Devayani is a character of Indian mythology. She lived even before legendary ‘Pandavas’. She was married to King Yayati and had two sons – Yadu and Turvasu. Yadu was source for ‘Yaduvansh’ in which Krishna was born.
The mythological Devayani had trouble with her servant, Sharmishtha. Sage Shukracharya, while giving her daughter Devayani in marriage to King Yayati, also gave a strong warning to the latter: never share bed with servant girl who would be there as Devayani’s dowry. Hence Sharmishtha lived in a distant hut. But in later course, it inevitably happened that Yayati fell in secret love with the servant girl. They also got three sons: Druhyu, Anu, Puru. Later when she knew about this, Devayani was shattered. Shukracharya in a rage of fury cursed Yayati to lose all his youthfulness and fall aged. And the curse worked. A devastated Yayati frantically ran and requested each of his three later sons to exchange youth with him. Nobody heeded except Puru, who gave his youthfulness to his father and became aged. Untimely aged, Puru became the King.
Over thousand years, Yayati enjoyed all worldly sensual pleasures. When he came to know about the futility of such lasting enjoyments, he gave back his youthfulness to Puru and received back his old age. He went into a forest in total renouncement to reach the almighty.
Today, ironically, a servant lady became the source of trouble for Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Deputy Consul General of India in New York. Led by her servant’s complaint, the USA is behaving to Dr. Devayani like Yayati, in full hegemony and glamour. Every action has a reaction, India proved admirably by stopping all special priorities and preferences for the American emissary institutions and individuals. Now no more canteen sales with US embassy in Delhi; no more priority on Indian roads for US embassy vehicles; and no more ‘big-boss’ treatment on Indian airports for US embassy staffs. Else, why should these rubbish special priorities among countries? Why should some countries be such ‘sacred’! Dignity should be equal, unless enmity spoils the sport.
The American indecency to Indian diplomat has brought to my mind two names: Immanuel Wallerstein and Peter Berger. Wallerstein conceived the World-System whereas Berger elucidated World-construction.
According to World system, the so-called Third World produces and supplies raw materials and the so-called First World manufactures prolifically using these cheap supplies; and market products with hefty prices. So perpetuates the First World. The so-called Third World also creates huge source of cheap labour for the so-called First World, who cleverly alters its immigration policies so as to ensure that there is enough supply of cheap labour. This system creates ‘big-brothers’ among world nations. Decency, democracy, secularism, socialism, and market - everything revolves round the will of these ‘big bosses’. The decency you may learn at your primary class won’t be the one told for these big bosses! They would behave like ‘unclad emperor’; and you should praise their celestial costumes!
Berger through his interesting idea of ‘world construction’ elucidated nicely on the ‘egg-chicken’ riddle related to human societies. ‘Society or man was first?’ Society is a product of man; whereas man is in turn a nice product of society. Society was there before a person’s birth. Society prevails even after a person’s death. Still, society is designed and made by persons – through norms, values and systems conceived by individual members. Thus originate capitalist societies, theological societies, and communist societies. Hence it comes that countries like India, Ethiopia, the USA are all creations of man.
Considering the above two aspects, I don’t want to criticize the USA, the country, for the thoughtless attitude towards a diplomat. Instead the world-view and disposition of the USA as a country is bridled by a handful of individuals, to whom my apprehension is. Criticism is upon those who steer power to decide how USA should behave in front of the world. With their latest approach towards a senior lady diplomat, these individuals have definitely blemished the US celebration of being a repository of all democracy, egalitarianism, civil rights and social decency. How could they be such crazy disfiguring their own country’s glory, like this!
Twice interrogation even to former president of India; confiscation and questioning of Bollywood superstar... Such intolerable, inexplicable misbehaviour is always followed by ‘regrets’ and ‘apologies’. These would only tarnish a country’s image – the practitioners should know.
Such acts have no place in American popular perceptions. Enlightened majority of America uphold the ideal of ‘give respect, take respect’. America was opulent of guiding luminaries who genuinely stood for values. After the Second World War, some of the US troops were stationed in India. Then a section of racially ‘exclusionist’ Congressmen introduced ‘literacy test’ for sifting and keeping away Asian immigrants especially from India and China. Then president of the US, Roosevelt wrote to the Chairman of House Committee on Immigration stating that ‘Statutory discrimination against Indians now serves no useful purposes and [is] incongruous and inconsistent with the dignity of both our peoples’. Annual quota of 100 for Indians, was just a beginning.
Since 1960s, by virtue of non-racial immigration policies, more and more Indians reach the US. Indian immigrants now shine as the ‘model minority’ there. Considering these shining terrains of truths and the huge lot of popularity Obama has got among Indians, the recent incident is a sheer mismatch. Who would teach that ‘misbehavior to a Deputy Consulate General would serve no useful purposes and damage the dignity of both countries’? Obama, won’t you, please?
It’s already time that countries that play the role of Yayati, enjoying all the wealth and bounty of world’s resources should exhibit more prudence in their behaviour. There should not be always a Puru, who would sacrifice his wealth and health for Yayati’s well-being. Devayanis should get legitimate consideration, also.
Tail end: After knowing about the recent Indo-US emissary issue, one of my Ethiopian friends exclaimed why an excellent leader like Obama hadn't yet resolved the issue. Due to my inward love for Obama I replied “Obama must not have known this yet”. And that made my friend laugh aloud.
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