- The mere reading of the subject statement would make any responsible citizen of the country feel cringe and embarrassed. Mind you, at the core of every citizen’s heart, one can be assured of nationalism, pride, enthusiasm, and a sense of supremacy towards our culture, tradition, heritage, and legacy. Of course, in a country like India, which is not only diverse, varied, and extremely divergent vis-à-vis language, region, ethnicity, religion, and beliefs, but also can be rightly termed as a vast nation holding within its belly several wonders. Moreover, the rich and ancient Indian legacy consistently evokes great interest among patrons who wish to experience it in large numbers. Hence, tourists from other nations flock here to soak in the unique offerings.
PC: Travel And Tour World
- As we know, tourism is touted as a great economic indicator for a reason, which not only brings in precious revenue but also helps widen our traditional legacy to every nook and corner of the universe. As such, every successive government has a responsibility to offer not only memorable experiences to visitors from overseas but also make them feel safe, secure, and valued. Remember, those visitors are our future ambassadors who are expected to spread a good word about Indian hospitality while visiting places of interest. Unfortunately, petty and narrow-minded thinking often clouds some of our people’s intelligence, while nationalism and a false sense of pride take over on matters like language, attire, and overall outlook.
PC: Deccan Herald
- As reported recently, an African national was humiliated in Delhi for not knowing Hindi. Such an act only exposes fellow Indians to similar abuse abroad. Surprisingly, right from the Mughal era, the British era, and now the Indian era, Delhi has been blessedly spared ‘sons of the soil’ chauvinism. It’s always been identified as a city of migrants, administration, and trade. Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and English have all functioned as its working languages, without anyone claiming exclusive ownership of the city. Two weeks ago, a BJP councillor played out a scene in a public park that undermines this cultural history. She threatened a children’s football coach that he would be thrown out if he didn’t learn Hindi within a month. Really?
PC: Hindustan Times
- It’s not just that her logic – to speak the Indian mother tongue since he is earning his livelihood here – is flawed. But imagine this kind of mindless malice spreading against countless Indian migrants, within and outside the country. That’s a depressing future. India’s diplomats are hard at work negotiating bilaterals that would allow our skilled workers and students to pursue global opportunities. If we berate foreigners for not acting Indian here, how do we expect patience and pluralism for Indians abroad? This asymmetry erodes India’s soft power and weakens its credibility in negotiations, which are already facing an arid climate. India is known for its ‘Athiti Devo Bhava’ philosophy for ages. Let’s stick to that rather than indulge in counterproductive chauvinism.
