I
see you, dear Indian tourist, I see you everywhere. You with the
cowboy hat shielding your head from the sun; your sneakers in stark
contrast to the fancy salwar kameez and nayi dulhan ka chooda; your
DSLR’s and expensive camera mobiles proudly on display.
I
see you, and hear you, loud and clear, as you crack insensitive jokes
about the exhibits on display at the museum, making sure everyone
knows how funny and cool you are.
I
see you, every corner I turn, posing for the camera, taking selfie
after selfie, in pursuit of the perfect frame, the next profile
picture; clicking crazy pictures in crazy poses with your bunch of
crazy friends.
I see you, showing no
interest whatsoever in the monument, preferring to spend more time
photographing every inch of the place, not pausing to admire the
intricacies of the architecture or taking in the breathtaking view
from atop the fort, so that you can "arre facebook pe upload
karenge", eager to show the world that yes, you are a "traveler"
too, you've seen places of interest too.
I
see you, letting your bratty kids climb atop monuments that have been
preserved for centuries, blind to the very prominent board just next
to it that says "Climbing on the steps is strictly prohibited",
all for the sake of making happy memories.
I
see you, skulking around large groups of tourists, eavesdropping on
their
guide that they
paid for, the same guide you had brushed off just outside the gate
because you are too cool to be walking around with a tour guide, but
not so cool that you won't soak in some heritage passively.
I
see you, declaring your love for your paramour by scribbling your
names inside a heart at places that have been declared as places of
heritage; Or your bonds of friendship forever. Because isn't
destroying a national monument the ultimate test of true love and
friendship.
I
see you, spitting on the roads and walls of this new city that you
have set out to explore, leaving a filthy, paan-stained legacy behind.
I
see you, wearing stilettos for a visit to the fort where you have
about two hours of walking, climbing and tottering to do. You are
either ill-informed, or just phenominally stupid.
Athithi devo
bhava, my ass.
