They aren't Non-Required Indians

Be it politics, humanities, literature or sports, NRIs have broken the glass ceiling to reach the top, writes Vijay Dutt in London Diary.

They represent the best of the Indian heritage in the most modern, competitive world. They do India proud.

The list of the 15 non-resident Indians whose contribution and eminence in their adopted countries has been recognised with the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman to be given at the third Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Mumbai shows how well the NRIs have adjusted in alien societies and how respected they are in the countries of their choice.

Be it politics, humanities, literature or sports, Indians have broken the glass ceiling to reach the top.

Lord Bikhu Parekh and Vikram Seth chosen from Britain are in two different fields, the former in politics and the latter in literature.

But both symbolise the level of excellence many Indians like them have achieved.

And they have achieved it without compromising their heritage or beliefs. Or decrying everything about India as some Indian-origin people are, unfortunately, wont to do.

Lord Parekh, who has risen to be one of the most respected peer and academics, has always taken deep interest in the Asian community and is an authority on British Asian families and community relations.

He was the first to defend and define the Indian culture in right perspective when the media in London attacked the Indian business practices and the customs generally during the Peter Mandelson and Hinduja passport row.

Yet he has never hesitated to adopt what is the best in the British culture or praise its good points and virtues.

Vikram Seth has won accolades for writing poems and novels in English. But whenever I met him, the conversation was in Hindi and he spoke it so well, recalling his young days in Patna and relating anecdotes in chaste Hindustani.

He never pretended as if he had to labour to speak in Hindi to me, like a lot of young Indians in London do.

The other day at Selfridges a young Indian lady had to just go on speaking in English to her husband, an Indian too and even shorten his name to make it sound like an English name.

The men at tills were least impressed. Possibly she was speaking in English to impress us, who do look like the real imports from India.

One has to hear how the names of Indian leaders or prominent personalities are pronounced on Asian radio networks.

Atal Bihari used to be Ataal Bihari, and Mahatma Gandhi, Mahattama Gandi.

It is hilarious to hear some newscasters pronounce titles of Bollywood films. At least on BBC or even CNN they always ask if they are pronouncing Hindi names properly. But then everybody cannot be a Lord Parekh or Vikram Seth.