PIOs bursting with pride

The current debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported observation that Indians abroad (persons of Indian origion or PIOs) were ‘ashamed’ to identify their roots, and presumably, not anymore, and whether he ‘insulted’ the Indians in general by making this claim, has become contentious and may be never-ending.

A better way to approach the subject would be to debate when, if at all, they felt ‘ashamed’, and when and why they began to feel ‘proud.’ The émigré Indians, from different regions of India, left the shores for varying reasons and made their homes in different societies. Even the length of their migration has ranged from first generation to many. So, there are no set yardsticks to measure their sentiments.

But it is known that what held them glued to their ‘motherland’ was sentimental, cultural and, may be, economic, if they left properties that still interested them, and of course, their kin. Their state of mind regarding India is determined by the level of happiness and achievements in their chosen homes, the news of how well their kin back in India fare and the ‘news’, mostly conveyed by the Western media, that is traditionally negative – droughts, disasters and sectarian violence.

The “India success” was rarely the news during much of the last century. Hence, the “Pravasi” Indian was often distraught about this type of news. The visiting Indian would often be lectured on how India should govern itself by an Indian American or an Indian-Briton, who saw and experienced development and prosperity first-hand.

Perceptions began to change only in the last decade of the last century with economic reforms and slow trickling out of India’s success stories. They transcended the “Purab Aur Paschim” sentiment and transformed into modest confidence of “Namaste London.” The two films, four decades apart, made with similar themes, exemplify the changing mood and image of India abroad. Modi may be partly right when he makes his claim.

But it is not the coming of his government last year, as he would presumably like to project. And if he and the Bharatiya Janata Party are alluding to, with a good measure of justification, to the scams and scandals that dotted the UPA-2, they should also accept a small measure of blame for playing them up for the media and for the political mileage they derived, to be able to come to power.

Undoubtedly, the scams, particularly a sport event like the Commonwealth Games, hit the Indian image badly, but they did not dent the overall success story of India’s economic strides, attracting investments and of the Indian abroad doing exceedingly well in the US, the UK and even gaining renewed acceptance in some African nations from where they were forced out by the “Africanisation” campaigns.

So, like it or not, it is Manmohan Singh’s reforms, unleashed under political ‘protection’ of P V Narasimha Rao, continued without much questioning by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that have made Indians abroad ‘proud.’ That Vajpayee conducted the nuclear tests that Narasimha Rao could not, also added to India’s image – even if the critics and peaceniks may slam it.

Any Indian visitor abroad does not any more get lectured on how India should govern itself. Not when Indian Prime Ministers sit on the global high table. Not when Manmohan Singh is called “economic wizard” and ‘guru’ by the likes of George W Bush, Clinton or Obama. And not when Modi attracts thousands wherever he travels abroad.

Over three million Indians are doing better than most in America. Canada has several lawmakers. At least ten ethnic Indians got elected to British Parliament, with an Indian-origin minister, a woman at that – all these stories speak of Indians doing well. And they have no reasons to lecture India.

Indeed, they have turned lobbyists for their respective countries for and in India. And that process did not start last year. Precisely for this set of reasons, Indians in India, or elsewhere, will take in their strides, without thumping their chests, the news of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal likely to throw his hat in the US presidential ring. He would be the first Indian-origin American politician to do so.

Jindal has vocally disavowed his Indian origin. He has de-hyphenated himself and calls himself an American. Son of parents who migrated from the Indian Punjab, and himself married to an ethnic Indian, he has moved on. He has reportedly embraced Christianity, but that should not matter to India that has been home to that faith for two millennia and has millions of Christians doing well.

Rather than be angry or disappointed with his stance, one must see that he has rationalised it. He is a smart young man who is politically savvy. He has won earlier by appealing for the Indian American vote. Now, he realises that this limits him when it comes to seeking a national office. He must grow out and project himself as an American. He may lose some Indian American votes, but he is obviously aiming at a much larger constituency.

It is far from clear at this stage if he will, indeed, enter the race. Only the future will tell if he will win the Republican nomination, which is mighty difficult with many Big Guns already or likely to join, the race. He was considered, but dropped, as running mate for the Vice President’s post in the 2012 race. He must now break the glass ceiling.

So, good luck, Bobby. India is more confident than it was when your parents left its shores. We will be happy and proud if you do cross all these stages and become the first ethnic Indian, after the first ethnic-African Obama, to be elected to be the President of the United States.

You will need to re-kindle your India connections then, if not for sentimental reasons than political and diplomatic ones, of ‘engaging’ with Indians. Ask Obama, who made friends with Modi. Ask Dubya Bush, who had no Indian ‘baggage,’ how he reposed his faith in Manmohan Singh to sign a civil nuclear deal. See the two movies mentioned above. We are sure you will return, like a prodigal son, American style, if not “Bollywood-ishtyle.”