internationalism

Once upon a time not so long ago,going abroad from India was regarded as not only a big achievement but also highly prestigious. So called NRIs visiting their relatives in major Indian cities on vacations were greeted and treated as VIPs who need extra care simply becuase they speak with an accented English,drink mineral water and earn in dollars. People back home would feel privileged to associate themselves with anyone who has achieved the brilliant feat of traveling abroad and procuring a degree or even better, a job there. Indeed, those were the days when 'abroad' meant something special.
Let's revert back to the present now,circa 2008 summer.
As I begin my short stint at one of the premier think tank organizations in DC,the one thing that ctahces my attention is the unanimously overwhelming presence of Indians, everywhere all around the city and of course at my workplace. They come from all possible communities,races,castes,religions,colors and ages, men and women alike;in metro trains,walking on the roads going to respective workplaces, in the office elevators-cafetaria-coffee shops, in the lines to National Archives and in Museums,like any other American citizen. And someof them wear the same traditional Indian clothes they would wear back home and speak in the same Indian languages with each other, the result being a strange feeling for a fellow Indian onlooker that she is in a mini India in DC! The same feeling she would get when she visits the grocery stores or movie halls or restaurants in San Jose or even in Time Square or Hudson river cruises or in Battery park city in New York; not to mention of course the Indian cab drivers importing the traffic rules from Punjab or Delhi or Hyderabad or the Indian restaurateers proudly selling paan on Lexington Avenue in NY.


A recent scenario: July 4- Independence day of the most powerful nation of the world.
It's special day for the whole country--a national holiday, with one of the biggest celebrations happening in of course the capital city of Washington DC.
Crucial event of the day: fireworks in the evening against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, following a live concert right infront of the Capitol Hill. The concert starts off with the National Anthem and proceeds to honor young Americans representing their country in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing. It feels like a grand historical occassion with zillions of people crowding to catch a glimpse of the fireworks and proudly waving the blue-red-white flag which has been the symbol of power and liberty and individual rights for ages now.
All this is expected for a typical tourist who has heard so much about this celebration.

Before darkness sets in and as people keep coming in, there's a different sight to be seen on the lawns of the capitol hill. There are a large number of white tents on the Hill grounds and scores of people with a 'tilak' on their foreheads, loitering around wearing traditional Indian dresses interspersed with some foreigners wearing similar attire, singing "Hare Rama Hare Krishna". They are the devoted followers of Lord Krishna. In one of the tents a bunch of 'white' women splendidly dressed in Bharatnatyam attire, perform the traditional dance with flawless mudras and facial expressions; except for the skin color, it could've been a bunch of Indian girls dancing. And as one turns around from here, there's a Rath in the semblance of the famous Puri Rathyatra and devotees are climbing up to offer their prayers and obtain 'prasad'. All this right against the white marble backdrop of the Capitol Hill-the seat and symbol of American dream and power.

Times indeed have changed and we are now 'world-citizens', with an international persona yet rooted to our traditions, from different countries,regardless of national boundaries and differences. It does not matter which country we live in; coming to the USA is no longer a big deal; transition to a new country and culture has become much more smooth and hasslefree-what matters is where the opportunities for leading a good life and fulfiling our ambitions are higher.

And that means when NRIs now go back home on vacations, they are just like the scores of other such NRIs present amongst friends and relatives-it's nothing special!
And members of the same family sit around and exchange experiences from different countries, during Christmas Vacation while a newly wed NRI couple plans their honeymoon trip not to Zurich anymore but to the backwaters of Allepey!