Shalom!

Sundays are generally super lazy. It's the day when even God decided to rest. Sabbath.

Wake up at a leisurely pace. Head for a nice long drive stopping en route Madras Cafe or Mysore Cafe for super piping "dabra coffee" and set dosa with white butter. Yumilicious!

Today was no different. A little boy with a bugle in his hand was playing it loud and clear and off key for our brunch enjoyment. His parents were squirming and looked visibly embarrassed yet proud at the same time. You know the " oh my poor little brilliant child" look that parents generally have:)

Suddenly, something really funny caught my eye. The bugle boy's t-shirt.

"I have my dad's looks and my mom's brains" it read!

An MCP would say "that explains the behaviour"

A feminist would say "that's great. Is already showing signs of genius"

For me, I was just tickled. My funny bone was laughing its marrow out.

Great start to a Sunday funday I say!

Parents - Indian , Kids - NRI

The first thing that hit me-ABCD: American Born Confused Desi!

Its true, the poor kid has no clue-at home the parents are driving themselves crazy trying to “indianise” everything. Outside – the kids are exposed to a plethora of “firangis” with a completely “non-desi” agenda of their own!

How do these kids fit? Where do they draw the line between what is to be done and not?
What is the way forward? There are differences in every singular aspect of life-lifestyle,food,education,culture,clothes,language....the list is endless.

So who then decided for them-whats right and whats not?

Lets a take few real time examples- a recent one would be –Elesh Punjunwala-The NRI businessman from Toronto born to parents of Indian origin who travelled a million miles in order to woo Rakhi Sawant!!

Can’t get more ridiculous right? And why on earth were the parents so supportive?

Strange-perhaps because they were more than happy to see their son getting an Indian “bahu” than a “firangi” one. The lengths that human beings go sometimes to live vicariously.

As we are on the topic of Indian parents of NRI children, there is another quirk that these species possess. They are obsessed with everything Indian.

Festivals celebrated in the remotest villages of India will be celebrated with much pomp and splendour! They go ballistic over customs followed across varied religious sects of India.

They are gung-ho about Bollywood and how! Every actor and actress is taught to the NRI kids almost as feverishly as perhaps an SAT examination would be!

The kids watch all the flicks , sometimes without ever even understanding a word of what is being mouthed by our ”superstars”!

Every dance movement, every dialogue, every costume is replicated.
Bollywood dance and acting classes are a rage.

They come to India and go on this major trip showcasing ”incredible India” to the tiny tots who more often than not pretty much cant withstand the viruses and the pollution!

Now that we have got all their little craziness off our chest, lets look at the positive side of it all!

Lets admit it- NRI kids are smarter-better quality of life, better education, more worldly wise.

NRI kids are far more globalised in their outlook.

NRI kids learn the nuances of classic Indian art and traditions.

They are well versed with all our shlokas and traditions.

They are perhaps more Indian than all us “desi” bred put together.

They pretty much are conossiuers of everything Indian that they learn.

They celebrate all our festivals and spread the good word about us across the world.

So , lets put our hands together and applaud the good work. Lets appreciate the fact that they are “our ultimate brand ambassador”.

Hats off to the awesome parents who haven’t forgotten their roots and have made the world more informed of how culturally rich and diverse we Indians are.

Carry on the good work guys. Jai Ho!