If you are tired of the phrase “Athithi Devo Bhava”, you are a new age Indian. You are highly westernized and proud of it. So, Amir Khan’s campaign must irritate you no end.
But, I have noticed that without the elaborate phrases to remind them of their duty, the western world still welcomes its visitors with enthusiasm and does everything to ensure their safety, security and welcome. If we must be westernized why are we not more polite to our visitors and more welcoming?
I remember on one visit to Berlin, my husband and I lost our way. We were wondering how to get directions from people who spoke only German and we spoke only English. We approached an old lady walking her dog (she was the only human in sight) with a query –”Madam, do you speak English?” When she nodded and said “Little” we were thrilled. “Madam, we are lost. Can you tell us the way to ________street?” The little lady did not know the road and was so upset about it that she repeatedly begged our pardon and started looking all around trying to find someone who could help us. Her distress was so apparent, that we felt grateful to her and quickly assured her that we would find our way. Needless to say we found our way with help from other walkers on the road a little further down, but her obvious desire to help visitors to her country was overwhelming. That is the western world for you.
On the contrary I remember an episode in Trivandrum, Kerala, when I wanted direction to reach a tailor’s shop. I was new to the state and had no idea how to get anyplace. The shopkeeper whom I asked, told me with a straight face that if I would but walk a few steps down the road he was pointing, I would find a tailor. I took the road with a quick thanks. The road led to fields and more fields, till I had exhausted myself walking down the meandering path in the hot sweltering heat and returned to the point from which I started, fuming and fretting. I found the shopkeeper, slapping his thigh and having a good laugh with a couple of friends at my expense. In fact, he could hardly stand for laughing. That is India for you.
Campaigns like the one Amir Khan has taken up are necessary for the Indian public. They do not know distinctions between simple fun and gross misbehavior. I personally would welcome an intensification of the campaigns and more participation from the public in enforcing discipline among the errant members of society.
