Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial palace of Sultan Qaboos of Oman
In the last two weeks at Muscat, I visited the opera house, Grand Mosque, Sultan’s ceremonial palace, the Wadi Dayqah dam and quite a few museums (the defence museum being one of them) too. And I was struck by one thing. Nowhere was the camera disallowed. I mean there were places where I was not allowed to take pictures (or videos as the case may be), which is understandable, but visitors were allowed to keep their cameras with them at all times. Incidentally, I have experienced the same in some other countries too.
Contrast this with what happens in India. Not only are there ridiculous and obsolete rules about not taking pictures at many locations, at almost all museums and other places of interest, you are expected to deposit your camera, your mobile too if you are carrying one, before you can proceed. They don’t trust you to follow rules.
This depositing of cameras is a scary prospect. Apart from the fear you have of your valuable camera lying where its safety cannot be guaranteed is the greater one, of it being mishandled in your absence. Carelessly pushed aside, perhaps dropped, knobs turned and broken, anything could happen, with no one willing to take responsibility if indeed it does, the only loser being you.
Anyways, that’s not what I wanted to talk about. It is this: How come visitors are trusted to abide by rules in Oman (and other countries too), but not in India? Does that say something about us as a people? Are we not trustworthy? Do we lack integrity? But then more than half the people I saw over there were Indians. So is it that Indians behave better when they are over there, but cannot be trusted to follow rules in their own country?
At the Defence Museum in Muscat, for example, we were told we could take pictures but not videos. Just that. We were trusted to do the right thing. When will that happen here? People tell me there are probably cameras monitoring visitors over there. I don’t know about that. I feel such statements are ways to brush aside the fact that in reality we Indians think getting away with things is rather cool. The majority of us think so. If you are told ‘no photographs’ then taking them without being caught is what you do and later bragging about it. There is no iota of shame in going against rules, and no pride in abiding by them for the greater good.
How many have we heard bragging about getting away with things, rules and watchful eyes notwithstanding? The funny thing (not that I find it funny in that sense) is the secret admiration and envy such actions draw from others around. No, they don’t frown or express disapproval, I have noticed. The derisive laughter is reserved for the *sissies* who stick to rules. I should know, I have been laughed at, quite a few times. That’s the attitude that has to change, this hero-worship of those who do wrong. As a population, we need to learn to become trustworthy.
I know most may not like what I am saying. They haven’t when I have brought it up in conversations. They brought up Harishchandra as an example. He was the epitome of honesty, they told me. And you think that’s enough, to have one fictional character who was honest? Maybe a dozen more? I certainly do not deny there are individuals among us with integrity, but as a population, sorry, we lack the quality. Instead of getting all defensive, perhaps a little soul-searching on the matter won’t hurt.
©Shail Mohan 2016
Shail's Nest 
Yea I noticed Indians are much more behaved when abroad than when in India. It’s pretty obvious that other countries have stricter rules and laws where no one can get away with anything, especially in US. However amongs relatives andt close kinship they still have the habit to stab each other in the back and be cunning in many ways
You’d think they would learn more when in a different country but it’s still the same, whether India or US.
I agree. Talk of a great culture or past is not enough. A population has to reflect that greatness for it to be true.
I agree one hundred percent with your views
So many of us don’t follow rules, leave alone cues
That’s why many a politician
Who is fully steeped in corruption
Gets adulating votes instead of abuse!
Word, Gul.
I dont blame our museum officials for not trusting us though I hate handing over my camera at the counter. I bought my cam and lens after saving for almost a year and I literally treat it like a baby.
Hooligans have no respect for our museums or heritage sites. Crudely drawn images of breasts and penises on the walls, Rama loves shyam, phone numbers (call 99*** for a good time) etc written on centuries old walls – really disgusting.
I remember my friend sneakily taking pics inside lotus temple despite numerous requests and warnings. When I told her please dont, she said I was just jealous.
Outside India, you do wrong, you have to face the music. Here a 100 rupee note cum pleas (or the classic ‘do you know who I am’)will take care of everything.
Exactly my point. We as a people lack integrity and in addition are destructive by nature. Btw, same thing about my camera too. I have returned home after driving all the way to see some places because I didn’t want to hand over my camera at the entrance or leave it in the car.
I’ve been to India a number of times, and I’ve seen, how rules are disregarded everywhere. At the same time, I have also student with many students, here in the UK, who were from India – and guess what – they were no different to us UK residents, and like everyone never had an issue with anyone from India breaking rules.
I have question the very same questions myself, and I think it does come down to ‘responsibility’. In many countries, like Oman, the public are given the responsibility of respecting local laws and customs – unless no one falls foul to them, everything is fine. In India, the local people, I don’t believe trust the authorities to give them real responsibilities and the authorities don’t trust the public to be given responsibilities – so you have this – disunity and mistrust between both parties which causes the mass public to do what they want and disregards the rules and customs.
Bingo! Your last sentence sums it all up perfectly.
I think we must learn to abide by rules and respect places. High time. Too much rules stifle the trust and something authorities must ponder on. It’s a two way traffic.
Thank you for your comment, Vishal 🙂
I am with you on this. I dont talk of this cause this is my peeve with my own countrymen and I always hear comments like “You arent living here so you find everything about us Bad.” Really?
And I watch Indians here in the US break rules too, in subtle ways. It rankles me. It feels like there is something amiss in our DNA, we just like to do the wrong things, we like to mess up everything that is good and noble.
Look up the words Proxy interviews and you will know what I mean. Not once does it occur to the idiots that when you dont do the right thing, stricter laws come in place and bureaucracy becomes the norm, making it difficult for every other law abiding person to work their lives.
Proxy interviews. Really 😮 😮 What are these people thinking?!!
//”we just like to do the wrong things, we like to mess up everything that is good and noble”// And then claim we are the best, noblest, and whatever-else-est. 😦