Indian gentrified types living in London or visiting to shop, eat and enjoy a stroll along orderly pavements without dodging cars or scooters – but on high alert nevertheless for mobile and handbag snatchers and other such con artists- were horrified that an Indian man chose to wash his feet in the River Thames recently.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ_Gzs2ktXD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The Instagram post drew nearly 80,000 Instagrammers – some concerned at the ungenteel image of Desi’s it fostered, others – more leftie liberal types possibly-, sympathizing with cultural oddities- like eating Haggis in Scotland with relish – but interestingly yet others – possibly Right- wing times – querying what’s the problem? A man’s got to wash up and if he doesn’t have a washhouse at hand using a river is better than stinking. Also don’t fishermen in the West wade in with their Wellie waders – long rubber boots right- into a river to fish, which means inserting both bodies, clothes and dirty boots into a river? So what’s different?
Also, swimming is permitted in the Thames, which requires an entire unwashed body to be inserted into the river and who knows how many adopt this as a fun – hygiene cum yoga cum exercise time saver, three-in-one session daily. Mind though that certain busy sections need a permit because of danger from boats, also swimming is banned to protect the swimmer when the water is foul -as in the rainy season – which begs the question whether there is a non-rainy season in the UK??
A well-meaning Indian’s post was the sweetest. Bro ..he said…don’t do this … they drink this water. People drink water straight from the river in London? Doesn’t he know that 100 million Indians drink the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna where they meet in Prayagraj (earlier Allahabad) after bathing in it. It’s called the circular economy of sustainability. Isn’t that what a river is supposed to do? Have the absorbative capacity for anthropogenic and animal use -up to a point -after which reaching for your One Water bottle to slake your thirst becomes the next best option
And here is a fun fact: The UK is the largest consumer of bottled water in North Europe. It guzzles around 5 to 6 million bottles a year. So dear Instagrammer go check your facts. The water supplied in your tap is purified by Thames Water. If you are drinking straight from the river, become a fish or stop.
So here is a message for all South Asians who travel or live abroad. WE understand your anxiety that your uninitiated friends from home could project all Indians in a bad light- resulting in frustrated, racial slurs being flung at you in the bar when the India cricket team next slams England or a frosty look from the maître de of the uber chic restaurant you choose to visit- but that’s because you are a niggardly tipper – not because u washed your feet in the Thames.
After all, many rich Indians in India now wash their feet and the feet of their domesticated pets with bottled water on road trips, because they can afford it. Paisa hai to dekhao! (flaunt your cash) But try doing that in a Gurudwara by avoiding slushing through the shallow water bath before you can go into the shrine and you will be sternly ticked off by the Jathedar and watched in quizzical amusement by all others – because only purified water is fed into these pools by the Gurudwara water supply management system.
And here is the bottom line. You won’t be repatriated to Rwanda because you bathed in the Thames if you do it the way the Brits do…..form a queue and wait your turn…..don’t do your own thing simply because no one else found this wonderful free opportunity…. because if it were one there would be a queue to it.
Queuing obediently is the way to fit into the UK. Even if there is no queue wait until someone else joins up behind you. Once there are three or more of you in an orderly – albeit grim and dour- line you can do most things legally. WHY? Because the UK is all about traditions and conventions. And the QUEUE is more British than CURRY.
Have a great trip to the UK – even if you don’t intend to return. India is always proud of its people overseas quietly serving the nation – even as they tuck in fortunes relative to what their folks back home earn. We encourage you to fit into the societies you have adopted. Learn their ways but leave them at the departure gate of the Airport when you come home.
Once back feel at home. But do take all the rubbish you generate here back …..just as you would in an Italian or Spanish Airbnb ….if you neglect to clean the trash before you check out.
Sat Sri Akal. Namaste. Vannakam. KhemCho. Hello ji. Namaskaram. Nomoshkar. Assalam-u-Alaikum. Saheb-ji.
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