The most ironical fact when we meet our NRI relatives and friends is that they are talking about the sad state of affairs in India especially when it comes to traffic, cleanliness, bureaucracy and food amongst other problems.
Fortunately or not, I have had my share of interactions with NRI’s due to the nature of my job and also due to the number of my friends and relatives who now live abroad. This cribbing is by far the most irritating aspect common amongst most 1st generation NRI’s. In fact I truly believe that “I” should be taken out of their classification (NRI) as some one who has lived in India, studied Engineering, Medical and Management at dirt cheap rates in India is now building up a foreign economy by contributing there as a consumer and as somebody who is providing services outside India because of the education that he/ she received in India. On top of that he is paying taxes to the government there and his income is used to build up that foreign land and none of it is contributing to the Indian economy and building up our wonderful country. If at all someone has a right to question the system effectiveness it is only some one who is building the system and not some one who is only using the system.
So NRI’s have no contribution in building up our economy as they are not paying direct or indirect taxes in India so they have absolutely no right to use whatever India has to offer, leave alone criticize it. These NRI’s can at best be called as tourists and welcomed as one. Just as I cant go to Turkey or Thailand and criticize their country for lack of civic amenities these guys can't do that in India.
There are two exceptions here, especially NRI’s from Kerala/ Punjab who have their families in India do remit money for their families helping Indian economy in the balance of payments (BOP) and supplying us with enough foreign currency through remittances to their own families, this aspect is deeply welcomed by the government of India. The government also supports and motivates NRI’s looking at business investments in India and is providing preferential treatment to NRI's looking at such opportunities in India.
The second group could be NRI’s who have always lived abroad and have been born an bred on foreign bread and have studied there as well, atleast such NRI’s do not have the sort of negative impact on India that the other set has as they have used all benefits that the government has provided and the time for payback came in these guys always took the easy way out (Brain Drain).
As they said in my favorite film RDB”Koi desh perfect nahi hota, usse perfect banana parta hai”
Hi Rohit, These are very interesting topics to read about. I have been a part of the foreign land only for two years now and not sure for how long I will be. I love my country and no other nation can take that away from me. But when you see these other nations, you do feel that India lacks very basic amnities for example and you pointed out - cleanliness. Why cant the govt put together a programme just to educate people in something as basic as cleaning their own country. People keep thier houses clean but not their streets. It is indeed very ironical But I understand as I have been brought up in india. But again these same people do not dirty the streets of other foreign lands that they go touristing. When I 'visit' my country, I feel very very proud but not proud enough when people throw garbage out of their houses on streets. I wish to claim to be from a developing more civilised India. I want more people to visit India and be mesmerised by an ever exotic feel and warmth it has to give.
ReplyDelete'Just for a perspective' :)
Na Ratika
ReplyDeleteI dont feel that India is the best place to live or is the cleanest place, but for ppl who do nothing for the country, they have absolutely no right to speak about it, as by not contributing to the country in anyways they are contributing to the problems of our country.