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Diaspora Disgust
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 The addicts of Jaal (all four of you) may be aware that a high level committee is touring various places including the United States to interact with the Indian diaspora to gauge their views on many things and it will present its considered report to the Government of India come September. It is only in the fitness of things that we undertook our own study on this and would like to give a peep to our well-wishers (of four of you, the rest wish we were in a well) before sharing the contents with the LM Singhvi committee.Jaal is overwhelmed by the responses from many members of the diaspora and a feeble attempt is made to assort them effectively. First things first - the arrival hall of the Indian international airports: Luggage need not be flung on to the conveyor belts which break down often along with the luggage flung thereupon. The trolleys can have wheels that move smoothly even if loaded fully without navigating on their own in a direction contrary to that which is the objective. The customs staff can afford to have at least a ghost of a smile if not a full grin while intimidating the arrivals with a withering look! After all we are Indians too and not everyone is cheating the country (and the customs guys manage their smiles for the politicians!). Accept, in good faith, our declarations, made in good faith. If we are to be charged for excess baggage or for some dutiable items, we are always prepared to pay the charges that are due and not what is not due. Don't think everyone coming in will have a bottle of whisky or two and you can help yourself freely to them as a quid pro quo. We also have tired wives and crying kids who have to be looked after even while you are haggling unnecessarily over non-existent contraband like the toilet paper you need to desperately (right then, in fact). Immigration chaps could do with some faster action and more courtesy and not invite their kith and kin to jump the queue without having some mercy for the sleepy kids/spouses after long hauls across various time zones. The taxi drivers need not imagine we are all babes lost in the airports and snatch our hand luggage even before knowing whether a taxi is needed. If a taxi is needed, astronomy need not be built into the fare demanded even if there is a prepaid system that seems to be the starting point for calculating the final fare. Next morning, with or without jetlag, can be pleasant if only the taps run water while turned on and the toilets flush. Walking on the roads need not be such a risky affair. We shudder to take to the wheel on the Indian roads (pardon us, we want to live and get back). When we want to register a property or sell another, we would like to do it with our own feelings, either joyous or sorrowful, and not pestered by touts or unfeeling officials. When we offer some donation to our alma mater or some other agency we would like to do so with humility and joy in sharing and not treated disdainfully. When we make some inevitable arrangements for parents or a single parent, we would like the senior citizen homes to be run efficiently and with possible care and concern allowing for individual needs which are specified in advance. We are aware our remittances also help in keeping the forex reserves buoyant and we would like that proper vigil is exercised that these reserves are not exploited by unscrupulous traders by underinvoicing and other malpractices, FERA FEMA, notwithstanding. We are also Indians and take justifiable pride in our roots and heritage but wait a moment - we all miss our ambience and togetherness. It is only necessity that has taken us away but we want to get back one day. We want to see a modern, caring, vibrant and forward looking India. Is that asking for too much? RECENTLY ON JAAL: Chitti Chitti Bong Bong Off Course Pol Poll: Are You A Neta Wannabe? The Raj Strikes Back The EMail Of The Species Kandahar Ka Kaana Raja The World Is Not Enough Back To Squire One Poll Gita Where There's A Bill, There's A Wait DotComs, By The Numbers GoI-ing After Veerappan The Bore-Gush Race Hack Attack! Eee! Governance! Justice Unbound Small States, Large Stakes Con Banega Crorepati Salesman No. 1 Cat And Meows 25 Years After Paswan Goes DOTty Child's Play Toilet Paper Drought And About Boer Boar The Joke's On You The Coming Of Bill T Kannan SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE: ?
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