For every expatriate, the miles magnify their love for home

For expatriates like me, love for India magnifies especially when you leave India

Well, what does being Indian mean to me? A feeling of belonging to a great country with a multi-layered culture, rich history, talented young generation and splendid natural beauty. A country of 1.3 billion people, many of them making a mark in different fields globally. A country that is a name to reckon with in the world. What I love about India and miss is its greenery, the flowering trees, the flowing rivers, the sea, the beaches and the mountains. And, of course, my friends and family with whom I have strong ties.

For expatriates like me, love for India magnifies especially when you leave India. Memories of the simple pleasures of life, the laughter of friends and family, loving neighbours whom you know by name, memories of exchanging food on festivals and special days despite being from different religions, and very importantly freedom of speech are special about India.

I recall celebrating India's Independence and Republic Days as a young girl. These were always special days in school and university. Everyone would arrive in school on time and in full uniform. There would be the flag hoisting ceremony and all of us would sing the national anthem with full gusto. There would be exhibitions where the heroes of the independence struggle were remembered. Black and white documentaries would be screened for us to understand the impact of the freedom movement. There was always a strong sense of patriotism. Moving on to university, wearing the sari, learning to cook spicy Indian dishes, and discovering its diversity was an adventure in itself.

I've been living abroad for the last 30 years of my life but what I learnt in India has been my guiding light. We were always told of how privileged we are and how we should share with those who do not have what we enjoy. For example, books would be passed down to younger siblings and cousins. I remember even cradles would be shifted from one house to another, which had been blessed with a newborn. Charity bazaars and visits to the homes of the less unfortunate were all part of growing up. Perhaps it was this upbringing that results in happiness and personal satisfaction while sharing what we have.

I vividly remember my visit to the leprosy hospital as a child. The inmates were so happy to see us. We danced for them at a function celebrating India's Independence Day. A humbling and priceless experience indeed!

Another vivid memory is the visit to the mental hospital. Some patients were chained apparently because of their violent nature, some were in cells. People who were working there were finding it hard to manage them. Also, remember visiting the community of fisherfolk in Chaliyar as a member of the National Service Scheme and interacting with young women who were divorced facing a bleak future. These interactions inculcated social responsibility and a deep understanding of how blessed we are.

As part of our course curriculum in university, we had to do rice cultivation. This experience changed my life in that my respect for the men and women who work in the paddy fields increased exponentially. Seed selection, land preparation, sowing the seedlings, watering them and finally the process of harvesting gave an understanding and wholesome respect for their toil. I learnt what it meant to work as a team and as far as possible, never waste even a grain of rice - a lot of sweat and hard work went into producing it. Loved the experience despite the sun-scorched skin.

When I was growing up, being a doctor or an engineer was the aim of most young children. The competition was so stiff, so much so that those who did not score high marks or clear the entrance exams were considered a failure. Times are changing now. There are more medical and engineering colleges and young people have so many options before them. They are so good these days that young minds even make the world's smallest satellites. There are many young entrepreneurs that India can be proud of. The talented and skilled youth of India are also its driving force.

Being Indian is the professional fulfilment while working on KT's India Independence Day special edition. It is my eighth year and my team and I take it as a personal mission to highlight India's achievements and achievers every year. We are two Indians, two Pakistanis, a Sri Lankan and a Bangladeshi - a multicultural team, each one contributing in their own way. There are dramatic changes happening in the country and very soon we hope it will emerge as the best in the world. Jai Hind!


suchitra@khaleejtimes.com
Suchitra is KT's Supplements Editor. She's passionate about work, art and photography

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