‘Atithi Devo Bhava,’ has now become a common slogan to welcome the tourists coming for Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi. With foreigners arriving here in magnanimous proportions there is sudden change in behaviour of our political leaders as well. Everyone seems to be preaching good manners for the sophistication of the Games’ visitors. I even heard that street beggars of Delhi were taught how to ask for daily alms in English. That was little too much. So, the bottom line is that our so-called Atithis (foreign guests) would be a pampered lot during these Games. That’s understood because of the kind of foreign revenue we will generate through them. I understood the manners part but what if a foreigner misbehaves with the locals in Delhi? Is there someone looking into this matter? I am asking this because last week I experienced something that somehow left me in a very bad taste.
Last Sunday I went to nearby Ambience Mall located on National Highway-8 for some home shopping. This mall is in proximity to Delhi-Gurgaon border and is a mark of India’s raging mall culture. That day I saw lot of foreigners strolling around in the mall with their families. It was an expected sight because of upcoming CWG 2010. Showrooms after showrooms, I surfed the place like a maniac. I got tired afterwards and headed towards the fifth floor which has the Food Court and Fun City. Here also both these places were flooded with foreigners. Fun city is a recreational zone which for me is a must-visit place. I make sure that I spend my hard-earned money carelessly every time I come here. You can play numerous fun games here and in return will get few ‘Tickets’ that are redeemable for some consolation prize. So here I was standing in the queue with my ‘Tickets’ looking for a nice bargain. In front of me there was a punjabi lady standing with her kid. She was standing behind a Chinese man who was little uneasy with the way she was moving.
This guy suddenly yelled at the lady, “Will you give me some space, why are you PUSHING me.” I am not pushing you”, the lady replied. Now here I am not sure whether she pushed him or not, but I must say she was replying politely and I never saw her pushing either. “She is not pushing you Sir and please don’t make fuss out of it,” I intervened. “No, see I have this much space and I can’t move,” he said pointing downwards. To be accurate he had enough space for a grown up man to dance in front of him, but was still cribbing. “Sir, please she has not pushed you. I am standing just behind her. So, please calm down,” I told the Chinese man. “No, You people have no manners, you just PUSH and have no patience,” he said. The lady by the time had now really lost her patience, “Are you okay,” she asked. “Nooooo! I am not okay, you pushed me like this,” he said while making gestures. Soon the lady’s husband, a well-built Sikh man, arrived into the scene and inquired about the incident. “Aye mainu bolda paya hai ki maine isnu dhakka maarya, maine dhakka kadon marya, jhooth bolda hai (This Chinese man is accusing me of pushing him. I have not pushed him. He is lying.),” the lady told him in Punjabi dialect. “What is your problem?” Sikh man asked the Chinese angrily. “She is pushing me and I have no space to walk,” the Chinese was adamant. The Sikh literally had a scuffle with the Chinese man but the people around them made him go away. “Let him go Sardarji he is a foreigner,” people standing around persuaded him somehow. The Sikh moved away and said, “F**K Y** A** Hole”. “Hey do you listen to that people. He used the F word to me. That’s great. This is how you treat people here in India. WHERE ARE YOUR ETIQUETTES?” he yelled hysterically at everyone standing around.
After few minutes everything was back to normal but I was still feeling insulted as an INDIAN. The Chinese man was teaching us manners, but I say WHERE WERE YOUR MANNERS, Mr Atithi (Guest). He was talking to a woman in a most disrespectful way. I accept he had the full right to condemn the abusive language the Sikh man used against him. But one must not forget that he only provoked him by misbehaving with his wife. The good part in this whole episode was the indulgence of other fellow Indians who made it a point that the foreigner must not be hurt. Can’t he see the good side of us Indians? Or was it an on purpose act to disgrace us. I must say that the way he was treated was much better compared to how we Indians are treated elsewhere in the world. One can read newspapers of past few months for a quick reference. In the end I must say that these Games’ visitors should have little respect for what we are. I know we PUSH, we are little short of good habits and we dirty our surroundings. But that’s how we are and they (foreigners) should accept us like that.
VIKAS SHARDA
