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By:

Naresh Kamath

5 November 2024 at 5:30:38 am

Indian Tourists Need a Reputation Reset

India has long taken pride in the philosophy of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ - the belief that guests deserve warmth, respect and dignity. It is an idea deeply woven into the country’s cultural imagination, often been projected as a defining Indian value. As millions of Indians travel overseas every year, the conduct of a small but highly visible section of Indian tourists is increasingly shaping how India itself is perceived abroad. The issue is not about a single incident or a handful of viral...

Indian Tourists Need a Reputation Reset

India has long taken pride in the philosophy of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ - the belief that guests deserve warmth, respect and dignity. It is an idea deeply woven into the country’s cultural imagination, often been projected as a defining Indian value. As millions of Indians travel overseas every year, the conduct of a small but highly visible section of Indian tourists is increasingly shaping how India itself is perceived abroad. The issue is not about a single incident or a handful of viral videos but a pattern that is drawing notice from hotels, tourism operators and local authorities across the world. The debate gained fresh momentum after reports emerged of a Swiss hotel issuing a notice specifically addressed to Indian guests. The advisory reportedly requested guests not to pack food from breakfast buffets for later consumption and reminded them to maintain silence in corridors and balconies. Hotels routinely issue guidelines. But when a particular nationality becomes the subject of a specific advisory, it inevitably raises larger questions about perception. “It is a sorry state of affairs. Indians, especially in groups, are displaying atrocious behaviour. This was anyway bound to happen,” says Subhash Motwani, founder of Namaste Tourism. Embarrassing Incidents Whether the notice was justified is another separate matter. The question is why such perceptions are emerging in the first place. Recent months have seen several incidents involving Indian tourists gain traction on social media. One widely circulated video showed travellers performing garba on an airport tarmac in Vietnam. Garba is among India’s most vibrant cultural traditions and a source of immense pride for millions. Yet airports are highly regulated spaces where safety protocols and discipline take precedence over celebration. The incident became symbolic of a larger problem. The rise of social media has encouraged some travellers to treat foreign destinations as stages for content creation. Public dancing, loud celebrations, disruptive behaviour and attention-seeking stunts may generate views and engagement online, but they can also leave lasting impressions on locals and fellow tourists. India is hardly the first country to confront such a challenge. During the 1950s and 1960s, American tourists acquired a reputation for arrogance abroad, giving rise to the phrase “Ugly American.” Britain spent decades dealing with the international embarrassment caused by football hooliganism. China faced similar concerns as outbound tourism surged during the early years of the twenty-first century. A nation’s image is shaped not just by its economic achievements and diplomatic influence but also by the behaviour of its citizens overseas. India today finds itself in a similar situation. Indian tourists are now among the most visible traveller groups across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This is, in many ways, a remarkable success story. However, with visibility comes responsibility. Hospitality professionals across destinations frequently point to recurring concerns. Excessive noise, queue-jumping, disregard for local regulations, overcrowding hotel rooms and attempts to bypass established rules through jugaad are among the complaints often cited. Collectively, repeated experiences can create lasting perceptions. The most revealing aspect of the debate is that Indian travellers often display exemplary discipline in countries known for strict law enforcement. In destinations such as Singapore, the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, compliance with rules is generally high. Complaints tend to emerge more frequently in places perceived as relaxed or lenient. That suggests the challenge is not one of awareness. Most travellers understand the rules perfectly well. The problem is often a mindset that rules can be negotiated when consequences appear unlikely. Changing that mindset is far more important than introducing additional regulations or issuing fresh advisories. Every interaction at an airport, hotel, restaurant, tourist attraction or public transport system contributes to how a country is viewed. These everyday encounters often shape perceptions more powerfully than government campaigns or tourism advertisements. As India stakes its claim to a larger role in the world, its citizens must recognise that national prestige is shaped not only by economic achievements and diplomatic successes, but also by everyday behaviour abroad. The overwhelming majority of Indian tourists travel responsibly and leave behind positive impressions. Their conduct rarely becomes news because courtesy seldom goes viral. Yet a handful of highly visible incidents can overshadow thousands of positive experiences. The challenge is to encourage responsible travel and a greater awareness that behaviour abroad carries consequences beyond the individual. The conduct of Indian citizens overseas should reflect the confidence and values of a nation seeking not merely recognition but enduring respect. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

From Body to Bliss: Essential Yogic Principles to Know

Not mere exercise, yoga is much more than posture – it is the art of aligning the body with the soul.

Yoga is not just a fitness routine or a set of postures. It is a complete science of living – connecting body, breath, mind, intellect, and spirit. Rooted in the wisdom of the Vedas and codified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, yoga offers practical tools for harmony in daily life. To practise yoga meaningfully, it is vital to understand its core foundations. Let’s explore five key concepts that shape the yogic path: Koshas, Prana & Nadis, Elements, Chakras, and the Gunas.


Five Sheaths (Pancha Kosha)

Human existence is described in the Taittiriya Upanishad as five layers, or koshas.

Annamaya (Physical): Nourished by food, made of the five elements. Balanced with asana, kriya, and pranayama.

Pranamaya (Energy): Governs life force and connects body with mind through breath.

Manomaya (Mental): Seat of emotions and thoughts. Balance here brings emotional stability.

Vijnanamaya (Wisdom): Intellect and higher knowledge. Sharpened by study, reflection, and meditation.

Anandamaya (Bliss): Pure joy, closest to the Self. Experienced in deep meditation.

Yoga is essentially a journey from the physical to the blissful sheath.


Prana and Nadis

Prana is the vital life force. It flows through subtle channels called nadis. Of the 72,000 nadis, three are central:

Ida (moon): Cooling, linked to the mind.

Pingala (sun): Heating, linked to action.

Sushumna: The central pathway, balancing both and leading to spiritual awakening.


Breath practices purify these nadis, allowing prana to flow freely. Modern science mirrors this wisdom—alternate nostril breathing, for instance, is shown to calm the nervous system and balance both hemispheres of the brain.


Five Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)

The body and the universe are made of the same five elements – “Pindi te Brahmandi” (the microcosm reflects the macrocosm).

Earth (Prithvi): Bones, muscles – grounding.

Water (Jal): Blood, fluids – flow and flexibility.

Fire (Agni): Digestion, energy transformation.

Air (Vayu): Breath, circulation – movement.

Space (Akasha): Sound, communication – vastness.


Balancing these through yoga brings health, stability, and cosmic harmony.


Chakras (Shat Chakra)

Seven energy centres line the spine, each with a seed sound (bija mantra) and unique qualities:

Muladhara (Root): Stability. Lam.

Swadhisthana (Sacral): Creativity. Vam.

Manipura (Solar Plexus): Willpower. Ram.

Anahata (Heart): Love. Yam.

Vishuddhi (Throat): Expression. Ham.

Ajna (Third Eye): Intuition. Om.

Sahasrara (Crown): Higher consciousness. Silence/Om.


Kundalini energy, coiled at the root like a serpent, rises upward through these chakras, awakening higher states of awareness. Each chakra not only supports spiritual growth but also reflects emotional health and personal expression.


Three Gunas

All of nature is guided by three qualities:

Sattva: Purity, clarity, wisdom.

Rajas: Energy, drive, restlessness.

Tamas: Inertia, ignorance, heaviness.


Through yoga, sattva is cultivated, leading to balance, calmness, and clarity. Even food and lifestyle choices affect the gunas—fresh, light meals increase sattva, while overstimulation or lethargy fuels rajas and tamas.


Yoga is far more than physical exercise. It is the art of aligning the microcosm within with the macrocosm outside. By understanding its core concepts – the koshas, prana, elements, chakras, and gunas – yoga becomes a tool for inner transformation. When practised with awareness, yoga not only changes how the body feels – it reshapes how life itself is experienced, helping practitioners live with greater balance, resilience, and joy.

(The writer is a yoga educator and researcher based in Pune.)

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