The Expat Blog - All Comments

re: Why I live in India.

Melissa A. Bell — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:48:44 GMT

Thanks guys! @Debadeep, India will be here waiting for you when you get back!

re: Why I live in India.

creatron — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:43:46 GMT

ma'am, visit this link, and read vir sanghvi's article. Since you've already been in India for a few years but not all over the country it seems, maybe this article will help. well written post above, btw. cheers. :) http://sdas-why-am-here.blogspot.com/2006/02/calcutta-through-eyes-of-vir-sanghvi.html

re: Why I live in India.

Debadeep — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:59:05 GMT

It's amazing to see how the journey of life takes different people in different directions. You are a "naïve white girl" (or so you were) living in India, and I am an Indian student currently staying in Raleigh, NC. I had been wondering all these days why I miss India so much... and you seemed to know the exact reasons for it. Your blog was an enjoyable (am I making an understatement?) read, more expressive and refreshing with every line. It feels great to see someone from outside our country actually understand our values and what we live for. I hope you continue to enjoy your stay in India - I envy you girl!

re: I ♥ the FRRO.

Diepiriye — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:33:23 GMT

I have lived here for six years, seen people reduced to tears in the FRRO and MHA, been spoken to like a dog, and treated like a street punk. I have sat and watched certain people flow rather easily through the system- I have seen loads of white men walk in and get immediate service, and seen how Afghans and Tibetans are treated like animals. It's horrible and quite disturbing to be around. I am Black and my partner is white, so seeing just how differently we are treated is a particular pet peeve, as I see it everywhere in my daily life here in Delhi...but it really counts at the FRRO and MHA. The first time I went and asked too many questions (with a load of others listening intently with the same missing bits of info and same desire for transparency), I was told "Your case is rejected," by the man taking the applications. My partner went to plea with him, and the man said "It's their race," to explain why he had responded so harshly to my questions. It is enough to ward others from coming here, and if I were into regret, I would not have come here to India at all. Though there are many wonderful things here and I have made the best of my time here, having to deal with this is really too much in the modern world. Sure, we can harp about how other nations do it, but we're right here, right now, and I'll be damned if I accept this in silence, though I know the truth is painful for many to hear. That said, perhaps India is just not for me. I plan to finish my degree and go.

re: Cheers for IPL deals!

ban — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:05:18 GMT

I was at Smokey Bones the other day and saw the greatest invention I have ever seen! It was a football field goal post with a football attached to urinal screen in the urinal and it was genius! Guys aim at it while relieving themselves. You have to see it yourself, the website of the company that makes them is at www.direct-aim.com and every sports bar should have these!

re: Should India have its own 9/11 memorial?

Melissa A. Bell — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:08:18 GMT

@Priyanka I am @melissabell. See you there!

re: Welcome (?) to Incredible India

Dinesh — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:08:17 GMT

Thanks for posting the bitter experiences in the Delhi airport. I also had similar experiences and have been avoiding travelling via India.

re: Five Indian films to help you understand the entire Indian psyche.

andrea — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:54:54 GMT

Some other movies that are must-watch include: Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge - THIS is the longest-running Hindi film of all time, having its final run in a Bombay theater sometime around 2004 (the movie came out in 1995). This is so iconic that now new movies are made with titles of songs from this movie. Just sayin. Dil Chahta Hai - if you were born between 1976-1984, this movie is either a description of your life, or you want it to be. Jhankaar Beats - same as above, if you were living in Mumbai and those birth dates narrow to 1976-1980. Guide - a classic. Read the book too. Mughal-e-Azam Amar Akbar Anthony there are wayyyy too many to list... pop culture is everywhere in India.. just keep asking questions and keep learning!

re: Welcome (?) to Incredible India

Adhikari — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:43:55 GMT

Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India: The Most Unsecured Airport - I am posting this blog for 2 reasons: a) to make aware of authorities for their security lapses and hassles; b) to make aware passengers to suggest avoiding travelling via Delhi Airport. I am a frequent traveler and last September, I was travelling with my family and friends (6 persons) via Delhi Airport (in transit). We experienced hassles and unimaginable security lapses and corrupt behaviors of police and airline officials. For last 20 years of my professional life, I always avoided travelling through India because I heard a lot of complaints and hassles about the Delhi Airport. But this time, we decided to try to travel using Air India. In-flight service was OK, but the ground staffs in the airport were highly uncooperative. All transit passengers were kept (for 10-12 hours) in a room without any basic facilities (no restaurant, no information desk, etc…). Passengers were not informed properly about their flight and almost all of passengers had to wait struggle until the last minute to get their boarding passes. Air India staffs were coming again and again and asking for money (bribe) even for checked in baggage. Thus, all passengers waited until almost the flight time to get their boarding passes. We also got accordingly and we had only few minutes for security check. Therefore, we rushed to the security check, placed our handbags in the X-ray machines. When our handbags went inside the X-ray machine, then the police on duty asked us to pass through another inlet/gate. We asked the reason and he said the X-ray machine is out of order. Then we passed through another inlet/gate and we had to wait few minutes, because of already standing crowed. Then, when we enter inside and looked for our handbags that were sent earlier from another X-ray machine. Unfortunately, our 2 bags were not there. I asked the police, but he was non-responsive to my request. The bags that I lost had valuables inside – ornaments, laptops, movie camera and digital cameras. I requested Police Sub-Inspector; he was also unwilling to help me out. Then I loudly cried and draw the attention of people around me and humbly requested the Police Sub-Inspector again and again to check the X-ray machine, in which we put our bags few minutes back. Then I jumped into the X-ray machine myself and saw my bag inside the machine. Then I got the bag, but did not find a digital camera. We could not find the camera and rushed to the gate and enter into the aircraft as last minute passengers. Inside the aircraft, I also heard from other passengers and came to know that they also had lost something valuables. It was unimaginable event. How can we imagine such incidence by the security officials? I think it was done in a planned way in association with Air-India staff, who kept us until the last minute and police also have similar interest to cheat and make money. I recommend all potential travelers to avoid travelling via Delhi Airport and tell to your friends as well. If you had to travel, be careful about the airport and cheating by the security staff in the airport.

re: Can the Indian-American immigrant come home?

srikumar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:22:32 GMT

I think whoever said life/time is a big leveller, didn't know about internet :-) . Read your previous blog on india and why you chose to stay here. Well, explode is whats happening in india and in the process, what you see as endearing and ancient and whatever we've cherished so long is also losing its shine pretty fast. There might not be much of a difference if prashant lives here or in US of A. my 2 cents.

re: Should India have its own 9/11 memorial?

Priyanka — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:10:03 GMT

Hey Melissa, liked your posts, wondering if you are on twitter also?

re: Why I live in India.

NATARAJAN — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:56:20 GMT

hi mellissa, very refreshing piece of writing, reminiscent of Mark tully of BBC! This country has lots of positives and negatives, but you chose to cheer up with the positives! Way to Go! Most of my kith and kin have migrated out of india, urging me to join them, which i have refused over the years! I emailed them your piece as it is more articulate, lucid and simple, to show why i am rooted here! India is like beer (oops Old Monk!), coffee, takes a while to get used to it, but gives you great satisfaction in the long run!

re: Hooray for Gays! Goodbye, Section 377.

Ranganathan — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:57:50 GMT

My Representative - Assembly Election 2009 My Representative provides voter's opinion for the Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency about various "Candidates" contesting for the seat in Legislative Assembly Elections of India. Overall trend for all Candidates can be seen in summary sheet against the timeline till votend. URL: http://www.opinionpoll.in/modules/election/representative.php?stateid=21&constituencyid=5&uid=2&rand=e0dac0682f56ede83dd87035a3d93fe8&type=mhass Plugin:

re: Why I live in India.

Melissa A. Bell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:37:07 GMT

@aditya I love the phrase joyously confused! I think it could describe me as well as India. Maybe that's why I like the place so much. @swami mangalananda I agree about California. There are beautiful bits, but the sterility gets to you after awhile. Come back to India soon. Guys, we've moved over to a new blog site. I'm going to stop posting on here from now on out, so make a new bookmark and come over to http://blog.livemint.com/the-expat-blog/

re: I ♥ the FRRO.

Ira — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:43:50 GMT

Thanks for the tips Melissa. I'm going to the FRRO in Mumbai soon and have heard several horror stories both of Delhi & Mumbai FRROs. I called up Mumbai just now and the lady (yes soemone picked up a phone!)also said- you must get an Indian national to sign your undertaking from the compnay, and get a photocopy of the passport of this indian national. Otherwise the Indian national will have to accompany you ??? I'm sure someone in my company will be able to do the undertaking and give a copy of his/ her passport....