The immodest Indian

Disclaimer: I have not had the privilege of reading Dr. Amartya Sen's master piece and I have no idea what Dr. Sen talks about in the book. But, this article is not about the book, and other than the title, it does not borrow any inspiration from it.


Remember the Reader's Digest poll which rated Mumbai as the worst behaved city of the world? I was among those who rejected the poll as ridiculous and believed that with the values instilled into us from our childhood, nothing could be more distant from truth. But, the last three months at Parsons Brinckerhoff has forced me to change my opinion. Here are a few incidences:

When was the last time you remember washing your own coffee cup? I haven't; at least for a year. But, today, in the washroom, I was completely stumped when I saw Peter washing his own coffee cup before returning it to the pantry. Okay, good question!Who's Peter? Peter Wright, the Project Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff for DIAL (Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd.) project is an Australian expatriat, around 60 years of age. And yup, I call him Peter - not "sir", Peter. Same is the case for Saskia, Cliff, Thongchai, Gita, Andrew, Eric, Michael, and all the others. But, with the top Indian bosses, "sir" is the word. And yup, they prefer to ring the pantry guys to serve them coffee (or tea). Washing cups? You gotta be out of your wits!

My work at Parsons primarily involves drafting letters and doing a few Change Orders (don't bother thinking, even I do not understand what they are). What is not part of my job profile (and what I do more than what I'm supposed to) is searching and finding various correspondence on an issue. Now taste this, 3 months and I'm still waiting for a "thank you" from any Indian even 5 yrs senior/elder to me. What I've got though are a few brickbats for not having done what I was instructed to (at a couple of times, this was followed by a quick reminder -not apology,reminder - that I was asked to look for something that was never there). On the other hand, the expats throw in so many "Thank you"s and "I will greatly appreciate"s that I start feeling embarassed. Its not that they are bound to express gratitude, nor do I say that it forms part of the "good manners" we were taught at primary school, my only logic is that it makes me feel good when someone uses those words. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction for two reasons, one, doing my work well (although, as I mentioned, this is not part of my work profile but, I cqn never be satisfied with it...never!) and two, helping someone do one's work well. Unfortunately, Indians have not been kind enough.

Shouting inside the office premises for work undone or maldone (I'm pretty sure the two terms don't exist, but, can't think of anything better,please bare with me) is a common site at the DIAL project office. And, who makes the most noise? Yup, unsatisfied Indians. Indian bosses show no restraint in venting out their sweet words, be it a compatriot or an expatriat facing their wrath. On the other hand, when I goof up and its an expat I have to face, I'm sure to be told "not to panic" or that "mistakes are a part of learning" or that I'm "getting there". Who minds a boss then?
I may be completely wrong in my assessment in this entry, it might just be that co-incidentally, with Indians, i was always at the wrong place at the wrong time and vice-versa for the expats. But, trust me, one thing that I now understand more than ever is - why do people refrain from returning to India once they leave it? Brain-drain, or whatever it be termed,cannot be stopped only by a booming economy. What is needed is that, as Indians, we learn to be more modest and encouraging.

India Win NZ test series 1-0 and not 2-0

Okay...so Dhoni didn't declare on time...yet again!Or at least that is what our revered ex-cricketers and innumerable cricket commentators will want us to believe.Lets look at a few comments:

1. "When you're winning, crush the opposition..hold them by the throat...scare them for the next time...that is what West Indies did...that is what Australia do.."-Kapil Dev

2. "Dhoni has done what he did against England, to the same result." - Ravi Shastri

Agreed, both comments are succinct and precise...but, wait a minute, lets try and be a little more objective. What were the circumstances before the decision?

1. Throughout the series, but for the T20 matches, India were clearly the superior team.

2. India were leading the test series 1-0 with a comprehensive victory in the 1st test and saving the 2nd test following-on owing to some brilliant performances by Gautam Gambhir, and the oldies.

3. The third test is in Wellington, "the Basin", known for its winds and unpredictable weather.

• The test starts with predictions of rain on all days, especially the final day (I am not sure of latter fact but, this what I've gathered from the columns and for once, I believe the stalwarts on face value).
• Curator says, anything above 250 in any innings is bound to be respectable. India score 379 in the first innings, thanks largely to the tail-enders - clear indiacations that the curator was right. NZ was rap(p)ed (up for 197) by ZaK and company in a mere 65 overs, in the first innings - curator proved doubly right.
• India bat the last session of Day 2 and the entire Day 3 to gain a mammoth lead of 523 with Yuvraj and Dhoni on crease. Bad light stops play early with a minimum of 21 overs left for the day.
• Day 4 starts 30mins early, Dhoni doesn't declare. India bat 10 overs, adding another 30 odd, Dhoni doesn't declare. First hour ends, India has added 50 odd in 12 odd overs, Dhoni doesn't declare. An hour and half and 18 overs gone, India extend the lead to 617, Dhoni Declares! Oops! Wrong timing! Too much time gone!

Or is it? Lets look at a few more points.

1. History:

• Less than two years back, the world champions made a formidable 434 in 50 overs. Result: they lost.
• Less than 6 months back, the world champions pose a similar score as target, but this time in the fourth innings of a test match in their backyard. Result:the same.
• Same day, a team called India make 387 in a fourth innings at the loss of just 3 wickets to win a test match.

NZ may not have done any wonders in the entire series but, what if they pulled off a blinder in the 170 odd overs India were supposed to field?

2. The weather:

• What if there were no bad-light on Day 3 and Dhoni played the remaining 21 overs on that day and declared?
• What if it had started raining an hour early on Day 5 (before Sachin Tendulkar's magical spell)?
• What if rained an hour later (after an Indian victory)?

A third innings declaration on the 3rd day can never be regarded late then, what's wrong if Dhoni consumed those overs on the next day?Or was it his fault that the implementation of day-light saving was stopped in the middle of the test match?

And the rain was unpredicatable...absolutely. No meterological department in the world can predict it with an hour's accuracy, then why blame Dhoni?

True the result was supposed to be 2-0 and not what it reads now. But, we still won the series and with all due respect to Kapil Dev, we did "scare NZ", go and ask Danniel Vettori or Kyle Mills. Please, let Dhoni be the way he is. Do not force your decisions or opinions on him. Yes, training helps, but not at the stake of losing ones natural gift. We spoilt Irfan Pathan, let us not do the same to Dhoni. He's given Indian cricket what it hadn't experienced ever - the belief that we can win every time we play.