I was at the airport of one of the big cities in India, landed at night and was waiting for the baggage to arrive. I was a little bit sleepy and was watching people. Many times it is a good time pass.
I was waiting in the belt for a long time and got little bit irritated. I was seeing few bags have been marked with a chalk with a "v" sign. I do not know what that means, but I presume that the customs officials mark it when they find something fishy on the scanner. I was thinking to myself, we are very good in marking these things in customs and we must have a good idea about what is coming in.
Before I continue my story, I must confess that I am not very clear about the formalities of the customs department. Are they responsible only for the items that are brought in which has a higher commercial value or they are also responsible for any security matters. But here I assume that they are responsible for both.
Ok, now back to the story. The man standing next to me was a foreigner, and beside him was my fellow Indian who was also impatiently waiting for his baggage. He seemed to be well educated and probably living in another country, I can say this because all these kind of people have a look on their face when they look at the fellow countrymen (May be I am judgmental here) for the sake of the story I will call him Mr. India
Well, the foreignere's bag arrived with a "v" sign on it; he took his bag put it on his trolley and started rubbing the mark away. He was looking sheepishly at both of us while he was doing it. Then suddenly Mr. India exclaimed, "Yes, do it well and make sure that you rub it away completely" encouraged by this comment the foreigner had now become bold in doing it.
Then Mr. India spoke again in an understanding manner "I hope you know what that mark is, I suppose you have been here before" for which the foreigner was giving an acknowledging smile.
I could see Mr. India was so proud; he looked at me and nodded his head understandingly. He was so pleased that he gained some brownies with an unknown foreigner; I think he felt like a good soldier who protected his King.
I was having many questions on my mind
1. Why are we so infatuated with pleasing foreigners?
2. What if that bag marked had something which could be detrimental to the security of this nation, do we have a concept of “Homeland Security”. If we are so gullible in pleasing others and make ourselves so vulnerable where are we going with all this? When will we change?
3. In the times of techonological advances why are we still using chalk as a marker? are we that poor?
4. Is education systems in India strongly promotes a worker mentality than social responsibility? or is it education or minset change that we need.
I was waiting in the belt for a long time and got little bit irritated. I was seeing few bags have been marked with a chalk with a "v" sign. I do not know what that means, but I presume that the customs officials mark it when they find something fishy on the scanner. I was thinking to myself, we are very good in marking these things in customs and we must have a good idea about what is coming in.
Before I continue my story, I must confess that I am not very clear about the formalities of the customs department. Are they responsible only for the items that are brought in which has a higher commercial value or they are also responsible for any security matters. But here I assume that they are responsible for both.
Ok, now back to the story. The man standing next to me was a foreigner, and beside him was my fellow Indian who was also impatiently waiting for his baggage. He seemed to be well educated and probably living in another country, I can say this because all these kind of people have a look on their face when they look at the fellow countrymen (May be I am judgmental here) for the sake of the story I will call him Mr. India
Well, the foreignere's bag arrived with a "v" sign on it; he took his bag put it on his trolley and started rubbing the mark away. He was looking sheepishly at both of us while he was doing it. Then suddenly Mr. India exclaimed, "Yes, do it well and make sure that you rub it away completely" encouraged by this comment the foreigner had now become bold in doing it.
Then Mr. India spoke again in an understanding manner "I hope you know what that mark is, I suppose you have been here before" for which the foreigner was giving an acknowledging smile.
I could see Mr. India was so proud; he looked at me and nodded his head understandingly. He was so pleased that he gained some brownies with an unknown foreigner; I think he felt like a good soldier who protected his King.
I was having many questions on my mind
1. Why are we so infatuated with pleasing foreigners?
2. What if that bag marked had something which could be detrimental to the security of this nation, do we have a concept of “Homeland Security”. If we are so gullible in pleasing others and make ourselves so vulnerable where are we going with all this? When will we change?
3. In the times of techonological advances why are we still using chalk as a marker? are we that poor?
4. Is education systems in India strongly promotes a worker mentality than social responsibility? or is it education or minset change that we need.
