“SWADESH”...Ghar aaja pardesi tera desh bulaiee re…!!

With adorable scenery created in water, starring at the floating weather and enjoying the presence of divine beauty, Raj and his wife Tanu were sitting on the riverside of Lake Methews, California. She was sitting next to him with head resting on his shoulder; she was missing that peaceful silence which used to make her even more comfortable. Soon after this, Raj’s cellphone vibrated, noticing his mother’s call from India, Raj’s expressions changed from lively to morose and he switched off his cellphone. Yes, all relationships have their secrets, but most people never know them. But, they know that their spaces and gaps are the answers that have lost something all the way. Same was the situation with Raj, ‘Mom’, a name that he didn’t try to utter once after going to California and may be never again.  Looking at his body language, Tanu broke the silence. 

Tanu Raj, Raj: Yeah baby,  Tanu: May I ask you something ? Only if you don’t mind?, Raj: Yes bacchaa, please ask. And after few seconds, she replied: Raj, why do you hang your family’s call every time? Don’t you miss your mother? Don’t you feel contracted with California? Don’t you feel like taking me to your family? Don’t you miss holding your sister’s hand? Don’t you miss all the cultures and festivals which had those beautiful memories with you? Don’t you feel as a slave working for these MNCs? And don’t you want to work in Indian organizations which need people like you? Rather, don’t you miss India and those hearts which need nothing only you? She stayed quiet and looked at him with an urge to answer her. But, he was speechless and felt as if the answer had that deep, domestic and deadly vice. May be all those questions hastened him to decay the fact that he was an Indian. He had no answers because he was bonded in this culture and was certainly left alone, away from families, friends and lovable. Just too only satisfy that status quo of situations and cost analysis scenarios, he had no time for his family. Tanu had her answers in his eyes and she intended not to ask further.

PS: This was simply a part of conversation; the actual reasons that pull Indians to those unknown lands are as:

Logically, Life in foreign lands is very simple and straightforward.  People need to function with those foreign minds. No family issues and no headaches. Food is packed and ready to eat anytime and any day. Couples can live either separate or individual; there are no finance related tensions between couples.  Weekend offs and very limited leaves, work comes first. Time management in the American countries is very crucial. Work culture in foreign MNCs is more efficient and less ambiguous. Pay-scale is expandable. The presence of advancement and technologies deliver the set targets. Advanced educational and other amenities so, there is no looking back.  Life is set and people are tagged as NRIs. So, no poor existence of life…Life is grouped into ideas that don’t bugger with one another and is caught in only pyramids and triangles i.e. work.

Talking about India, it’s not an underdeveloped country, but the context of rich cultural norms and etiquettes connects with hundreds of emotions.  Yes, life here may be pathetic, but still we can shape our identities, influence our beliefs and decide to anchor something to someone we really don’t know. But for every individual in India, family is an important social unit, but still we love welcoming new member with that same zest and enthusiasm. Streets here are filled with those famous ‘ chat-  thelas’, but still we ensure that we eat something after getting home. We as married couples can share finances, but still we love life in 1BHK. Many leaves are guaranteed, but still we love to create few additional leaves for our besties.  Time management is not an element, but still we love to manage people more than time. Companies may not work in efficiency, but we have the right to work as individuals and not as machines.  Economic conditions may not be feasible, but still we can earn many things within those limited sums.  Advanced technologies may contribute less, but still we have technologies which give us the liberties to understand the importance of calling mother back, if late. Educational facilities   may not work well here, but still we have been liberal to share secrets and assumptions that have something to do with someone. Life here is not that advanced, but the aim of our living is not to control minds, but to experience those trapeziums of our livings i.e. emotions.

People in America, tend to work only 8 hours a day, say from 8 am to 4:30 pm. But, when we work 12 hours a day, say from 9 am to 9 pm, we still enjoy working more enthusiastically and you know why?  Because “Haryalii ki baat hi kuch aur hai”. This is Life……People in America, when go for a lunch break, grab only those artificial food stuffs made from breads and cookies. But, when we Indian’s  go for a lunch, mouth-lingering  lunch starts creating sensations before 1 and you know why? Because” Ghaar ke khanne ki baat hi kuch aur hai”. This is LIFE…..People in America, are given only few leaves. But, we Indians take leaves for many reasons, say Family leave , Illness leave, personal leave, Education Leaves of Absence with Pay, Parental Leave, Short Term Disability leave, funeral leave and god knows how many such leaves and you know why? Because “Binaa baat ke bhi leaves ke baat hi kuch aur hai”. This is LIFE……People in America, experience salary hikes after two months. But, when we Indian’s experience salary hike after 6 months, 15K seems far better than 15 Lakhs and you know why? Because “Paise milne ki baat hi kuch aur hai”. This is LIFE….. People in America, set targets and deliver required outputs. But, when we Indians set targets, we experience that internal willingness which was nil when we had our university appearances and you know why? Because” Binna padhe exams dene ki baat kuch aur hi hai”. This is LIFE…..!!

GHAR AAJA PARDESI TERA DESH BULAYE RE:-

Me and even thousands of others might be half-baked, but still will museum with the fact that I have a family, who is living for me and I’m living for them. If a mother like Raj’s mother calls him to hear him atleast once, then that guy has no right to terminate the call showing how busy he is. There is really a need to open up the skulls and fill in the facts that a mother cannot be alive unless and until she comes to know that her child had his lunch; a father cannot be alive unless and until he comes to know that his child have had enough money to survive; a sister cannot be alive unless and until she comes to know that her brother will be on time back for her wedding and a brother cannot be alive unless and until he comes to know that his brother is sharing an easy time in accepting new opportunities. What is the use of that social status, if parents are committing suicide at the age of 70s just because they wanted to have their children back in India?  The most ironic reflection taught in Indian values is, ‘Families, love and concerns cannot be purchased, rather they have got their own fantasies which can bring even a strong and deceased individual back to his universe’. Definitely foreign lands expand your opportunities, but they don’t guarantee you, your love and life which dated back years.