IndiaOn

Agreed, we live away, but I probably make more of an effort to retain my Indianness than Indians in India. So how come my opinion gets disregarded with a "you don't know how it is anymore".

Do any of you other NRIs experience this?

I hope 'retaining my indianness' is not confined to wearing Kurta Pyjamas and Saris at weddings, watching Bollywood films, and eating Indian food.

It was a general (and not a personal) comment because I have seen enough people who think that wearing a saree on diwali = indianness. Maybe I am meeting the wrong people :(

Stereotyping is always based on experience. I have encountered people of both kinds. There are those who forget the values you mentioned the moment they step off Indian shores. And (fortunately) there are many of those who go through great pains not only to retain the values but to transmit them to the next generation. I only hope that more and more of the Indians who go abroad belong to the latter category. But having seen numerous people of the former variety, I know that the aforementioned stereotyping is not always misplaced.

And trust me, the condescension faced by RIs (I find the term amusing - somehow reminds me of Rigorous Imprisonment) from NRI's is sometimes greater than in the reverse direction. I have heard "Nothing in India works" umpteen times to develop discomfort with those NRIs.

it's true though that nris whine about india being so dirty, and inefficient, but then they want everyone to believe that they are on the "mera bharat mahaan" wagon. what's the big deal? if you want to go home, go home. don't sit here and cry about being the injured party because no one can understand your patriotism.