Race of the Races

The other day someone asked me if I thought people from a particular country were 'Racist'. Interesting question I thought. I do have a theory on racism, especially since I belong to a people who are on the wrong end of the world's prejudice at this stage. Everyone is Racist! It may not be nice to hear but its true. Stereotypes exist at all levels of society across all geographical regions. It's like a brand that you're born into. Analogous to this would be something like Marlboro chocolates. Irrespective of quality, they're going be associated with cigarettes and parents are going to keep children away from them. Some people are crass and lack social grace and thus tend to exhibit their racism in a more vocal, public and sometimes violent way. I personally have been called a "Paki" a few times in the Western 'Developed (clearly not mentally in some cases)' world. At first I would find it offensive but then found it amusing and interesting that a country hellbent on destroying mine now finds the reference to it's citizens as a global derogatory word. Fun! So if now people call me Paki, I smile, because they know no better, and Pakis well - I guess every country has its collective karma.

I took up a boxing class at University in the States and was paired with this guy from Buffalo, NY - Nice guy, we had a good chat while punching the daylights out of each others boxing mitts. After class he introduces me to his friend, a stereotypical redneck (See, I'm racist too) hillbilly. Mr. redneck asks me where I'm from? "Delhi, India". "Man, is that in Africa?". "Do you guys like, carry guns around with turbans on?" - This coming from a citizen of a country where carrying guns seems to be the National Pastime. I don't blame him - his worldly knowledge seemed to end at the score from the Yankees - Philly game the previous night. What made him tolerable was the fact that he was visiting and didn't study at my Univ. He's not racist, he's not dumb, he's ignorant - no education can fix that other than the one delivered back home.

On the airport at Amsterdam, I've just boarded my plane to New York. I take my seat by the window and pick up the magazine and start reading it. This girl sitting next to me is part of a party of 4 and is looking at me quite suspiciously. Then she gathers up her courage and asks me "Do you speak English?" - "No, Einstein! I'm admiring the paper quality of this magazine". Turns out she wanted her sister to exchange seats with me. Chivalry and manners fortunately have no race so I gladly offered. Racist? Nah.. Ignorant!

Back home, Indian students get beaten up in Australia and the country is up in arms. Taxi walas are beaten up in Mumbai because they're from out of the state and that is acceptable. Is our media patriotic? Are we as a country united in the face of adversity? Ha.. No! We are 1.2 billion hypo critic monkeys.  In my work life, I have met some grossly incompetent expatriates who are given preference over locals. One of my Managers once explained to me, "They like to see a white face, hear the accent" --- That's what TV is for!! This is work, money. Tell the stockholders that we're hired a monkey because of race and see what happens. What a racist guy! Well, no he's not - his opinions are based on what he sees and since he cares to accept them like a brainless mule, he deems himself ignorant!

So, ladies and gentlemen, are you racist? Or ... Are you ignorant??

To be Indian

One of the oldest civilizations in the world has ironically turned out to be one of the most complex places on the planet to live and do business in. Why is it that after all these years we are not at peace with one another? Are we destined to be a race of oppressed people? Today, as the economy booms and population goes out of control, wealth is being generated at a rapid pace. However, the administration (in this case a governing system deeply infested with corruption) is unable to keep up with the progress the people make. So what does this mean for the average Joe like me? One word - Struggle.

There are no free lunches in life but India takes this to a different level. There are so many of us that everything is a rat race - even if you win it, you're still a rat. The average man on the Indian streets strives to work in the big cities. When he makes it he realizes that he can't afford the basics of life - housing is expensive, public transport is stressful, oil prices (though subsidized) are unreasonable and what makes things worse is the complete incompetence of administrative authorities. The great 'metropolis' (more like mega slum) of Mumbai comes to her knees every monsoon. Delhi is synonymous with crime and Calcutta with prostitution. India's silicon valley is sinking under it's own pressure and the most educated state is bound by communist shackles. Bihar is two generations behind the rest of the country in progress and 20 behind in terms of law enforcement. Biharis who migrate to Mumbai are kicked out because the locals are threatened by their laborious and hassle free attitude.

If all this wasn't bad enough comes the big T word. Our friendly neighbors breed a mindset of hate and violence and happily send their products to our shores and mountains ever so often. 10 men walk into the financial heart of the city and cause mayhem and its a big deal. A soldier dies every two hours at our borders and that's not "juicy" enough for the media to report. Why? Is his life less valuable than the business tycoon who chose the wrong hotel to spend time with his mistress in?

This is the tip of the iceberg, a sneak peak at Pandora's box. What lies beneath is a country ridden with poverty, corruption, overpopulation, illiteracy and crime. Where human life is so abundant it is no longer valued. Where cricketers and politicians are God and the rest must fight to live.

This country is also giving birth to the new Indian. The Indian who dares to ask, who dares to stand for his morals, who refuses to be a silent spectator of the system, the Indian who rises above sectarian and religious difference and takes an oath to make a change - no matter how small. That Indian is the face you see in the mirror...

Expression

In an era where technology has practically intruded every aspect of our life, I wonder if I belong to a generation that is obsessed with the urge to communicate to a bunch of people who want to be left alone. Does anyone really want to know what kind of coffee I'm drinking or what I'm working on? Is 'networking' the new 'intruding'? Is this phenomenon a result of smart business sense and increasingly lonely individuals? The world shrinks at a rapid pace - as do the resources we have. It's easier to contact another human being than ever before and yet the urge to do so seems to have all but vanished.

In a superficial world, one feels the need to recognize relationships that matter and protect them. After all is said and done, all a man is left with is that what matters to him.