Please drop the show.

What is it with some of these people

Non Resident Indians 

Green Card Applicants

Newly flown countrymen

On groups one finds questions

'Is India safe to travel ?'

'Are facilities available in India ?'

'Are things available in shops ?'

These questions annoy me

Like no other 

For reasons stated

And I know not how better to explain.

India is safe as safe can be

Not as safe as Scandinavian

Safer than many who we always pray for

We have the best, good and the bad like any on earth.

Our capital cities are as safe as any big city in the world

Our tourist places just as friendly as others

You stretch out your arms to embrace

And you will get an embrace like no other.

No one talks of safety in other cities

Like gangs and guns in New York

Some street robbers in Paris

Few thieves in Rome.

Wherever one travels

One needs to take care

Of personal and possession safety

Like anywhere in the world.

I can understand people

Whose skin and hair colour is different from mine

Due to their ancestral genes asking this question

And am happy to answer and caution where required.

But it irritates me no end when asked by

Those of my colour and ancestors

Whose skin has changed by two shades in three decades

The acquired accent showing through at all times.

Acting as though they dropped on foreign soil by miracle

Asking these questions so blatant

Who do you think you are trying

To impress by your mockery and show.

You may no more swear allegiance by your erstwhile motherland

You may choose to say you don't remember

You may act as though you lived few inches off ground

When you lived here before.

You may have forgotten the road home

Your mind might have the picture of old

Of a nation that was building brick by brick

From the debris leftover by inhabitants from your current home.

But my dear, do not say you forgot

Your motherland and her lap

That nurtured you and nourished you with her soil

Whose chest you stomped, ran and jumped on.

Do not say you don't know

The sweet smell(manvasanai) of this land called India

Whose fruits you relished and ate

Where you dreamed your biggest dreams.

Your erstwhile mother as always proud

Of all her children near and far 

Stands tall praising your success and achievements

Happy in your happiness and glory.

 

So stop putting on a show

As though you are bigger better fairer

And come to see your erstwhile home if you wish to

Devoid of the snobbery and false show.

Or if you still think you are an other wordly element

Do go about how you wish

Please strut around in your own bubble

Because we are growing tired of your show.

Do not ever forget that I am here

One of many children who chose to stay

Build and rebuild to make better

A land for me and my brethren.

I will always welcome you my dears

To my heart and home, wide open

To listen, share and learn from experiences

To build a better home called Earth.

But also know that I will defend 

Tooth and nail my motherland that I adore

To protect her honour and her children

Who will stand tall forever and lore.

(Reminded of the song, 'Aye mere pyare watan' from Kabuliwala)