Things That Bang

Indian netizens are in a tizzy although the rest of urban India has yet to catch up on the news. At Select City Walk in Saket, New Delhi, the new ice cream parlour selling Haagen-Dazs ice cream put up a sign: Preview Only For International Travellers.

The individual who took the photograph and holds an international passport was also not allowed in since he was an Indian. The franchise owner who happens to be an Indian took the sign down and claims the signboard never existed but the photograph proves otherwise.

The Twitter crowd has already taken the up the protest banner under the hashtag #HaagenDazsucks. The news is spreading like virtual wildfire to ensure the fiasco is known to as many people as possible. After #chetanblocks and the 'Cow' moment of Shashi Tharoor, it appears, Indian Tweetizens have come of age, as far as virtual protests and mobs are concerned.

An apology from Haagen Dazs is not enough. Pressure should be put on Select CityWalk not to renew the ice cream parlour's lease. What's more people can peacefully picket outside the CityWalk mall in protest.

This is obviously a sensitive issue for Indians and a direct reminder of the Raj period when Indians and dogs weren't allowed into clubs and other 'white' places.

Times of India writer Rajesh Kalra summed it up well under the headline, Sorry, Indians Not Allowed,

Then I felt, why not use the power of the social media? Next thing I knew was that I had put up a few pictures on facebook, added a caption and also sent out a tweet with a request it be retweeted. In a few hours, it had turned into a viral and I started getting messages from angry Indians all over. Why just Indians, even friends in international media wrote to say “this is the stupidest thing they have seen in a long time”.
 
I didn’t stop at that. I ended up calling a few MPs I knew I could speak to bluntly and told them about it, taunting them about it.
 
I don’t know what finally worked, but it seems word did get around to the outlet’s franchisee and they started claiming there never was any restriction on anybody entering the outlet.
 
While this may be considered a victory for people power, I am still unable to figure out who in his right senses would have advised the dessert company to do something so stupid. Was it a way to generate controversy for free publicity? Did they think it will work subliminally on Indians mind that now that it has been ‘certified’ by international travelers it would be good for them too?
 
Whatever it is, it is idiotic. I checked later and found that the franchisee is an Indian company based in Delhi and the man incharge is also an Indian.
 
I have often maintained that we ourselves are our biggest enemies. Our mentality is that of slaves and we think anything is good only if its approved by foreigners, or the “holders of international passport”.

[ADBLOCKHERE]Unfortunately what Rajesh said happens to be true for many urban Indians until they do go to the US or Europe and realize its much ado about nothing. The well-lit Pizza Huts with impeccable service in India are no more than little holes in the wall, one of the many Pizza joints in strip malls along with Domino's and Papa John's.  But let's give them their due - they have gone somewhat native and have lots of items for the Indian palate and like McDonald's are quite successful in India.

Designer bags and shoes are a dime a dozen and the best time to buy shoes in US is during the Thanksgiving and After-Christmas sales, from stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and from regular outlet malls. Exposure to the West is important for it takes away the glamour some Indians suffer from. 

The issue is not about boycotting foriegn brands people can buy whatever they like but racist brands deserve to be boycotted and thrown out of the country. There is no other way of looking at it. I am not indulging in some chest thumping patriotism but stating a fact. 

Some things are unforgivable. 

Posted by Deepti Lamba at 11:02 PM Stumble It! digg this del.icio.us Fark It | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBacks (0)