Hello Good Morning.

What does it tell you? Not much huh?
But it all started with my first trip to Goa in 1995 ( it seems like 1995, it better be). We (me and bunch of eyes wide opened 18 something Uni boys) arrive at Margaon ( I prefer Mudgaon) and I jump out of the bus which took whole night to arrive in Goa, to the nearest sales stall to buy some …well something to eat ( we all skipped dinner last night to get to GOA) so I jumped down the bus to the shop, and I heard some one saying ‘ Hello Brother good morning how can I help you”? It was the first time someone called me as brother that too in perfect English…I loved it.

CUT to London: Hyde park my first day…and since it was next to my apartment, I went there for morning jog…the moment I entered. okay give it 20secs..I got a ‘good morning’ which was socking for me….noone wished me in my neighborhood back in India.
I also thought that this guy is mad….but years down the line and till last week..when I came back from ‘my’ London…I was greeted or acknowledged in Hyde park by many with either ‘good morning’ or ‘Hello’. Just a week before that I was in Australia for deep sea diving and snorkeling on great barrier reef..I was greeted without fail with a hello or a good morning on the beach by all strangers…..
At first I was like ‘Why are they saying Hello or Good morning to me’ ‘are they from press looking for an interview but I was in a secluded part of the world…so it can’t be.

So over time I’ve bumped into many Indians in London, Canada, Australia, US and in India….. I hardly find any Indian saying ‘Hello’ or ‘Good morning’ to anyone leave a fellow Indian ( they don’t even smile or acknowledge another Indian)
WHY?
Are we so ashamed to be an Indian?

So two questions:
1. Why can’t we open up and greet a stranger with a ‘Hello’ or ‘Good Morning’ or a Namaste’
2. While abroad, why can’t an Indian look into another Indian’s eye and say ‘Hello’ or ‘Namaste’?

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