Five things Indians miss outside India

Live outside India and you realise its really a land of some of the best stuff worth a five-star rating.

For all the desis at heart, here are the five best things you miss outside India.

1. Festival craze

Festivals and fiestas are celebrated everywhere but India goes crazy a month before the arrival of any. Every nook and corner comes alive in festive mood. Even with umpteen festivals throughout the year, Indians never go low on fun, frolic, dance, gatherings, shopping, decorations, sweets, prayers, fasts, fireworks and ladies’ beauty.

Have you ever seen such a coalescence of all to make one festival? India welcomes you to the land of festivals, padharo ji mahare des.

2. Street food

Think of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, Hazratgunj in Lucknow, Chowpatty beach in Mumbai, Sultan Bazaar in Hyderabad, Sarrafa Bazaar in Indore and New Market in Kolkata. How do you feel now? Water in your mouth and tears in your eyes? The foodie in you scores full marks from me.    

There is no second alternate to the lip smacking street food heavens in India. And everyone realises that. If you get a chance to cross an Indian street food festival happening outside India, notice a horde of Non-Indians in and out of the counter. NRIs on trip to India carry with them their travel documents, gifts for family and ‘where to eat what’ list.

3. TV commercials  

Yes, you read it right. If you don’t realise how creative and out of the box thinkers Indians are, go and watch some videshi commercials. As a man, you will find shopping with your girl a better time pass and as a lady, watching F1 with your man will definitely be a better option.

Recall commercials of ‘baraatiyo ka swagat’ of Pan Parag, ‘jalebi’ of Dhara, ‘ye fevicol ka mazboot jod hai’ of Fevicol, ‘thanda matlab’ of Coca-Cola, ‘men will be men’ of Imperial Blue and such. You will be in a pickle to pick the best. Indians have such an assorted collection of TV commercials that is found nowhere in the world.

So dear Indians, don’t irk at the extensive commercial breaks. Feel proud of your rangeelo des.

4. Bollywood

One thing that is omnipresent in India is Bollywood. From street hoardings, daily used products at home, modes of transport, cricket, newspapers, radio and of course television, Bollywood rules. India eats, sleeps and breathes Bollywood.

And where do you find that outside India? In limited movie halls filming limited Bollywood movies and just a few concerts that our superstars perform on stage. Bollywood is one of the largest centers of film production in the world. Rightly it is saare jahan se acha.

5. Doctors

Surprised! Yes, this definitely makes its place in top five. Reason? You can easily find a couple of doctors in any part of India. Alas the scenario is not the same outside. Medical facilities can score better outside but with fewer doctors, people have to stay waitlisted for days and even weeks for consultation or a surgery. Emergency wards, too, can have a waitlist of hours.

Do you know that India has been one of the most important source country of medical doctors for the advanced countries since the 1960s. Even after this rate of export of Indian doctors, the deficit outside is huge. People abroad prefer eating an apple a day since doctors are not available anyway.

India has so much to miss about. When you miss, you realise the importance and potential. Good and bad prevails everywhere. But India has an upper hand because of its diversity, which is found nowhere in the world. If you are outside swades, you understand this. If you live in India, accept it. India is a feeling beyond words. It’s Incredible India!