Yesterday I happened to eavesdrop on a conversation between an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) and his colleague. The premise of the conversation was preceded by the fact that our company is planning to move their operations to India. There were break room discussions of the VP moving his base to India and that some employees would follow his suit. The ABCD brazenly said, “I’d love to go to India for a year and then come back, because I’ll miss US so much. They don’t even have Starbucks! Yet for less than $30,000/yr salary, I can have a chauffeur driven car and an apartment in the best part of the city.” To which his counterpart retorted, “Maybe you can open up a Starbucks in India with all your extra dollars you’ve earned here”.
I was appalled and mortified by the ABCD’s comments, rather than his colleague’s. I was convinced by one fact – although we have taken great economic strides, we still have a long journey ahead of us to earn the world’s respect.
Indians outside India scurry to the nearest “trashcan” to throw trash. But when we are in India, we treat our country like a royal dumpster and litter wherever we deem fit. We sing high praises of the discipline in the developed countries, but are proud if we get away by breaking a few laws back home. We complain about everything – work, life, system, country et al. But we do nothing to change it. I would like to quote my favourite dialogue from the movie Rang De Basanti: “no system or country is perfect; it is the citizens who have to strive to make it happen”.
We are a diverse country. As Indians we are taught to be tolerant to other cultures. We do have our share of problems, but we have something that makes the world stand up and take notice of us – brainpower, zeal to work hard and perseverance! Unfortunately, we have forgotten that charity begins at home. How can we expect the world to respect us, unless we respect ourselves?
In yet another incident, an HR was heard saying that the call centre jobs are being brought back because customers complain about poor customer service. In a country where we are taught, “Atithi Devo Bhavah” (Guest is like God), I find this hard to believe. We try so hard to ape the western culture and that we establish new businesses to give accent training to call centre employees. Why can we not concentrate on speaking grammatically correct English instead? Maybe we need to adopt a different business model. Maybe we need to go back to our traditional school of thoughts, see our kids through graduation and then give them the freedom to shape their own future. Why can’t we accept the fact that we are different?
On this 26th January, let’s remember to read our pledge once again and comprehend its true essence:
PLEDGE:
India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I Love my country. I am proud of its rich and varied culture. I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall love and respect my parents, teachers and elders.
To my country and my people I pledge my devotion.
I solemnly pledge to work with dedication to preserve and strengthen the freedom and integrity of the nation.
I further affirm that I shall never resort to violence and that all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region or other political or economic grievances should be settled by peaceful and constitutional means.
In their well being and prosperity alone lies my happiness.
3 comments:
Betu,
True Indian . Keep up the Indian spirit no matter how big you become in later part of your life .
on your point about grammatically correct English... I have realised that one of the reasons these people are taught the accent not the language, that's because its easier to teach the accent. You can't teach language! What you are expecting is an English class... which of course these companies are not willing to conduct. More importantly, I want to say that it is not these companies who are to be blamed, but it is the people in India who absolutely lack the professional appeal and attitude. Don't count me wrong when I critic my own people. If only the companies (call centers) employing these customer reps, would act more responsibly, it could be a whole different story. As much as your point of we respecting ourselves is concerned, I believe its more like we have to earn it. Every growing entity goes through this phase and I believe these are growing pains! And about that ABCD, all I have to say is... he is not alone!!
Hmm, Interesting thoughts!IMO:
1) English is the commercial language of the world. If we are to do global business with MNCs of the world, then we must master the language itself. And it is not some rocket science either. Anything can be mastered should you have the willingness to learn.
2) Earning respect from the world is a long pole in the tent, but that does not supercede the fact that we need to respect ourselves first for being different, rather than blindly aping the culture of the wild, wild west.
3) Hasn't some wise philospher said: "I can say anything about my kid, but if an outsider says anything, I cannot tolerate it"? Tis' the same with my feelings regarding the ABCD.
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