We Indians have a different approach towards things and we invariably end up making a mark for ourselves due to our approach and thinking.
We had gone to visit the Elephanta caves for a day excursion. True to our Indianess we had packed a lot of food and Indian snacks.
Once we landed there,we found there was quite a lot to see and enjoy. Soon after we reached there it became cloudy and a heavy rain started. By the time it was time for us to go back we found the sea had become choppy.
By now most people had already left . Only our family was there along with a group of 3-4 foreigners who were to return in our boat. Due to the storm and the choppy waters the boat that was to come to collect us could not come to take us back. It meant that we were stranded for the night with no hotel or restaurant open to feed us.
The foreign tourist were in a state of panic as they had no food. Their tourist guide was trying to pacify them.
This is when my mother suggested that we should share our home food with them. I approached their tour guide and offered that the group should join us.
The guide told them about our offer. They looked perplexed and stood in a huddle talking animatedly and discussing what to do. Hunger won over reluctance and they agreed to join us.
We spread a dhurry and a sheet that we were carrying and placed the food over it. Soon we were eating and having a good time together with rounds of jokes and chit chat. We had found new friends and they had found a new host. The Indian tradition of carry food and extending our hospitality to total strangers had saved the day not only for us but also was a great eye opener for those foreign tourists who found this tradition to be very exemplary. When we parted ways they thanked us saying thank god you had food and you offered to share it with us. To this we responded it is not just food. We have our Ma (mother) who made it all possible. They nodded. We had met as strangers stranded on an island but parted as good friends. This is one aspect of us Indians that they would never forget.
Indian hospitality is part of our culture. Where ever we go we take our values and hospitality with us. People have begun to take note of our unique traits and realising that we are #MoreIndianThanYouThink bit.ly/2oQTj8q
