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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.)

Overcoming Challenges: Solutions for Junior Doctors

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Junior Doctors

For the last two months, we have all been reading about the rape-murder case of a young lady doctor in Kolkata. Being a doctor and a father of two daughters, I felt extremely dehumanised and furious.


In the aftermath of this horrific incident, nearly every television channel focused on boosting their TRPs by sensationalising the story. One channel repeatedly emphasised that the female doctor had worked non-stop for 36 hours. I couldn’t help but wonder, 'Has anything really changed in the past 30 years since I was a resident?' For doctors, this gruelling routine is the norm, and we rarely speak out. Administrators are aware but remain complacent because doctors don't complain. Meanwhile, the public remains oblivious to the reality and continues to suffer. This article delves into the challenges faced by junior doctors in India and offers potential solutions. Let’s explore them:


Challenge 1: The number of medical seats is significantly low—while the ideal doctor-patient ratio is 1:1000, in India, it stands at 1:1700.

Solutions:

A) increasing medical seats to align with the population

B) Retaining doctors within the country

C) Implementing policies to encourage doctors to serve in rural areas

D) Improve infrastructure and telemedicine facilities

Challenge 2: Excessive workload and extended working hours—Junior doctors face no fixed duty schedules or regular breaks, resulting in burnout and stress and an increased risk of medical errors due to mental exhaustion.

Solution: Establish fixed duty hours for doctors and make this legally binding. At the very least, law-abiding doctors will adhere to the rule if it is made mandatory.


Challenge 3: Dealing with pressure from seniors and inadequate mentorship—seniors often overburden juniors with excessive tasks, as they too face similar pressures. Some even delegate personal errands to juniors. Additionally, a structured learning framework does not exist for junior doctors.

Solution:

A) Senior doctors should be mandated to mentor juniors.

B) Residency programs must be strictly enforced, with a more structured and standardised curriculum that includes practical assessments.

Challenge 4: Low stipends, financial stress, and poor living conditions in medical colleges—most resident doctors come from lower-middle-class families and already face financial strain. Hostel and mess facilities in colleges are substandard, and the stipend is inadequate, especially compared to the heavy workload and high cost of living in cities.

Solution:

A) Increase stipend

B) Ensure better living conditions and infrastructure in medical colleges.


Challenge 5: Safety from violence—this has become a major concern, with doctors facing verbal and physical abuse on an almost daily basis.

Solution:

A) Junior doctors should receive training in communication skills and mob psychology.

B) Senior doctors should be present when delivering bad news, ensuring that it is communicated in the presence of junior doctors.

C) Increase the number of security personnel and install CCTV cameras in workplaces.

D) Enforce strict laws and ensure their implementation against violence.

E) All doctors should be trained in self-defence.


Challenge 6: Mental health issues—stress from senior doctors, long working hours, high expectations, and the pressure of caring for critically ill patients contribute to depression and anxiety among junior doctors.

Solution: Regular counselling

Challenge 7: Poor work-life balance―the demanding residency leaves little time for personal life, relationships, and self-care, leading to burnout.

Solution: Fix working hours and mandatory leaves.

Challenge 9: Limited resources and infrastructure in hospitals, particularly in overcrowded public facilities, lead to errors in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients.

Solution: Effective resource allocation and investment in infrastructure are essential.

Challenge 10: Administrative issues—delays in decision-making and inadequate allocation of funds contribute to increased stress for doctors.

Solution:

A) Streamline administrative processes

B) Ensuring clear, transparent, and efficient implementation of policies.


There may be other issues that need to be addressed; however, the major problems with us, the so-called intellectual doctors, are:

1) A lack of unity and a tendency towards selfishness.

A culture of tolerance that prevents us from openly discussing our challenges, allowing politicians and administrators to exploit the situation.


We must unite, speak out, and advocate for our issues. No one else will solve our problems; it is up to us to fight for ourselves. If we do not, we will be the ones ultimately blaming our sacred profession.


Jago Doctors! Jago!


(The author is a leading cardiac surgeon in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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