I HAVE A DOUBT..Am I really an Indian?

I’ve never realised before, that I am accidentally an Indian! Born, grown, lived life in a place I called Home- Manipur. Never had I thought that I would be going deep down south of India until I had to, as Jobs are like “water in sahara desert” in Manipur.

Well..here I am.. on my way to Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.There was a Mallu guy(from Kerala -for those who came in late) sitting in front of me with his thick moustache. He started talking to me, asked me where ’am headin’, my name, meaning of my name, purpose of my travel...blah! blah!..his mouth keeps flapping shooting out questions after questions for me. But there was one question that doesn’t go down well with me. The question he asked me, after I told him that ‘am from Manipur, was "IS MANIPUR IN JAPAN?” I paused for a minute and asked him” ARE YOU AN INDIAN?”, he scoffed unbelievingy and said “..of course I am.” I added “IF YOU ARE AN INDIAN YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ITS DIFFERENT STATES,THEIR CAPITAL CITIES, WHICH I KNEW AND LIVED WITH IT. YOU SOHULD BE ASHAMED TO CALL YOURSELF AN INDIAN, NOT KNOWING YOUR OWN COUNTRY WELL AT ALL”. I think he was morethan satisfied with my patriotic(?) answer, I haven’t heard his flapping mouth till I reached Chennai. Whew! What a relief!

Another episode awaited me, at first I don’t have the slightest idea that It was referred to me. While commuting on buses, local trains or while taking a walk I heard children playing on the streets or the guy sitting in front of me sniggered and heard them say from by back “Nepali”.... Ouch!! That hurts!!...I took it as a humiliation, the humiliation that nobody would give a damn! To my fellow Indians I am a Nepali,Chinese/Chinky,Japanese,Koreans but not an Indian. I celebrate the Indian independence day too, Republic Day as well! Studied Indian history, I played Cricket too...well! sometimes.. What did I do to get alienated from my fellow Indians? Nothin’ at all... Nothing that you and I would know.

Now I remember... After crossing the last North Eastern state, there is no resemblance in color,height and what not. And the food we eat is not at all similar, not even close!...We dressed Hollywoodly while you dressed Indianly. Especially in Chennai, I am a Foreigner, the place, people and most of all- the language, where Hindi is not much used...not that I'm well versed in Hindi. But ‘am all praise for the people, they are good, helpful and.. .well! let's not get into that.

Wait a minute! Maybe..No! not maybe!..Surely!.. I am not an Indian. All Indians are not my brother and sisters! How can I always be alienated from my own countryman if ‘am an Indian? For those who abuse us, for those who don’t want to recognise us,treat us as their own countrymen, For those who called us names, For those who threw us lewd comments from our back,F or those who discriminated us in every possible way, Can I ever open my arms and say "Namaste! Fellow Indians, give me a hug, we are one". NO! Not at all..! Never!

Indians might have made a ruckus, a hue and cry when they are facing discrimination in Australia, what's so different from your Hometown.. your own backyard? I asked you Hindustan Walo! You did the same in your home too...To us - The proud Mongoloids of India. May be I should shout and say “Hi.. My dear Australians, keep doing whatever you are doing..you did good.. you did good..keep rocking. Fcuk them up!”, but I wouldn't. May be.. this should be my line.... "Bloody Accidental Indian! " he! He! He! Sic!....