Dhoni Lives There

7 Jul

So I’m back home, sort of, in Bangkok — my beloved krung thep. There’s nothing quite like it.

We were in a restaurant on Sukhumvit a few days ago, with a cosmopolitan Indian family next to us. They had posh accents and a young boy in a Dhoni jersey. Expats, obviously. Eavesdropping was inevitable: it was a quiet restaurant, and they spoke of living in Brazil and Australia, having just moved to Bangkok.

“Papa, I don’t want to live here.”

He might grow up to be yet another displaced soul of South Asian origin.

His mother, looking amused, asked, “So where do you want to live, then?”

Without any hesitation, he shouted, punching the air with his arms, “INDIA!!!!!!”

“We played Hong Kong the other day, and you know who won? INDIA!!!! We won by 256 runs! 256! I want to live in my India. Dhoni lives there also.”

My inner desi was so proud, jai hind and all that; I miss my India so much I could have wept and hugged the boy. I want to go home. This time every year has always been about my India in the monsoon, loving (and getting wet) in Mumbai, Kolkata, and in my Meghalaya. Except this one. And I miss it like crazy.

To celebrate our bharat mata: art is Indian, especially the Sistine tandoori.

possibly related

India, From the Outside /What It’s Like /Sane on Sudder St /Middle-of-Bloody-Nowhere, Sirajgonj /Bangkok Lovin’ /
  • fatoracle
    Just left my beautiful Krung Thep after 6 amazing years. Gut wrenching - I get teary eyed just thinking about her not being my home anymore. Despite being a desi, I miss Krung Thep more than any other place. It was home. Love Mumbai and Bangalore too - but that's like loving your mom. Krung Thep was and is that woman I will always carry a flame for..forever.
  • "Dhoni lives there also."

    Amazing it might be, but very true. The young Indians abroad want to go back probably more than ever before. And it's not just the promise of a fast rising nation or the pani-puri by the roadside. It is the Dhonis, the Sania Mirzas, the Sunil Mittals, the Ankit Fadias and the Rahul Gandhis that inspire this generation.

    One of my very good friends in Singapore wants to go back to be an IAS officer. Another top-shot in Boston wants to go start a business in Bangalore. I'm myself not averse to the idea after surviving Mumbai last summer for 2 mths. Tantalizing stuff, if you look at it with some historical context. Reverse brain drain is GOOD!

    The lure of being a nation of opportunities is luring everyone - the young as well as the old. Be it Dhoni who's the inspiration, or Anil Ambani.

    And Adrianna, love your end note... "My inner desi was so proud".
  • Satya
    Come home :)
  • Such a funny video!
  • Ahhh..I miss India right now too. I was planning on visiting my grandparents in Mussoorie this summer, but there's just not enough time. I'm leaving Colorado on July 30th and need to report to work in Bangkok on Aug 1st. Maybe in October. Maybe maybe maybe. :)
  • Goodness Gracious Me? It's funny until you realise that the stereotypes are sadly all true.
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