We Indians are emotional people. We see a young pretty government official being humiliated by the super power USA and we are up in arms. We devote reams of paper, TV time and sound bytes on reacting to an issue which is more sound and fury. That is how we as a people are. No wonder we never move ahead. At times I feel we rightfully deserve such a treatment. What is it about La Affaire Devyani which should rile us?
What India should focus on is the handcuffing and strip search including cavity search of the lady for an offence of a minor nature — falsification of a fact in her application for a domestic help. NOT ACCEPTABLE.
But what we hear from the media is a protest on the issue of maids and their payments. Devyani Khobragade as an individual moving to the USA gave a false statement in her application form. She is being charged for that. So, she did default. And action should be taken against her. We in India do not consider it a crime. We falsify so many things everyday. It is normal for us. Hence, our reaction. What the f@*& “itti si baat” ?
Ms Devyani promised to pay her maid $4500 in the application and abide by US minimum wage laws. She also knew that she was paying Ms Richards, her maid a bonanza, based on Indian rates. $500 a month for an Indian maid is big money, afterall she was not a Maid from Manhatten but a Maid from aamchi Mumbai. So she assumed that Sangeeta would be happy and grateful. But Ms Richards suddenly does a volte face and complains.
Now a look at the CV of our perp. I am all for reservations in jobs for the economically weaker sections in Indian society irrespective of religion, caste or creed. But like all things rotten in our country, the malaise of reservations for certain scheduled constitutional categories has been taken advantage of by a few people. Ms Khobragade is a product of that systemic corruption in India. First the father becomes an IAS officer through the “Quota”. So far, so good. Having improved the lot of his entire family and having reached the creamy layer of the Indian society with more than 10 houses. Ms Khobragade also becomes an IFS officer through the same golden route–Ms Mayawati Expressway. She has been given 7 houses as gifts by her poor government officer, Dad. And now the US Govt has dared to question the daughter of Bharat Maata.
I think the issue did not deserve the attention we have been giving it. The issue of Indians getting ill treated by US Home Department and Custom Officials is well known. They probably do it as a “signalling” to India. What do we do? Just protest and sleep. Things are back to normal within 48 hours. Devyani goes to New York and media gets busy with Kejriwal and his govt in Delhi.
And we wait for the next circus.