India Today Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Maybe, I’m prejudiced. Why Indians
On high visible spots behave badly?
Think it is great to address by designation,
Or first name, and speak more
Than one interviewed, keep
Interrupting, passing judgements?
Forgotten to be decent,
Pleasant in public, or on TV,
Like the stain on the full moon?

We get now many channels,
Like the mountain streams in monsoon:
And everywhere else in the world,
See picture of civilized friendliness.
India in the past was generous,
Simple: student-visitors
From far-off places,
Like Jesus etc at Nalanda,
Sat at the feet of our masters.

Today, believe me, we are held in contempt
For our arrogance, and boorish behaviour.
Sharing Nobel prize for Chemistry,
Ramakrishnan says ‘it’s a mistake to define
Good work by award’: pleasure to read,
But this Tamil has taken US citizenship!