"What are you fuming about Harry?"my wife asked,coming up to where I sat, steaming away…
"Wonder whether I am an Indian or not,after what our PM has said ..."
"Why,what has he said that makes you doubt your nationality after all these years?"
"Oh! I was born & bred an Indian,but am now seriously doubting my credentials. "
"Stop beating about the bush and come to the point, for heaven's sake.."
"That's exactly the point,Bush."
"Bush!you mean George,the US PreZ.What's he got to do with your not being an Indian?"
"Everything,I'thought you follow the news…"
"Didn't you see our PM fawning all over the US Prez?Didn't you hear what he said to George W.Bush?"
"No, you tell me…"
"PM said,and I quote: "The people of India deeply love you"
….Now that's a sweeping statement implicating every Indian.I am proud to be Indian —but not if I have to love George Bush!
"And shouldn't you love Bush? Look what he's doing for us,pushing deals through energetically right and left…"
"Not left,by any stroke of imagination.Can you picture Prakash Karat's face when our PM eulogised thus?"
"Yes,Karat and his comrades must be fuming like you."
"Not just the Left.Any self-respecting Indian would balk at this statement.Nuclear deal or not, diplomatic niceties or not…. we can't be so subservient as to fall at anybody's feet."
"Isn't it our Indian culture to respect our elders?"
"Elders and betters yes.But is Bush older than Manmohan Singh?Is the US better?"
"No way…In any case,how can our PM speak for all Indians?"
"He is the elected Prime Minister, you know, and has a right to air the people's views."
"Not if it is a downright untruth & hurts public sentiments!"
"You're being too touchy, defensive …"
"No I'm not,I'm sure I'm speaking for most Indians.
"That's exactly what I meant,Indians are prickly,take offence for everything & anything."
" Rubbish…"
"See,you're just proving my point! But to come back to PM's US visit —What if he had praised their Secretary of State and said: "The people of India love Rice!"
"That's a good one, but we would still be eating out of their hands!
Or,he could have told Bush:"Indians admire BillGates…"But that wouldn't help in opening windows for the nuclear deal, I guess."
"We'll leave this topic for now. There are better things to talk about. Like cricket, and the upcoming test match against Australia…"
"Sure,but wouldn't that start another debate, with you rushing to the Seniors' defence!
"Naturally, all Indians deeply love the Magical Five!"