Poor Kanimozhi! Imagine an MP, a former Union Minister, daughter of one of Tamilnadu’s most famous chief minister’s, and in one’s own airport in Chennai, asked by the security, when she spoke in English and not in Hindi, “Are you Indian?”
Now, I am not an MP or VIP and wondered how I would react if same question were asked to me, “Are you Indian?”
“Well don’t I look Indian?”
“Yes sir, but are you?”
And after having with great difficulty pulled my luggage up the unfriendly ramps, that most airports have, I look dumbfounded like Kanimozhi, at the security man, as he also stares at me, and repeats, “Are you Indian?”
I then reply:
“My shoes are bought from Bata, my socks from Tata too,
And if you look quite closer and I ask that you please do,
You’ll see my shirt is faded, and my trousers out of date,
My belt has let my tummy out, while you just made me wait!
Now if all this doesn’t prove to you, how Indian I can be,
What other proof dear sir, would you want to see of me?
“Are you Indian?” asks the security man sternly, like the wife of Tevye in Fiddler On the Roof, asking her husband, “Do you love me?” And now deeply frustrated I reply:
“Well I was born in India, and both my parents too,
My wife she says she’s Indian, and also my daughters two.
The missus she buys her veggies from the hawker down the road,
Even though there is a mall, where it’s cheaper I am told.
Now if that doesn’t prove to you, how Indian I can be,
What other proof dear sir, would you, now want from me?
“Sir, are you Indian?” asks the security man again, and in his face I see no relent.
I sigh, and say:
“My skin is brown, my hair is black, and of my nose hair, I can’t keep track,
I gargle noisily and also use, tap water, to wash behind my back,
I laugh out loud, and never think, that others may not like the sound
Of me repeating a new joke, from joke book I have just found!
If all this doesn’t prove, how Indian I can be,
What more proof do you dear sir, now want from poor me?
“Sir,” says the security at the gate, “Are you Indian?”
I sigh and reply:
“What more proof can I give dear sir, than all I have just said to you,
Now the only thing I have left to do, is give you a hundred rupees or two,
Whoa! You have let me in, you give a grin, and even pat my stubbled chin.
And in the midst, of airport din, I have proved to you I am Indian..!

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