How young Nepali workers in India are breaking stereotypes

Cinema is worst culprit of creating stereorypes and caricatures of races and nationalities. For example till not very long ago, Indians were commonly depicted in #Hollywood movies with turbans — either Sikhs or Maharajas. Similarly, in #Bollywood a #Nepali Gorkha was always type-cast as guard (“Chowkidar”) or domestic help — speaking hindi in a distorted nasal accent always pronouncing “Sa” as “Sha” — like Shaab for Saab (or Sir). In Nepal though — the word Saab doesn’t exist. It is “hojur” (or “Hozur”).

There might have been some basis to such portrayal in earlier times — when #Nepalis coming to seek work in India did not generally venture beyond the gangetic planes. Much of that has changed. I have encountered Nepalis in distant #Fukowaka and in #Paris. Speaking #Japanese and #French with equal fluency. In India too — the scene is changing. Nepalis who have ventured to the south crossing the laxman rekha of the Vindhyas — are by definition more enterprising.

So in #Coonoor, #Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) I was surprised to find a restaurant run by Nepalis — that serves a mean South Indian set meal (a tangy Bitter Gourd Curry that is to die for). Their Biriyani can give the local #Chettinadu eatery tough competition. They not only do “Home Delivery” but also cater for private parties. Back in #Chennai — in the tony Boat Club met a Security Guard who directed my auto-driver in chaste Tamil.

Have met young Nepali waiters in Goa shacks, who shift base to Leh and Ladakh during monsoons (off-season in Goa but conversely peak-season there). They follow the foreigner “budget” tourist trail — having acquired some familiarity in dealing with this set back home in #Nepal.

Pity though Nepalis who come to India looking to work in the service sector — can’t aspire for higher grade jobs. It would make a big difference if they underwent some skill-development programmes before moving to India. That’s an area in which the North East States of India have done relatively better. One factor in their favour is the knowledge of English thanks to the Christian Missionaries who infiltrated those parts more than a century ago.

Perhaps, that’s something Nepal missed out — keeping the Britishers at bay with their fierce sense of sovereignity and Hindu pride.

But, now they can catch up on lost opportunity by learning Chinese. With Chinese tourists and business travellers spilling across the world there must be a huge and still growing market for Chinese speaking workers in the global tourism market. That could be a far more profitable way to use the Chinese than woo them for a few tankers of oil to put counter pressure on India.