Indian HC Misra challenges Trinis to understand the real India

Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago Malay Misra has shared his thoughts about his career and his views of "trinis" and their relationship with India.

Here are his thoughts on the India/TT link as expressed in an interview with Ira Mathur:

"The India/TT link has been strengthened to a substantial extent in recent years. In some parts, I feel T&T is a miniature India, the same as back home. The culture and religion are well preserved.

"In other respects it remains the India of the 19th century, the ritualistic India, the unscientific India, the non technological India and the hackneyed cliché ridden India which is out of date. An idea of India long distance only extends myths.

"The Internet doesn’t give you the essence of our culturally rich and complex country. More exposure and visits to India will change that. Trinis tend to go on pilgrimages to India, to villages some of which are still very backward to trace their roots and think themselves lucky to be out of India. They do not mingle with the locals, so there is little interaction.

"They see only one aspect of India, a fixated one dimensional India and return, perhaps never to go again. 

"There has to be a churning within T&T so it becomes part of the global flow exposed to a gamut of perspectives in science, technology, art, business, literature. It cannot remain insulated, limited to pet peeves or themes, but must broaden its horizons and take its rightful place in the world."

Read the full interview in the SUNDAY GUARDIAN