How "Foreign"

One of the first things one is asked after returning home from a foreign country is what gifts he/she has brought. Barring apart the regular abroad farers who travel abroad twice a month, almost everybody makes sure; he has brought ample gifts with him. The gifts range from Chocolates to watches, perfumes, toiletries, electronics, clothes, even stationeries for the kids at home, and many other stuff that most of us have heard a lot. The people who receive the gifts always have wide smile on them while they mention it to people around them.

Now what is it about foreign stuff? Is it that all that is foreign is good and glamorous? One of the residues of the British rule is that the common man has lost self-confidence. This is not surprising since domination and slavery has this effect on the psychology. Because of these reasons, there is a lot of glamour associated with anything foreign - whether it is electronic goods and watches or degrees and education. Even though better alternatives and products exist in India, we demean it in comparison to a foreign one. For example, India is better in cotton and textiles, and the quality of cotton clothes produced in India is much better than in the US. Infact, the shirt which one may buy at American store may actually be an Indian or a South East Asian product. The electronics items sold in west are in majority of Chinese make these days. Yet, the guy wears his shirt written New York City over it, wears it much more proudly than maybe if a shirt had Jaipur or Kolkata written over it.

There is a huge craze over foreign degrees. Even though agreeably, the top US universities are much better placed than their Indian counterparts, people settle for even the second or the third tier of colleges in US rather than trying out the tier one in our very own country, maybe because a “foreign” tag stands out much more in our still erstwhile society. There is a lot of misconception in the society about what academics is all about. If you meet an American or European citizen somewhere, will you by default assume
that he/she is more capable than you? Hopefully your answer to this question is an emphatic NO! Intelligence, talent, capability of working hard, etc. are human values that are beyond race, color, cultural background etc. And one must have the self-respect to compete with the best in any field! And if one does not put oneself below anyone else, why should one hold our own Nation and its goodness in a lower esteem than other countries in the world.

Our society is still biased on narrow opinions and mindsets. Without knowing ourselves properly we tend to pursue all that glitters from the outset. No matter it was gold or not. If we do no know ourselves fully, how can we compare ourselves with others? Till then, are we not foreign to us own? Young people like us have to set a whole new trend in
this country - a whole new culture - a culture based on self respect, self confidence and the ability and hardwork to become the best in the whole world. If India has to truly shine, then it must shine based on a strong new generation!