A "Burmese" story of my generation

We have heard many stories of many repressive rulers from 70s-80s and even a bit in to 90s across the world.

Africa, where scores of asylum seekers landed up in USA during Idi Amin, Gadaffi rules. Pakistan - during ever running proxy ruling by military, Afganistan during taliban ruling.

Mostly religious  extremists, or power crazed politicians with military authority has driven these sad stories across countries. And clearly in last two decades, there is a decrease in the count of such countries.

However, I never heard, a personal, heartfelt story of immigrants from Burma to USA during late 80s.

This gentleman, who is a  colleague settled in USA for last 20 yrs, was a student of medicine in Burma - during 80s. A country which is Buddhist in religion - the most peaceful religion ever practiced has one of the longest running military rule. What an irony !!!

During the 80s, the colleges naturally became the center of unrest, and rebel against soldier rule ! The epicenter of the desire to live fearlessly as a normal society.

The soldiers closed all the schools, Kindergarten to University, for 8 years to suppress this !!! Taking away fundamental education for 8 complete years from an entire civilization is actually a huge blow to the society. Most poor countries use education as the only currency to thrive and grow ! And that only thing was taken away for so long.

My colleague becomes almost meditative narrating those days. He somehow made it to the shores of USA, did an engineering degree (switched from medicine) and landed up in the thriving tech industry of Bay Area.

It was a very touching story for me.. and shocking too coming from a peace loving Buddhist civilization.

A new concern for the American Desi's

Since I relocated back to India, a decade ago, and unlike others - ended up actually staying in India all along (not returned back in 2-3 yrs as it happens to almost all of reverse-migrants), I am a popular subject when I go to USA for a short business visit.

However, all along the excitement to talk to me among the fellow country men in the Bay Area tech sector has been primarily fueled by one factor  - 

Perception on a responsibility of title growth that is faster in India within the same company.  Clearly in most of their mind, I have DONE at least one thing right to be perceived as some one growing, and that being "relocating to India". To make it more convincing, I always second that convincingly - "You know what ? I was there at the right time in the right place" ! Which is TRUE, may not be COMPLETE.

But, then quickly the excitement and idea of coming back to India, to try the hands at professional growth, vanishes through a 15 min conversation. "Traffic is horrible. No sense of civility as people defecate/urinate in the public. No bribe no work" etc.

The myriad concerns of the American Desi !!!

However, last week when I was there, and as usual a lot of people stopped by to talk. "how is India ?"
But this time there was a new concern ! Everyone asking the same thing. "I hear kids going to school are being raped by their teachers!"  How can you live in that country ?

All other concerns have taken a back seat ! Its "rape" that has gone to the top of the list. This concern has been expressed in front of me so many times, that it has started influencing my verbiage.