How Can We Embrace Our Indian Identity Beyond Regional and Religious Labels?

Dear all,

An American visited India and went back to America where he met his Indian friend who asked him, "How did you find my country?" The American replied, "It is a great country with a solid ancient history and immensely rich with natural resources."

The Indian friend then asked, "How did you find Indians? Indians? Who Indians? I didn't find or meet a single Indian there in India. What nonsense? Who else could you meet in India then?" The American explained, "In Kashmir, I met a Kashmiri; in Punjab, a Punjabi; in Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala: Bihari, Marathi, Marwadi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayali. Then I met a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, a Jain, a Buddhist, and many, many, many more. But not a single Indian did I meet."

Think it over! This is how outsiders perceive us! It is a joke, but then it is not a joke! Let us all start by becoming INDIANS first and foremost!

Jai Hind.

I think this has to do with where you are when the question about your origins is asked. I am sure if you ask an Indian outside India about where he is from, he would say he is an Indian. But if the same question is asked to him inside India, then he would mention his region or state. The American in the story (if it's a real one) would behave or answer the same way if asked the question about his origins inside America.

Always, I'm proud to say I am an Indian.