I Love Indian People

By Daniel Miessler on October 17th, 2005: Tagged as Culture | Rants

For no particular reason at all I just feel like mentioning how much I like, and have always liked, Indian people.

To start with, I don’t think I’ve ever met an Indian person I didn’t like. It’s almost as if having a good nature is an element of the culture. When I think of Indians that I’ve known over the years (starting all the way back in school in the Bay Area), pleasant memories come to mind in every single case.

I guess my first statement wasn’t quite right; the reason I’ve been thinking about this recently is because not a week goes by when I don’t hear conversations where Indians are spoken of in a negative way. People (especially in the South) think of Indians as mindless idiots who go around stealing jobs from hardworking Americans. They make fun of their accents, the fact that they work so hard, and anything else they can cling to. The saddest funniest thing is when these mouthbreathers try and make fun of Indians based on their Muslim faith. “They need to get out of my face and go worship Allah!!”, they’ll say.

I’m quite tired of it. Not only are Indian people good natured, but I love other parts of their culture as well. I like the fact that they are quiet. You never need to call the police to complain about your Indian neighbors, for example. I also like the fact that they have such strong family values, and how focused they are on education. I love their desire to acheive.

People make fun of the gas station stereotype, for example, but what they don’t realize is how much of an accomplishment it is. These people who had to learn Engish as a second language, and here they are thriving in a foreign land. I applaud it. And to those who are bitter, I say you’re sad little people who should be ashamed of yourselves.

To put a point on it, I think this country would be a whole lot better if more Americans were half as intelligent and motivated as the average Indian in this country. Luckily, there is a cure for the problem — books. Unfortunately, they’re like Kryptonite to so many in this country.

  • Tim

    Indians don’t bother me. It’s those damned Chinese!

    I kid! I kid!

  • Tim

    Indians don’t bother me. It’s those damned Chinese!

    I kid! I kid!

  • Carl M

    I couldn’t agree with you more. My wife and I have friends in town who are of Indian descent (both born in India in fact) and they are among the kindest people I have ever met. You are right too about their strong family values. And, their pursuit of success includes such values as hard work and placing a high value on education. You can’t ask for much more from cultural values.

    And … about making fun of accents … I have to share this story (though it may not translate well in print). Many years ago there was a professor on campus from India (this particular professor is long gone now). Of course he had an accent, but it was not the least bit difficult to understand if you listened (and I don’t mean listened carefully … just listened). Well, I was looking over my notes before teaching class one day and students were sitting around talking about various things … I wasn’t really paying attention, but two students started talking about this professor. And one said “I don’t like him. He talks funny.” But what I heard was something more like “Ah don’t laaak he’m. He tawlks fuinny.” It was said in a STRONG stereotypical RURAL Southern accent. I don’t fault the student for her accent … it’s a result of where she grew up. But the fact that she said what she did … with that accent. It is something I will NEVER forget.

  • Carl M

    I couldn’t agree with you more. My wife and I have friends in town who are of Indian descent (both born in India in fact) and they are among the kindest people I have ever met. You are right too about their strong family values. And, their pursuit of success includes such values as hard work and placing a high value on education. You can’t ask for much more from cultural values.

    And … about making fun of accents … I have to share this story (though it may not translate well in print). Many years ago there was a professor on campus from India (this particular professor is long gone now). Of course he had an accent, but it was not the least bit difficult to understand if you listened (and I don’t mean listened carefully … just listened). Well, I was looking over my notes before teaching class one day and students were sitting around talking about various things … I wasn’t really paying attention, but two students started talking about this professor. And one said “I don’t like him. He talks funny.” But what I heard was something more like “Ah don’t laaak he’m. He tawlks fuinny.” It was said in a STRONG stereotypical RURAL Southern accent. I don’t fault the student for her accent … it’s a result of where she grew up. But the fact that she said what she did … with that accent. It is something I will NEVER forget.

  • Allan

    I realize that even most Native Americans call themselves “Indians”, but the misnomer really bothers me … they aren’t Indian after all. (Stupid) Europeans who first landed on the North American continent thought they were in India, and so called the natives “Indians” — but they are not, obviously, from India — they are Native Americans who have many tribal/geographical identities and therefore the (stupid) misnomer should be corrected wherever it is used.

    I’m not sure what tribe the Native Americans in the Northern California/ Bay Area are from, but it is most certainly is not India :)

  • Allan

    I realize that even most Native Americans call themselves “Indians”, but the misnomer really bothers me … they aren’t Indian after all. (Stupid) Europeans who first landed on the North American continent thought they were in India, and so called the natives “Indians” — but they are not, obviously, from India — they are Native Americans who have many tribal/geographical identities and therefore the (stupid) misnomer should be corrected wherever it is used.

    I’m not sure what tribe the Native Americans in the Northern California/ Bay Area are from, but it is most certainly is not India :)

  • http://fufa-network.ryze.com/ FuFaji

    FuFa a network of Indians worldover. Enjoy the fun and learn more about the Indian culture interacting with professionals

  • http://fufa-network.ryze.com FuFaji

    FuFa a network of Indians worldover. Enjoy the fun and learn more about the Indian culture interacting with professionals

  • Name

    I agree. Indians are very highly educated and very highly skilled. They don't think their high level of education and their skills make them better than anybody else. They still treat other people with respect. This is what sets them apart from jews. Jews are arrogant and bossy and always try push other people around .

    • supi

      thanx im indian i appreciate it

  • Bismillah

    And indian people love you too.

  • Bismillah

    And indian people love you too.

  • An Indian Student

    Well, I suppose the Indians who work and live in the USA are decent enough but most of the Indian students that I've come across – ugh. They're dirty, noisy, selfish and penny-pinchers to the extreme. And as an Indian myself, I find myself quite disgusted and I do everything I can to avoid being clubbed together with them. It's quite sad really, you'd think they'd make an effort to improve themselves and immerse themselves in the culture of the country they're guests in. Instead, they're always complaining about how it's so expensive and people are so different – if you wanted to live in a place that was exactly like home, maybe you shouldn't have left in the first place.

    But, it's good to see that there are people who think well of Indians – actually, it's good to know that there are Indians out there who have been found worthy of such respect; it gives me some hope for us!

  • an Indian

    Hey, first off let me say thanks! (I’m an Indian) :D But I have a slight correction, most Indians aren’t actually Muslim. The majority religion in India is Hinduism (about 80%), Islam comes second with around 12%, Sikhs, Dalits, Christians make up the rest.

    Also if I can offer an explanation: most Indians who go the America are the best of the best, they probably went to IIT, came out with straight A’s etc. What I’m trying to say is that not all of us are good as you make us out to be, we’ve got our fair share of… not so great people too. :)

    Anyway thanks again, it’s a nice change to hear nice things about me. Most of our neighboring countries hate us. xD

    • Mahendiran Gopal

      I am from Tamil Nadu, a Indian and I graduated in Physics (Tamil medium). Now, I speaking in English & my USA friends told me that my english is pretty Good (I scored 70% with thier accent). I have travelled Germany, USA, Singapore, Hong kong & China.

      With my experience, I would like ask a simple quation to you. Any these of countries are below poverty? Can these people survive with 1USD (INR 50) a day expense? ( I found at Air port Atlanda in 1988 shoe polish cost 5USD!. In India we buy a shoe at that price).

      If any of these people survive with monthly expense of US$30. Then, all your arguments are correct!

      You people should goto Mr. Mukesh Ambani’s house have a dinner with them than compare with you and Indian culture.

      Never compare you with Indian people (Your per capita income is about $46,790 & Indian’s $2,930).

      They are hard workers, they try for honest, they live with single wife and they give education to thier children and save for generations.

      So, you try to live with US$30 per month and tell me how best are you? ( I heard, “Indian wife is the best among the world”). Do you know trust! a word. Can you trust your American wife. However we trust our wife’s. We live and die for them. However I like poor India.

  • Aaron

    I agree entirely. I have got along with every Indian or Pakistani person I have ever met. However, lets not kid ourselves: just like there are unpleasant Americans, and unpleasant Mexicans, and unpleasant Brits, and so on, there are sure to be many unpleasant Indians. However, the rate of unpleasantness in this particular demographic appears to be low.

    I particularly agree with what you said about the “gas station stereotype” – people who manage to learn a new, highly irregular language (English), and still manage to thrive in a foreign country, deserve to be applauded. God knows that if I turned up in Egypt or Sudan, not knowing the language, customs or laws, and tried to find a home and a job, I would struggle to say the least. I doubt I would survive a month, perhaps due to my mollycoddled upbringing in Western countries (and by the way, I include my birthplace New Zealand as a Western country. I suspect many of you will be inclined to view it in a similar light. It just goes to show how divorced from geography our concept of “Western” is).

    Aaron


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