.
 . By T.V. Antony Raj

.

.

Why do people dislike Indian students? A convoluted question indeed!

Indian students in Australia presume they happen to be specifically targeted for their ethnicity. However, the Australian government agencies say that non Indians assaulted Indians for their pricey possessions such as cell phones as well as laptops. Both correct to a limited extent.

How do Indian students fare in America?

I came to the United States nine months ago. I have still not come across a non-Indian who totally admired any Indian or India. Moreover, American school teachers, white and Afro, have to endure students from almost every country on earth including India.

Recently, my nephew Manoj sent me an email with an attachment that he said would put a smile on my face. Certainly it did, and it also answered my question: “Why do people dislike Indian students?”

On the first day of school, a new student named Chandrasekar Ganapathy alias Chandru, who had come to the US recently sat in the fourth grade.

The teacher said: “Let’s begin by reviewing some American History. Who said ‘Give me Liberty, or give me Death’?”

She saw just blank faces except Chandru who had his hand up: “Patrick Henry, 1775” he said.

“Very good!” the teacher said. She asked the next question: “Who said ‘Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth’?”

Again no response came from the class except Chandru. “Abraham Lincoln, 1863,” said Chandru.

The teacher snapped at the class: “Class, you should be ashamed. Chandrasekar, new to our country, knows more about our history than you do.”

She heard a loud whisper: “F*** the Indians.”

“Who said that?” she demanded.

Chandru, his hand raised said: “General Custer, 1862.”

At that point, a student in the back said: “I’m gonna puke.”

The teacher turned around and asked: “All right! Now, who said that?”

Again, it was Chandru who answered: “Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991.”

Another furious student yelled: “Oh yeah? Suck this!”

Chandru jumped out of his chair and waving his hand and shouted: “Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997.”

Now with almost mob hysteria someone said: “You little shit. If you say anything more, I’ll kill you.”

Chandru yelled: “Michael Jackson to the child witnesses testifying against him, 2004.”

The teacher fainted and fell on the floor. As the class gathered around her someone said: “Oh shit, we’re screwed!”Chandru said quietly: “I think it was Lehmann Brothers, November 4, 2008.”