New Delhi   

`Indian roots are deep, strong; why ape the West?'

Staff Reporter

Feels a young group of persons of Indian origin visiting their motherland

NEW DELHI: There is more to India than snake charmers and Bollywood. A country with deep-rooted values, India could do well by not aping the West. This is the impression that a group of 24 young men and women of Indian origin from nine countries visiting India for the first time will carry back home with them. The group was here as part of a three-week internship programme, which began on August 22, organised by the Ministry of Overseas Affair (MOA). Interacting with media persons here on Saturday, Lavisha Kapoor, a Malay national, said before coming here she thought Indians did not know English. "While that perception has changed, the perception of Indians about us has also changed. They were surprised to know that I eat desi north Indian food and speak Hindi," said Ms. Lavisha.

Aravinda Bouman Splendor, a Canadian national training to be a pilot, said the good thing about India was that people were trying to bring about a change without only having profit in mind.

A fan of Rani Mukherjee and Akshay Kumar, Bharatramesh Gordhan, a South African national, said he missed the festive fervour in Delhi during Janmashtami. "In Durban, we have seven-day satsang on the occasion," he said. But for all the appreciation of Indian spirituality, he was clear about who he would support in a cricket match. "India. But only when they are not playing against South Africa." Asked what was his message to the Indian youth, Bharat repeated what President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had told the group during a meeting earlier in the day. "Do the utmost for your country." The President had also elaborated on his 2020 vision and beyond. There were some disappointments also in store for the group. Rahul Patel of Zambia was upset because Indians were always overcharging foreigners. "They do not treat you as one. They rip you off (when you go to buy something)," he said. Netallie Squires, coming from a very small Indian community in Israel, lamented that while their country was reeling under conflict-ridden politics, in India it was the conflict between the poor and the rich that created problems.

An under-graduate at London School of Economics, Sagar Shah, said India need not necessarily ape the West for growth. Citing the example of Bollywood, Sagar said they were becoming more like western movies. "Indian roots are deep and strong. Why do you need to ape the West?" asked Sagar.

Claiming that the programme was a success, Joint Secretary Malay Mishra said more such initiatives were in the offing. This particular group, who had paid their air-fare to reach India before being taken care of by the MOA and Uttaranchal Government, visited several tourist places, villages and also stayed at an ashram in Rishikesh for three days.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Animated about animation
Cleaning Yamuna will not be an easy task for Centre
Rift in Delhi Cabinet over power crisis
New feather in N. Railway's cap
Notices on closure of computer purchase scam
High Court orders expert panel on kids' admission
Run against fast meters organised
`Water conservation must be consumer's mission'
Offering prayers
Bibi Jagir Kaur wins rare praise
`Indian roots are deep, strong; why ape the West?'
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today
Reader's Mail

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu