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Through Indian Eyes
My husband and I were in India during the U.S. election. Of course we cast (so to speak) our Obama votes before traveling to India during the last three weeks of the campaign -- an insightful experience. We followed CNN throughout our journey, but we were more drawn to news from the BBC and local Indian channels.
Everywhere we went, from Mumbai to Jodhpur to Delhi, people were curious and engaged in our election, and everyone knew the players. They were all rooting for Obama. We met some corporate leaders who were concerned that Obama might cave to the unions and tighten up foreign trade, and some royals who were negative about anyone darker than they are, but men and women in the streets, no matter how humble, were rooting for Obama.
It was the first time in a long time that "I felt proud to be an American," to borrow words from our soon-to-be First Lady. The last time people abroad felt that kind of affinity with an American political figure was when John Kennedy was in office. I don't believe their support for Obama was just because his skin is brown like theirs. It is a combination of gravitas and spiritual calm that attracted the limpid brown eyes of a magical country. Ganesha is the charming elephant god that most Hindus hold sacred... as I visited shops to find the perfect one to bring home, one shopkeeper after another confided that our candidate Obama also has a Ganesha in his home.
As the results came in on election night, and tears of joy and hope streamed down my face, I realized that America had finally grown up. The polls didn't lie; we were actually achieving the divine state of color blindness. The window is open and we can grab opportunity, we can make changes, we can mature and we will be able to manage the crises of our modern society. The "me generation" doesn't work anymore. The new calling is for the collective consciousness. If one doesn't care about the common good and only focuses on their own greed, they will be hard-pressed to find comfort in this new era.
How perfectly curious it was to be in India during this historical moment. The myth about traveling there is that you will shocked by the poverty, but I'd traveled to Cambodia when Pol Pot was still lurking in the jungle and saw a civilization returned to the Stone Age by endless war. What shocked me in India was how joyful the citizens are. Their lives are tough, even for the rich ones. I felt an almost equal empathy for the Maharani I visited who lived in a gargantuan place crumbling around her, as I did for street people who pedaled our rickshaw. The spirit of the place is life-changing -- it gives you hope for all mankind.
When we landed at LAX after 26 hours of flying, L.A. looked sparklingly clean (I didn't know a Santa Ana wind had just come through). I practically kissed the customs officer and couldn't get a smile off my face. I remember when I was a child and my parents would travel abroad, they would tell me, "I kissed the ground when I came home." It has been a long time since I felt like that, but I do now. Our troubles are grave, but they are nothing when you look at the emerging nations of the world; it is a mind change that we need. We still have clean water and can breathe most of the air without fear of lung problems, and while our society tends to make wrong food choices, safe food is there for the buying. Unless you have traveled to India or China you have no idea how compromised these basics of life can be.
Everyone is asking, "What can I do as a citizen?" We are ready like we were for that one moment after 9/11 -- ready to follow a bold leader. At last we have one, and I believe that our collective consciousness will push us toward the sacrifices we must make to cure our ills. A beautiful man of color will lead us. My hand is raised, "call on me."
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Hi Lynda, thanks for the great post. I really admire the work that you do with your company. I am working on a project for a class that I am taking and I have an assignment to interview the head of a large company. I was wondering if you would be interested to meet with me for a brief interview? I can be reached by email at mdionne313@yahoo.com. Thanks,
Michelle
This is not what Mrs Obama said: I felt proud to be an American.
What she said was "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change".
Lynda,
Thank you first of all to take the time to write. Thats hard to do after a 26-hour journey back!
Second, yes, people in India are excited about most US elections. US is still a place where Indians want to visit and learn from. Most Indians have have very warm regards and respect for US citizens for their consideration, constitution and work ethic.
Many Indians also have great regard for Bush - but of not for how Iraq war was promoted or executed.
Please do visit India often, and do write the way you see things. It can only help India.
- imodotcom
I was in India in the Peace Corps in 1968. In the smallest tea shop in an isolated village you were likely to see a picture of John Kennedy. He had visited the then young democracy and they loved him for the respect he showed them.
I hope that optimism and tolerance will become infectious in our country as well as the rest of the world. India has its problems also with BJP overreaching and intolerance.
Great article. In one fell swoop America has become once again the place of hope and dreams. As they say, the only institution more powerful than the American government is the American people.
That being said I can see why the land of Gandhi would root for Obama. However, on one hand, in the first part, the essay paints India in favorable terms, on the other hand, as the author goes on, she becomes almost patronizing and condescending. When will Western authors and journalists understand that "I feel sorry for you" is not the appropriate reaction?
Civilizations rise and fall and India is an old civilization that has survived through ages and has seen its glory days. It has been up, it's now down, it will be up again and then go down again. As will every one else.
I am sorry you thought I was conddescending. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I loved India on this my first visit. I traveled from sourth to north and never met a person I didn't like or feel an instant rapport with. I am not a journalist but a business women who is thrilled to be doing business in that amazing counry. I shall return soon and often.
Being inspired by a great leader can have a powerful rippling affect. I was so inspired by Barack Obama, I wrote this song/video, in support of our children -our future generations! It is my gift of love to the planet and I hope it touches and inspires all who watch it -just as Barack Obama has inspired me! Here is a youtube link to share as you feel moved: -Lynn Zanetta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gi3VNLhHq4
The Obama victory probably will have done more for India than one will have imagined. Although this predominantly Hindu country voted for a party led by a Roman Catholic Italian woman, has a prime minister belonging to the minority Sikh faith and has had presidents and vice-presidents belonging to the Islamic faith and lower caste, it is yet to elect a prime minister from the lower castes. The fact that the "low-caste" Chief Minister of the the most populous state in India is vying for the most powerful office in the land shows how far the country has come. The Obama victory shows nothing is impossible - anywhere in the world.
As much as I am proud of America's first steps towards maturity and not to diminish what was achieved this past week, please do not undermine what other countries have already achieved on their own without looking at the west. Although in short history of 60 years of independence in India there hasnt been a "low-caste" priime minister, there have been several prominent and powerful leaders from low-caste including Jagjivan Ram, who was deputy primeminister in 1970s. India also has had powerful muslim (which is the largest minority) leaders including some of the presidents. An of course, one of the first countries to elect a woman primeminister - alas US and world could have looked at India's diverse political leadership long ago which has already shown that nothing is impossible anywhere in the world :^)
And don't forget a woman Prime minister almost half a century ago while it is only a dream in the US
Everyone is asking, "What can I do as a citizen?"
India is a free country - the worlds largest democracy and the USA is the worlds oldest and most powerful one. Natural partners ? We should be. We have so much in common.
But please dear American friends - please read about the wide world beyond the borders of your county / state / country.
People around the world take an interest in what is happening around the beautiful, and now ravaged by mankind, planet earth.
Americans on the other hand believe they are living in a bubble called America. There is so little International news in the American media, it's unbelievable.
But please know this - India and the Indian people or most of us anyway, share your joy and wish you God Speed in rebuilding your good country from the near ruins created by Bushman.
From Chennai in India.
Great article! As I said on election night! At LAST we have a President who can speak English!
You couldn't have described the Indian sentiment towards the US Presidential Election better!
Our view towards Mr Obama, was that of a common man, rising up and reaching the Pinnacle of success, through sheer hard work and dedication. The color of his skin had little to do with why we supported him, although I feel happy that a majority of Americans have not let this be a factor in deciding, whom to vote for.
My dear American friends, the sentiments about a nation and its citizens, specially as involved as America, are mostly based on the Head of that State. I am being honest when I say, I personally atleast was very unhappy with the way American Political decisions were being made during the Bush era, but I am so very confident that this has come to a screeching halt, and great things will be accomplished in Mr Obama's reign as the President.
Knowing that you are now coming from an America, which for me has changed a lot, specially during the course of this election, an America that has elected my favorite candidate and a role model as a President, I would have a warm fuzzy feeling welcoming you to my country!
Yes You Did! Congratulations and Best wishes for a Fantastic 4 Presidential Years Ahead!
Vikram From India!
Thank you Vikram! The election of Barack Obama is making me so eager to see the world and rejoin its family!
Bill Clinton was popular abroad because he at least tried to engage with the rest of the world, even when there were disagreements between our country and others.
George W. Bush and his administration, on the other hand, often seemed to express disdain for the rest of the world. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that Bush has been unpopular in other countries.
The "me generation" doesn't work anymore. The new calling is for the collective consciousness. If one doesn't care about the common good and only focuses on their own greed, they will be hard-pressed to find comfort in this new era.
Nuff Said....
Inspiring post! Your last paragraph should be on billboards everywhere...
My husband and I were in Switzerland about three years ago, and I was reluctant to tell a young man on the train we were American (though it was probably obvious even before we said anything.) It was a strange feeling to want to hide my nationality, even though I didn't vote for Bush or support his policies. Thank goodness it'll be over soon, and may the "eternal vigilance" to guard our liberty be unceasing from now on.
Nice story. It is always amazing for us as Americans to discover the degree of interest that those in other countries hold in our elections.
I traveled to Australia and Indonesia (Bali) in December, 1992, just a few weeks after Bill Clinton was first elected. An encounter with a Balinese cab driver was most instructive relative to the interest of others in our politics. After ascertaining my nationality, he asked by name. Bill, I told him. "Beel? Beel? Beel Cleenton!!" He was not mistaking me for Mr. Clinton, just expressing his interest in our election; he told me that Indonesians were very happy with the outcome of the election.
So I would respectfully disagree with your assertion that the world hasn't looked favorably on a U.S. President since JFK. Bill Clinton was much appreciated as the "leader of the free world."
As an Irish person, we are eternally grateful to the Clinton administration for bringing about peace in Northern Ireland for the first time in my life. We felt the Clinton years were so positive, and when they came to visit (many times!) up to half a million people turned out to greet and thank them for their help.
After 9/11, we really felt emapthy, especialy since we had suffered terrorism for thirty years in our country. We wanted to help, and reach out, but felt foreign advice was not tolerated. The impression we had in Europe was that the Bush administration had decided its course in advance and, like a recatricant teenager, would not listen to any dissenting voice. The results of this closed attitude are self evident.
We in Ireland have felt euphoric since election night. The only downside was the time difference-we had to stay up until 5.30am to get the resutls! Everyone was exhausted but jubilant the next day in work. I really, really hope this is the dawn of new era. I can separate "Americans" from "The Bush Administration". I do not want to sound patronising but Americans can hold their heads up high for the first time in many years and know that the world is once again saying God Bless America!
Thank you!! It is inspiring and heart-warming to see our friends all over the world engaging in the process and supporting the US!! We really did effect change and the national nightmare will soon be over. Bless you good people of the world! We are all one. Peace be to all.
Agreed. We travelled to England a few years ago. We were asked "What is wrong with the Americans, voting for Bush?" They recognized mediocrity when they saw it. It was embarrassing, explaining that he did not really win. We told them the elections were "fixed". They were more involved in US politics than some US citizens are. Too bad, the mistakes of the last 8 years could have been avoided if people just paid attention. Bill Clinton was admired everywhere, and still is.
How much did he charge you for that cab ride?
In India., Bill Clinton was greatly admired. As was Jimmy Carter....
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