Is it my imagination or has the traveller of Indian origin become a much more disciplined and pleasant person? On board the dreaded economy class, Air India, I was shocked to find that there wasn’t a single drunkard; most people were well-mannered, they formed queues, and even the toilets were clean! What could possibly have happened?

One reason could be that on my flight were mostly NRIs (non-resident Indians) returning to the UK, and they may have already learnt the goodness of “thank you” and “please”. One elderly Punjabi lady in a trouser suit took a little time extra in the loo for a very unusual reason. She said she was cleaning up the sink because, as she pointed out, many people did not read the sign which said to wipe it dry. I was totally stunned. Perhaps, now, finally, globalisation and the Western concept of public hygiene have begun to sink in. Is the NRI going to bring in a revolution into hard-held casual Indian attitudes towards cleanliness and even politeness? Could this also be the result of Indians abroad responding to the changing positive attitudes towards their home country? Or is this their natural response and they are simply demonstrating the values they have learnt abroad, reflected in their day-to-day life? I would like to think that it is a mix of both. Indians are growing up!
Another quaint, refreshing and unusual vision on-board the flight was the number of young husbands helping out with their children. One rather rough hewn Punjabi lad, sitting next to me, could even be nominated for a “Father of the Year” award! He was travelling alone with his baby girl and seemed to be totally enthralled with her. He sat with his head literally next to the bassinet, gazing upon her and watching her every move with a warmth and affection that was heartwarming. Out of curiosity I asked him where the mother was, because his devotion was simply mind-boggling.
Of course, he turned out to be a rustic boy married to an NRI bride. She had a job in the UK, had taken her Easter break in India and returned earlier, leaving the husband to look after the child with his family back home. Now he was heading back to the UK with his daughter — and believe me I have never seen a more besotted parent. He was holding the child throughout the journey as though she was the most precious thing that had ever happened to him. Those who have often spoken about the male Punjabi attitude towards baby girls would have been forced to eat their words at the sight of this young father. He was just about proficient with his English, and very home grown, but his care and tenderness reminded me a lot of the British fathers I have seen here. Was this boy just a rarity, or have male attitudes changed, especially towards daughters and helping with housework? Maybe change is coming.
Or, perhaps, I had died and gone to Air India heaven; because astonishingly, even the airhostesses seemed to have been affected by the pleasantness of the passengers. Even though (as usual) many things were out-of-order: the remote control was not working, the television set was on the blink and the overhead reading light had collapsed. But the air hostesses were running around responding cheerily to the demands of passengers, bringing the extra drink or cup of tea without looking like we were ruining their afternoon nap.
They were careful with the elderly and anxious about the younger children. They were even better dressed and looking less like the no-nonsense matriarchs that one often encounters on these flight.
But this is more than what one can say for the ground staff in Delhi, who were their usual incompetent selves. For instance, despite the fact that I had a reserved seat the young woman at the counter kept denying it cheerily and insisted on issuing me another one. Finally I did complain to the help desk, who (without a single query or contradiction) changed my boarding card to the original seat! So why did they waste my time in the first place? Incomprehensible! There is a lot to be said about Indian inefficiency when actually back in India, but perhaps another time! Right now I am just blissfully enjoying the small positive impacts in the lifestyle of the NRI, and the global Indian — and hoping that there is an actual progressive trend!

MEANWHILE, IN the UK, as the ruling alliance completed one year this week, coalition blues still carry on, and there is a growing perception that getting into bed with partners who have wildly different agendas might not be the best way of clinging onto power. The Liberal Democrats who have formed an uneasy alliance with the Conservatives find their own vote bank shrinking rapidly. The leadership, especially that of the deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and some of his cohorts such as Vince Cable, the business secretary, is constantly being criticised for not being able to stand up for the LibDem agenda. As the two parties released their own lists of “achievements” it was obvious that it is the Conservatives who have been dominating — and indeed, even gaining in popularity. Maintaining “coalition dharma” is a hard act to follow, and the slightest rebellion or discriminatory policy on either side can have a huge impact on the morale and standing of that party, as we have found even in the recent elections in India.
Perhaps now, as one has marriage counselors, the time is right to have “coalition counsellors” all over the world — experts who can advise politicians what do in difficult times. In the old days, as in most marriages, political parties could get together and stitch up their own agreements — but in the present days of transparency and constant media surveillance it may be necessary to enunciate not only formal pre-nuptial agreements but also understand what the division of the spoils will be. However, as is obvious, coalition dharma and marriage dharma do not follow the same rules. In a marriage you can still have a civilised parting and an egalitarian share of the equity, but in politics it is a winner takes all situation… and often it is the “perceived” junior (or “misbehaving”) partner that often carries the can.
Thus, as the coalition rule book is being re-written all over the world, all one can say is that “uneasy lies the head that wears the coalition crown...”

The author can be contacted at kishwardesai@yahoo.com