Ask not what your country can do for you....

Hey guys... today's post is about a quasi offense endearment that our NRI friends seems to be having with the Indian union. Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) is a initiative started by Government of India (GOI) in the year 2002. Ever since every year in the first/second week of January we have this get-together of the Indian diaspora and cogitating on how to make the country better in major walks of life including how to make it an economic super power. Every year we hear GOI pointing out areas where in the Indian diaspora can contribute to the growth of their country and mostly it had just been investments in various projects that GOI plans to roll out.


All these years have created a monster ego in our NRI friends and they seem to have built this illusion of grandeur that PBD is a official platform for the GOI to remind the Indian diaspora of their Indian-ness and ask for investments. They have, over a period of time, got into the mindset that India needs them only for their money and somehow its crept into their psyche that they can act cocky towards GOI because according to them a major portion of Indian GDP is their FOREX contribution. I have happened to read certain comments on the web and it pained me that our NRI friends seemed to have a firm belief that India runs on the money they send and every Indian (including GOI) should forever be indebted to them for their generous contributions.


A certain Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Indian planning commission and a great economic mind, has very recently burst the bubble for them. NRIs were livid at him because single handed, he poked a hole into the argument that NRIs drive the Indian economy. If you read his credentials, you wouldn't doubt his line of argument and so I agree with him a 100%. He was showcasing India to the Indian diaspora and made a statement "The GOI does not not hold PBD as platform of raising investments, however if anyone feels their money is better invested in India and they get good returns then they can invest.. else they can pick their own investment destination". There was a huge outcry with many bruised egos calling for his dismissal as he took away the high pedestal that NRIs put themselves on and brought them on par with "normal" and "mortal" Indians. I, personally liked the line that GOI is taking with NRIs. For too long a time have they enjoyed this God like status and now they are made to realise the virtues "Country is above us all" and "if you don't invest in us, its your loss". I have nothing personal against the NRIs, I think its great that Indians have gone all over the world and made a name for themselves and for India. I only object when they ask "what has India done for us".


To all my NRI brothers and sisters, we as a country are proud of you and your achievements. You are a showcase of Indian talent and have done a huge plus for the country's reputation in the world but after all this, you are still not above the country. If India calls for your help, its your sacred and moral obligation to stand up for your country. People all around the world do this for their motherland and it doesn't matter how much you contribute.. its the intent we appreciate. Right now, India does not need your money.. we need your minds.. your expertise in various fields to build a strong and inclusive economic super power. So shun your egos and get to work. If the country calls, you have to answer and that rule holds to all us resident Indians as much as you all. It brings me to the famous line of President John F. Kennedy's address to the nation "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country".

So long........