From garba on airport tarmacs to buffet-breakfast misdemeanours, the Great Indian Tourist has become a global stereotype. The uncomfortable question is: have we earned it?
We were checking out of a hotel in Singapore last year. Our luggage was down with the concierge, and we were waiting for our airport transfer. Ordinarily, we would have waited in the lobby, but it was full. A group of Indian travellers, just landed from des, had spread themselves across the sofas and were unpacking bags to get at their snacks; some were catching up on shut-eye while their rooms were being readied. Feet up. On the sofas. In the lobby.