“Indians behave in an unhygienic, uncouth, and disgusting way only while they are in India. They do so because every one else does so. When they go abroad, they automatically become clean and sensible and don’t litter the streets like they do in India. It is just a matter of education and a sense of responsibility”
I Beg to Differ.
I have heard this saying so many times in the past that I don’t pay much attention to it. I do accept the fact that Indians behave more civilized when abroad, but I never was able to fathom why not behave like that in India. Well, today morning, when I read the very same statement again, I realized why.
Indians have a flair for hype. Watch any Bollywood movie, where a hero punches a villain and the villain flies off into the distance, and you know for sure the yarn spun into the tale. Indians love ‘masala’, Indians love to show off, Indian love to show themselves off as being different and greater than their friends.
And that stems this change of attitude when abroad.
So, how are Indians introduced to the foreign life? Have you ever had a rich relative from Singapore or Dubai who has told you that there are camera in every street corner? Have they told you that if you make a traffic violation, or if you litter on the streets, then a hidden camera would take your photo and a ticket will appear at your doorstep through mail the very next day? Have they hyped up the very fact that there is zero tolerance for lawless behavior abroad and this has left an indelible fear or doubt in your heart?
Or how about this – have you seen films, where the comedian throws a chewing gum wrapper on the street and is immediately taken in by cops who teleport out of nowhere and beat the chap black and blue leaving him in only his striped underwear?
Such stories and filmy scenes are the ones that tune the mind of the majority of Indians. There are laws in India and abroad, but violation of laws abroad land you in the police net, whereas violation of laws in India are done by heroes, or ones who rough up the police should they interfere. So then, the Indians violate laws back home because they are not afraid of the law, whereas abroad, they sure as hell are. That is how they have been conditioned to think.
And then I have heard of incidents where Indians living in Little India, in Singapore, make a damn mess of the place during their celebration and festivals, probably as a way to sympathize with the living conditions of slum dwellers in Dharavi, Mumbai. When the flock gets together and have numbers on their side, herd mentality sets in.
So, to drive sense into Indians, education is not enough. Strong, strict and harsh policing is necessary. When there is damage to a persons wallet(heavy fines), or to his self-esteem(public humiliation or arrest), then, and only then, is sense driven up into the upper portions of the human body that can assimilate this information.
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One Comment
Actually…. I recently discuvered that its not just Indians…everyone needs rules. It is just that people living abroad have been exposed to these strict rules from a long time and have been conditioned in that way. They would also like to break rules. But they follow it because they are also scared of the policing.
So it holds good for everyone.
But of course….when there are strict rules…and when everyone follows…we have much less chaos …so I vote for it.