9 Stereotypical Statements Every NRI Has Probably Heard
Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... read full bio
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All of us know that the term NRI refers to Indians who don’t live in their homeland. Although they may own an Indian passport, if they have lived out of the country for more than 180 days, they are officially considered as NRIs. While NRIs have to deal with the silly stereotypes when they visit their hometowns, they have to deal with stereotypes among foreigners as well. When they return to their hometowns, they are often referred to as – Not Really Indians. When they are abroad, they will always be seen as a brown person. So here are a few statements that every NRI has heard at some point in their life:
1. “Let Me Hear That “Hindu” Accent”
So many foreigners are so ignorant towards any culture that is not their own. Let’s get one thing straight – Hindi is a language and Hindu is a religion. Moreso, what people often fail to recognize is that not all Indians speak Hindi. We’re a country with a diverse range of regional languages so it’s really silly to expect every Indian to speak Hindi. Moreso, India has the second largest population of English speakers in the world.
2. “You Must Be Filthy Rich!”
Oh you didn’t hear? If you’re an NRI you need to be extremely rich. No questions asked. People will assume you come from a rich family even if you are a student on scholarship who works two part time jobs to make ends meet. After all, only rich Indians leave the country to make a name for themselves, right? Blue collar workers from India who lead difficult lives in Middle Eastern countries clearly don’t exist, right? We’re all rolling in money and driving Rolls Royce’s and Porsche’s, right? Moreso, do you not understand that India has rich people who don’t want to leave the country? It’s really weird how people have so many misconceptions about a country they’ve probably never visited (and never will).
3. “You Must Be An IT Expert”
Yeah, dude, please send us that laptop of yours and pay top dime. We don’t guarantee you’ll get it back in the best of shape, but hey, this is what you get for being racist! Sure, there’s no doubt that us Indians are talented and very good with tech but we cannot ignore the fact that Indians excel in many other fields. We’ve got Priyanka Chopra, Virat Kohli, Amartya Sen and so many more incredible talented folks!
4. “I Don’t Think You’re As “Desi” As Someone Brought Up In India”
Of course this has to be our favorite stereotype of them all! Is it because we don’t eat as much spice as folks back home? Or is it because we might not dress as conservatively or as “traditionally Indian” as our desi counterparts? Well we are called NRIs for a reason. How can you expect an NRI to be as “desi” as someone who was brought up in “desiland” itself. Moreso, you’re also conveniently ignoring the fact that there are plenty of city kids from places like Delhi and Mumbai who are even more Westernized than most NRIs you’d meet! Stop being so close minded and putting people into boxes with labels!
5. “You Must Be A Big Fan Of SRK”
Of course, we’re not going to deny the fact that SRK is a talented actor, but can we please move on from him? We’re not trying to disrespect the man as he’s a legend but lately we’ve had plenty of other talented actors come out of Bollywood. The truth is that not every Indian is a fan of Shah Rukh Khan. Heck, not every Indian is a fan of Bollywood! We have so many other interesting film industries like Malayalam cinema, Tamil cinema and Telugu cinema.
6. “Do All Indians Eat Curry?”
The diversity of India can truly be represented through its delicious food and drinks. We have butter chicken, vindaloo, chicken ghee roast, etc. Sure, we love our curries and like to eat spicy food but this is ignorant to say! You can’t ignore the fact that so many people in India are vegetarian or the fact that many simply don’t enjoy eating curry. It’s as silly as an Indian assuming all Americans live on a diet of burgers and bacon.
7. “You’re Probably Going To Have An Arranged Marriage”
Firstly, not every Indian has had an arranged marriage. We’re not sure if you’ve noticed but we live in 2021 and not in the 1960s. In today’s modern era, most women and men have the freedom to choose their partners. Sure, we’re not going to deny the fact that arranged marriages exist but even they have moved into a more modern avatar. Gone are the days of the bride and groom meeting one day before the wedding (or on the day of their wedding). Now, even those entering into an arranged marriage setup choose to date and get to know each other before the big day.
8. “Your Yoga Skills Must Be Top Notch”
Yeah every Indian totally knows Baba Ramdev’s level of Yoga and we all collectively do yoga meets and prayers together. Didn’t you know that every Indian owns a yoga mat and your Indian card gets taken away if you don’t?
9. “I’ve Heard India Is As Hot As A Furnace”
The weather in India is extremely hot and humid, sure, but our weather is actually quite pleasant most of the year. However whenever we visit India, we’re advised to pack cotton clothes, this is especially so during winters. Have you also forgotten the fact that the Himalayas run through India? How can India be “hot as a furnace” when we have a mixture of all climates?
Regardless of whether you’ve been living abroad all your life or you’re an Indian who’s just been living abroad for a few months, we guarantee that you’ve faced some of these questions, at least. Do let us know if you’ve heard any of these statements in the past in the comment section below!
