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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.)

Sculpting Maharashtra's cultural legacy for the world

Mumbai: In a monumental recognition of a monumental career, eminent sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar was conferred with the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award’, the highest civilian honour of the state by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday.


Born on February 19, 1925, at Gondur village of Dhule in North Maharashtra Ram Sutar is one of India’s most celebrated and prolific sculptors. A Gold Medalist from the prestigious Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, he is a master of realistic sculptures, working primarily in bronze. Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Sutar has created over 8,000 sculptures, including some of the world's largest and most significant monuments. He has been honored with India's third and fourth-highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan (2016) and Padma Shri (1999), and the Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year 2024, cementing his place as an icon of Maharashtra's artistic heritage.


While Sutar’s most famous work is the monumental Statue Of Unity (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) in Gujarat, his roots and several key projects directly connect him to Maharashtra, serving as global or national ambassadors for the region's culture and iconic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.


Maratha pride

As a son of Maharashtra, Sutar has immortalized the state’s foremost historical hero, the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. An equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (21 ft. high Bronze) is installed at the Parliament House, New Delhi, making the symbol of Maratha pride a permanent feature in India's capital. He also created its replica for the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.


Furthermore, he is credited with the final design for the proposed monumental statue of the king in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, which would be an internationally recognized landmark.


Sutar made 18-foot tall statue of Dr. Ambedkar is installed in the Parliament. He and his son, Anil Sutar, are currently working on the Statue of Equality at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at Indu Mills in Mumbai, a mammoth project that will cement Ambedkar's legacy on a global scale.


Global reach

Sutar's mastery in sculpting lifelike figures of national leaders, often drawing inspiration from his formative years studying art and restoring sculptures at the Ajanta and Ellora Caves (Maharashtra), has given his work immense international visibility. His bust of Mahatma Gandhi, praised for its realistic and dignified representation, has been selected for installation in over 450 cities worldwide across countries like the USA, France, Russia, Australia, and the UK. While Gandhi is a national figure, Sutar's unique artistic interpretation, honed by his training in Mumbai, represents the finesse of Indian, and by extension, Maharashtrian, sculpting excellence to a global audience. His ability to capture the subtle human emotion and realism in bronze, a quality developed from his early studies in Mumbai, is often compared to the masters like Rodin and Michelangelo, drawing international attention to a master artist born and trained in Maharashtra.


In essence, Ram Sutar's colossal and internationally placed sculptures of key leaders and historical figures, particularly those rooted in Maharashtra’s history have projected the state's cultural identity, history, and artistic excellence onto the world stage.

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