes you bastards, no matter how much german, dutch, french or bulgarian-romanian hybrid you pick up- you're still Indian, and I dare to ask...why the contempt? why the disgust??
Ok, so thinking of this furiously , I guess some1 up there wanted me to see I was right. Im sitting on the train back from wengen (the beautiful hill station which overseas 3 swiss mountains and a valley - pictures below) and zuzka realizes that the elderly couple in front of her are slovak. She can tell , even though they speak in hushed tones- the kind you only see elderly people engage in. She gives me a big zuzka-like smile (a smile of a baby when she's given a lollypop the size of her arm:)) and says " I have to talk to them, this is so exciting"...I say "go for it!"...the rest is history and sadly enough, what makes me as despondent about this reality.. I fall off to sleep as Zuzka chats rapidly with this elderly slovakian couple for over 35 minutes...she walks off the train bounding and eager to tell me of this couple's story...they ran away in the late 60s, the communist regime had the husband in prison for the longest time. they are concerned of what's happening today' etc etc etc etc...
I come home and think....i've probably seen atleast 20 Indians who could have reacted to my open stance and willingness to talk...heck even a smile in return. Nothing. Zilch. Nyet. Nuet. Nichts ...you get my drift?
Piyush, my main man:) was in zurich 2 weeks ago...gosh it was nice to see a fellow countryman happy to see a familiar face:) as we joked over how the feeling of meeting in another country was kickass, I regailed my confusion to him. The reaction- "Dhruv, its not just here, any part of the frickin world man- especially developed countries. New York is supposedly worse, europe is ridden with such people. Ignore them, no point wasting your time."
Everyone has a chip on their shoulder.
After much thought, Im left feeling pity. My pity turns to laughter and to gratefullness of the wonderful ethics and pride I was brought up with... I will travel the world in the next half decade and come back to my beautiful home, my beautiful country, I will rejoice as I smile at the piccadellos and respect the great gains she has made....
Its an unwholesome but unignorable and annoying truth.
Some seem to hate themselves for not having born white, inspite of reaching a white country and want to have no further acknowledgement from any fellow indians.
On the other hand, you might run into a great Sardarjee, who would treat you to butter chicken over there!
Have fun, Prost!
Posted by
KV |
3:38 PM, October 20, 2005
It's not just in white countries.. apart from the few Indians i've met in Beijing through AIESEC.. most of others I see here are just not even interested. I was standing next to this one guy waiting to pick up some take-away food. Smiled a couple of times and expected atleast that much in return - nothing. Zilch.
The other reaction I keep getting.. "I hate it here... everything is so crowded!" I'm thinking to myself... "Yeah, right, we're 1 billion people too in a much smaller country... and China is crowded."
That's the problem with tourists as opposed to travellers. Oh - and about Sardars.. ran into one in Rotterdam last year post IC... the guy seemed mortified to see another Indian! I guess it takes all kinds! ;)
Posted by
Pierre |
9:01 PM, October 20, 2005
Gosh that's really sad! I think it's different with Filipinos, or at least it seems....all the different Filipino clubs there are in Switerland and wherever...Hope you'll still meet some Indians here or abroad who'll change that perception of yours! And btw, I loooved the 55-word prose - thing! How cool is that! Don't think I'd be talented enough for it though, or maybe rather, couldn't stick to just 55 words! hahaha...Take care man, and let us know if you wanna go for a drink when you're in Geneva! I'm here too you know, not just for blogging advice ;-) Hollers, K-ris (p.s. email: carissasahli@yahoo.com Cell isn't working at the moment :-s)
Posted by
Carissa )i( |
4:14 PM, October 21, 2005