Some gyan....

This blog is a bit preachy, and I'm in one of my Indian Thatha moods, so pls bear with me on this one! I have lots more to say on my trip, which, sadly, will continue......

My recent trip to Gurgaon has been an eye opener of sorts—seeing the place itself, for one.
For those of you who haven’t been to Gurgaon (pron. Good- gaon), it’s a place that seems to be simply out of place! It’s in Haryana, South West of Delhi. There are high rise buildings, and huge malls, and parking lots and the like. Roads are quite good, though traffic is nasty, and traffic jams are common.
“Ah! So much like abroad” is a constant thing you hear there, as many people are indeed foreign returns.
There is of course, one small problem that seems to negate all this development, though I never thought I would say this in my life- there are no autorickshaws! After haggling with, having cursed and in turn having been cursed by the fleecing autos (drivers, of course) of Chennai, I finally realized what they were actually doing to a city- providing a middle level mode of transport and helping people be mobile and self sufficient.
My brother in law took the only car to the office, and my sister and I were forced to use taxis- which were OK, but were not like call taxis- you had to hire them for a minimum of 4 hours. Cycle rickshaws were aplenty, but we were quite far from the malls, and it was uncomfortable to top it all.
Now Gurgaon seems to be the latest among the Delhiites as well, as the weekends in the Malls are filled wih people from there. It was great to see people enjoy themselves shopping, stopping for a cuppa at a Barista outlet, chilling out (Though I was asked at one outlet in a mall lobby to keep my chair inside the “circle” because that was all their jurisdiction was!) after paying ridiculous prices for everything.
Gurgaon is a big time BPO hub, and is growing tremendously because of this single industry. When we were young and just out of college, it was almost never the end of the road, or means to a decent income. Now, even kids pursuing their graduation are able to get enough money to pay their cell phone bills (which should be more than 5k, going by the number of people who speak on those ubiquitous instruments of human isolation). But seriously, a friend of mine waxed eloquent on how employers will have to diversify soon to keep their employers as it was never a good idea for someone who wanted to succeed in life to get into the BPO sector etc etc. I beg to differ.
What options did a person with a BA have earlier? Not many, I’m afraid. I still remember my parents trying to convince a friend to abandon the path of Economics as it would not yield much money if he did not study further. With girls, the situation is more complex.
With fathers trying to get girls married off before they are 25, they have even less number if productive years with them. Let’s not forget, inspite of hullabaloo over the independence of the girl child, most parents need to at least bear the cost of the marriage of their daughter.
Marriages which translate into a cost of not less than 3-4 lacs. There are still parents who are unable to get that money through their savings alone. Parents who sell their property, their shares, their jewelry to see this happen. Now, with the BPO sector, these very girls who end up feeling guilty for putting their parents through the ordeal can actually help out- they can help unburden their families, not just for the wedding, but even in the running of the household. And because they can start early, their productive years are indeed more than before.
In fact, an acquaintance of mine who is a domestic help, is putting her daughter through college, and is waiting for the day when she would bring home a good pay, so she can retire in peace. Ditto for sons of the strata who are in need of money, and not just feel that “extra money would be nice.”
Indeed, employment opportunities are there for the asking- but with a condition- command over English.
While the Government takes a “Bharatiya” approach towards a policy, it ignores certain factors that determine the efficacy of those policies itself. When the country is opening up, wouldn’t a more holistic approach work better? We are inviting foreigners into our country, while our Government- run schools are still teaching children in regional languages.
Of course, what works for Ram might not for Rahim, but English should not be a “subject” in schools. Jingoism is best left for societies that can afford them.
Consider this: a person who has studied in an English medium school throughout will stand a better chance of getting a job with an MNC or a BPO, regardless of the fact that he only needs the money to treat his friends in a Gurgaon restaurant, or that it is his pocket money.
So, as Gurgaon grows, let us think of ways to make this growth penetrate deeper into society. Let the Government provide training for working in the BPO sector, let them even give sops to companies who hire from the economically backward, while ensuring that it does not scare the companies away. Needless to remind ourselves, there are many countries close on our heels, realising the potential that English education has to offer. Countries that are hungrily devising plans to exploit any spillover, any goof up that India might make.

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While this was running through my mind, my sister’s friends happened to ask me whom I supported in the American elections.
This, I think, is where the litmus test lies for many Indians living abroad. While Bush comes across as being pro industry, Kerry has at least promised to look into the outsourcing issue.
To be honest, I was never too comfortable with Kerry. I have been following his stands on various issues, and am afraid he doesn’t come across as being genuine. Atleast Bush seems like he’s genuine- genuinely stupid, maybe, but genuine nevertheless!
Now, it would seem that from India’s point of view, Bush would be better than Kerry, because Bush would keep jobs coming to India, while Kerry would keep them from being exported. But in a paradox of sorts, most media in India is Anti-Bush, a phenomenon, my sister explained, that has a lot to do with the Iraq situation.
Herein lies the question: do you support Bush for he would help India indirectly, or Kerry, because he has declared that the jobs will stay in America? Of course, politicians are defined by their propensity to go back on their promises!
Is it not better for a country like India to put its interests in front of everything else? Isn't the anti-war demonstration really a demonstration against Americans dying in Iraq (because all said and done, Iraq was under a cruel dictator who had to go)?
The view may be termed shortsighted, but a major source of revenue for India is in business from abroad, be it manufacturing components, writing software or just taking customer service calls.
In the long run, the Democrat view may be closer to India's heart than the Republican. So whom do I really support?
It’s not easy this, being an NRI!!

PARDESI PARDESI AANA NAHIN

You distinctly realize you’re in the presence of an NRI (esp. one from the good ole US of A) when a person:

1. Is suddenly elevated from “Bhaiyya” to “Sahab” or “Babu” in the eyes of domestic help, while you maintain status quo or in some extreme cases, demoted to “Buntu” or worse…
2. When asked “How are you?” replies with a “Good” instead of a “fine.”
3. Tips generously no matter where he goes, so you are forced to follow his example, regardless of the exchange rate, and for once you wish you were a waitress or a taxi driver.
4. Has a perpetual smile on his face, and says “Thank You” for everything, making you feel like an uncouth gutterwala.
5. Painstakingly explains all relations to his children, while your children identify the same people by the toys their kids own.. eg: Barbie girl house, Remote Control Car house etc.
6. Who when faced with corruption or bureaucracy, takes one of two routes:
   A. Talks like he has never faced any such situation where he lives, totally ignoring the dirty looks you give him.
   B. Desperately tries to control himself from talking about how much things are better where he lives, so desperate that you can almost see those words emerging as sweat.
7. Is asked by your father advice on financial matters, ignoring the fact that the most important thing in the discussion- the finance- has to be provided by you.
8. He sparks off laughter by saying “I need some gas”, “Zip daala kya?” and confusion by asking at the soft drink counter, “What soda do you have?” or announcing at a friends’ gathering, “My favorite sport is football- the toughest game I know of”; and when handed quizzical stares, reacts as if he has no clue what went wrong.
9. Acts as if every second is important to him, never mind that he eats and sleeps all day. Every time someone is late for an appointment, he looks at his watch every 5 seconds, but as the days go by, starts going progressively late for appointments himself.
10. Looks over his shoulder whenever a childhood pal hugs him, hoping no-one else is seeing him. When he spots two guys walking with even the minimal physical contact, looks closely at them for other signs of gayness.
11. Is mathematically a dull head, but is amazingly well versed in the multiplication table of the current Rupee exchange rate (plus or minus one).
12. Expects status quo in the social mores of society, and time to stand still when he was away. Exclaims, “Girls go to the DISCO here?” or “Why are people dyeing their hair in India? Black hair is so beautiful!” as if these were prerogatives of his adopted country. Never mind that his wife’s hair is auburn.
13. For the definitive identifying factor, look for the man wearing shorts in the middle of winter, putting on a brave smile while his teeth are chattering. Listen closely enough, and you might hear, “This is nothing. Wahaan to it goes below zero.”
    
    Ah! The NRI species!