Nationalist colours amidst globalisation

Blog XIV of Thirty Days – Thirty Blogs series

In this era of globalisation and alien naturalisation, it is surprising and sometimes funny to see in how many different ways, nationalist colours are manifested. Here’s a brief compilation for Indians:

• Listening to Indian songs especially old ones while at work or during nightly project submissions.

• A funny yet warm sense of recognition on seeing another desi.

• Craving for Indian food especially the junk types at unearthly hours.

• Taking video of your first preparation of gulab jamuns.

• Performing puja and celebrating Indian festivals.

• Using Indian flag for your user icon.

• Touching feet of your Chinese professor as a mark of respect.

• Catching up on the latest Indian movies and then playing the songs on a loud volume to let neighbours know.

• Playing cricket in parking lots and living rooms.

• Checking cricinfo for latest Tendulkar scores.

• Speaking in one’s mother tongue on the first available instance.

• Using bharatmata to make calls back India.

• Attending A R Rahman concerts on weekends.

• Preferring Maggi noodles over Top Ramen (even though Maggi is not an Indian brand).

• Lamenting about dismal state of Indian football (read as soccer) team amidst World Cup soccer tournament.

• Adding Garam masala in pretty much any preparation.