The NRI Returns

The Prodigal NRI returns

It’s the annual migration back to Punjab, they come back in droves and come to visit Punjab to soak the old achy bones in the sun or just attend weddings and be in the pind building a mammoth mausoleum that is a teaser for the village folks here who keep on thinking the grass is indeed greener on the other side. Over the years the hordes of phoren Punjabis who come back are all affiliated to some kind of religious dera. These deras that are all headed by a Sant all explaining the written religious word have become centers of immense power and can influence sections of society either way. Coupled with the large NRI population they all wield a lot of power over the population.

The NRI couple that comes back is so distinct and identifiable; they all have a slight puzzled bespectacled look on their face, carrying a black bag that always has all the important papers, tissues, the paracetamol 500 and the hand sanitizer!

They make a sweet couple, for they remember and cling on to the old values of the Punjab they left for the west for making a living. Not realizing that we also moved on and life changed here. They complain about the dust, the rising prices, and the garbage everywhere and that life was “ nice” way back. The habit to compare to times of the past and to say oh things were so cheap way back and now the prices are so high. My city has the largest number of NRI population and they all are here, driving the prices high, supporting the fashion industry, every store in town and can be spotted a mile high, holding the water bottle in hand, a large oversized bag, the smart phone and the hair that is piled way too high. She always has her nails done in a bright way with a pattern on one of them and she knows what she wants with to –do lists and cuttings and print outs all that are close to the Bollywood actresses outfits. This is one of the bibis, who stocks up on her annual stock of bindi, bangle, jutti and her favorite boutique suits so she can wear the path wala suit, evening wear one, wedding one and the simple afsos wala suit. Ms.NRI always wants a suit that is different from the next lady and no one else should have it and did should be different. I mean, how many different ways can you spell different.

The NRI couple always is very particular about their medicine, which their GP had given to them. GP is the general practitioner to the un- initiated. They always take their malaria medicine; have one for diarrhea and the flu shots and a gel that cures every ache and pain given by the roads. I am ready to accept all their little nuances and their subtle behavioral traits but I draw the line when they start interfering in the politics of my home state. Why should they be an authority on my state? They moved away, they started living there, adopting the new country and its laws, constitution and also taking up citizenship there. But, then they still will interfere in what happens here. Yes, please give back to the country, the state but dont act as inflammable torches by inciting the public ! A section of the public that gets incited and instigated into thinking that a different state is the answer to all  our ills. To ask for utopia for us, but go back to one’s adopted country is not what we want . Come visit us , be positive in your contribution to our growth , buy as many clothes you want , eat as many gol gappas you want , eat the kulfi , do the religious round but don’t instigate the youth into the dark ages. If you do so , well come live here and be part and not take the next flight back home.

Be the son of the soil , dig deep and set roots and then claim .

PS: Dont misuse religion under the cloak of whiteness to confuse the next generation further.