Missing the wood for
the trees
The curious case of the Indian
deputy consular general Devyani Khobragade being strip searched arrested and processed
with criminals and prostitutes for denying her maid Sangeeta Richard wages as
per American law has been a hotly debated topic in the media and other relevant
forums.
Panellists after panellists have
been stressing on the need to defend the lady in question and seek repairable
apology from the American side as also absolve her of the charges so that she
can be brought back to India without any harm. Some others are discussing the reciprocator
stand taken by the Indian Government, whether it is calibrated and on even
keel, or what more needs to be done and a general feeling of tit for tit
prevails.
I call it a curious case since,
it is a well-known secret that maids sent from India are not paid as per
American standards simply because it would amount to the maid seeking wages
more than the principal herself, in the same way that American diplomats wives
are working in the American school in violation of visa norms even while the
Indian Government turns a blind eye.. This has been happening in the past and
except for a couple of stray incidents in the past everything seemed to be
hanky dory.
India being a soft state the
panellists are arguing whether we should be seen as doubly bowing to the
unreasonable needs of Americans serving in India, or should the extra benefits
be withdrawn and make them at par with Indian officials serving in their
country who have not privileges attached to their post.
As I write this post the Indian
Government has cleared the barricades on the stretch of road that houses the
American Embassy and its staff quarters. The exclusive parking has been turned
into a public parking and the extra cautionary security protection stands
withdrawn. Since it is only dawning in America the reactions are not forthcoming,
but it is naturally going to hurt them since they are used to having their way,
without reciprocating in any way. This is their way of saying that they are to
be treated exceptionally without having to reciprocate in kind.
But even while all these
strategies and counter strategies are being formulated and put into place,
everyone seems to be sadly forgetting the source of all this chaos which is the
maid herself, who is absconding for the last six months. One fails to
understand why the American system is unable to repatriate her, even after the
Indian Government has revoked her passport. The American system seems to be
supportive of a seemingly rogue maid who has desecrated the Indian mind and
national pride. The system has not even investigated official complaints from
the Indian Government regarding blackmailing by the maid.
Not for once is anyone
contemplating pressurising the maids husband who is residing in New Delhi, (breaking
news states that the husband and two children of the maid has been discreetly
sneaked into America even while the Indian courts contemplate punitive action
against the maid) nor her relatives to force the maid to retract her complaint
and to come back home. On the contrary reports suggest that the maid has been
blackmailing Devyani with the demand of US Dollars 10000 and NOC to work in USA
as well as Indian Passport. Absconders and rouges are treated differently under
the Indian system and it should not be difficult for the Indian Government to
bear pressure where it matters so that the maid relents.
Interestingly while everyone
blames the American system, their arrogance and expectionalism, nobody seems to
be pointing a finger at the maid whole had wowed to work for the consul general
and return with her, when she clearly jumped her contract and absconded on reaching
foreign shores and the lure of money. Isn’t the maid culpable of surrendering
national pride? Shouldn’t she be ostracised for belittling the pride of her
nation and isn’t this taking to the Indian psyche of immigrating to America and
live the big American dream even if it means surrendering oneself to the forces
of evil and deceit. And hasn’t individual aspirations of certain individuals
not contributed to this problem? In fact the problem is about Indian and Indian
mind set. The maid, who is looking for greener pastures and extra wages with
support from the American legal system of help in bringing in her family, the
prosecutor of Indian origin overzealous and wanting to prove his unbiased
upbringing in order to be able to present this as credentials whenever he
aspires for higher office, in other words promoting his aspirations at the cost
of Indian pride. The origin of this episode is Indian and the American system
has been used to conclude aspirations.
By debating the Vienna convention
and reciprocal punitive action, we are conveniently side stepping the core
issue of Indians wanting to live the American dream even at the cost of loss of
prestige, family, shame in society or plain blackmailing one’s own citizen. So
while we debate all issues the prime talking point should be about an Indian
siding with the American system to degrade her country and its diplomat without
so much as a thought to the irreparable damage to self-dignity and that of the
country. And by not concentrating on this subject more prominently aren’t we
missing the wood for the trees?
18th December 2013
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