India is known for the diversity in her culture and the unity(?) she portrays overcoming high degree of diversification. Indians are now not just diversified; they are also distributed all over the globe. Hospitality and Friendliness have been the colors of the flag that Indians have hoisted historically (set aside politics here…). Now, as an effect or as an aftermath of the distribution, the historical traits have either started to hide or started to be selective.

I have walked in the streets of San Francisco for a couple of years. Every time I get to make an eye contact with an Indian, I give a smile; not because I know him or I want to talk to him. It is a casual smile that does not mean anything. 8 out of 10 times all I’ve got back has been a stiff stare. I will definitely accept that stare if it is the response that everybody gets. Unfortunately, when a non-Indian passes by with a stingy smile a warm reciprocating smile gets returned in most cases. If the reciprocation can be given to strangers, aren’t Indians a subset of those strangers? Why are Indians strangers treated in a different way from non-Indian strangers? Does this depict hatred towards Indians or selective approach to socializing? I pick the latter because I still have a strong feeling that Indians are not that bad to hate whom they pledged as brothers and sisters every day during childhood.

I still think what could be the reason for this selective social approach among people. What ever reason it is, I reckon the behavior unfair, unethical and atrocious. Fellow Indians, my request to all of you is, please do not discriminate Indian strangers……!!!!!