Why all this uproar about Shah Rukh Khan being detained and questioned by an American immigration official? It is unfortunate, and nobody likes it when it happens, but it is a fact of life. Happens to all of us brown-skinned people all the time. So he’s a superstar in India. That does not mean an American immigration official should know him. Last I heard, SRK hadn’t been issued a diplomatic or otherwise special passport by the Government of India that would enable him to be shown some consideration, or even exemption from such procedures. (Trouble is, in India, everybody and her son-in-law probably wants – and has – that exemption, so it probably wouldn’t count for much even if he had it!)
We have all been ‘selected at random’ for special checking in the US. I have had to take off my shoes once. On another occasion, my checked-in baggage had been opened – locks and all – and a card left in which said my luggage had been ‘randomly selected’ for inspection by, if I remember right, the Transportation Security Authority. Sure. It was randomly selected from a bunch of luggage that belonged to other brown people who also had funny, foreign sounding – perhaps Ay-rab – names. Many people I know have had similar experiences. None of us liked it. But hey, shit happens. Having said that, at another time, an immigration official, on seeing I was from India, actually spent 5 minutes raving to me about how beautiful Aishwarya Rai is. Perhaps there’s a lesson for SRK in there somewhere. If you want inconsequential immigration officials in the US to recognise you, act in crappy Hollywood movies instead of crappy Bollywood movies.
And yes, neither the US government nor anyone else has asked us to bow and genuflect and generally be model servile Indians when Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and others visit India. It is just our pathetic mindset which makes us roll out the red carpet for every white jock and bimbo that visits India. Just because we do it doesn’t mean that every other country abandons its processes or procedures – whether right or wrong, justified or not is another matter; but they exist – to accommodate the million or so Indian VIPs.
Moral of the story: Don’t travel to the US if you have such a problem. Ask your friend not to shoot each and every one of his ‘Indian’ films there. And that goes for all the other people who have expressed anguished outrage over this act. I follow what I preach – I don’t visit the US unless I absolutely have to. As long as someone else can do the job, I am happy to let that person go. And when I do travel to the US, I go with the full knowledge that I will be ‘randomly selected’ for at least a closer look.
Enough with the fucking whining, already.
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Another example of Indian hysterics. Some Chinese guy wrote about how it is in China’s interest to break up India into 20 or 30 states and all good Indians are up in arms! Patriotism is suddenly the flavour of the season, and what with 15th August and all that, Mera Bharat Mahan seems to be the new catch-phrase.
It is amusing to see the palpable sense of indignation over that article. Indian machismo is suddenly all around us. On various sites and fora where this article is being discussed, many comments range from the wannabe-sublime to the truly-ridiculous, but all combine typical Indian hyperbole with characteristic desi bluster: from Watch out China, we shall break you up instead, to This is not 62 and we have nukes to Boycott all Chinese goods, to Our democracy is the best to Unity in Diversity shall prevail and other such lines that would seem more at home in a book written by a certain Danish gentleman called Mr. Andersen.
How dare the Chinese try and meddle in our affairs? To them, all I can say is: Don’t presume you can do to us what we seem to excel at doing to ourselves. We don’t need you. We can do all of that ourselves. And do a better job of it at that. So there. Pfftttt.
Just be around to pick up the pieces.
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And finally, a few words about Indiameme. Chirag, one of the most helpful individuals in the blogosphere, has spent his hiatus designing a new site that seeks to bring to you the best news and stories concerning India. His site links to interesting and credible blogs and websites (Disclosure: Mine is among them) and wants to be a one-stop shop for all India related news in the online space.
Do show your support for his initiative by visiting Indiameme.
The Quirky Indian 
August 16, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Yeah I think that’s the way to go about it… Either SRK starts acting in crappy Hollywood movies or KJ stops making movies in the US.
That said, I somehow feel, this is excellent publicity for his new movie ‘My name is Khan’. The timing seems to be too good to be true.
August 16, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Never left India.. so no comments on SRK incident. .as far as the chinese blogger dude goe, he’s mad and so is Indian media (and am part of it =P ) I saw a blog post at DNA which at least tried to reduce the paranoia (titled: ‘Since (Sino-Indian) wars begin in the minds of men…’) http://is.gd/2jAM2
August 16, 2009 at 7:00 pm
What are you saying Quirky Indian?!
My next post was going to be,
‘Shahrukh Khan ka yeh apmaan,
Naheen sahega Hindustaan’
😆 I agree, we make a big deal of what is bad but not the end of the world, and ignore what should be dealt with seriously.
I would blame the media too for this.
And patriotism for many is a synonym for jingoism.
August 16, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Well at least some Chinese diversion a welcome relief after so much of this Pakistani shit around us. Times Now office (Only Arnab will do) should be the first thing which should be gifted to Chinese people as a diplomatic gesture.
August 16, 2009 at 10:55 pm
and of course some patriotism is always welcome after a healthy dose of nonsense on rediff message forums
August 17, 2009 at 12:36 am
Seriously! We have to stop moaning about it.. We watched news channels going on on and on about this ‘breaking news’! And I don’t understand why Shahrukh expects to be recognized by every single person! Media certainly is having a ball.
August 17, 2009 at 1:07 am
QI, the xenophobic Americans among us are doing their best to make sure that no one outside the U.S. wants to visit the U.S. They’re also trying their dead level best to make Americans like me want to leave the U.S.
August 17, 2009 at 1:52 am
What better way to promote ‘My name is Khan’ which is based on racial profiling.
He didn’t have his regular cronies with him, not even his family.Who the hell cares if he is an actor? Indians and their VIP status. No one cares anywhere.
I just wonder why we have Parliament attacks, Train attacks, Mumbai attacks and god knows how many are in store for us and on the other hand Sep 11 was never repeated.
August 17, 2009 at 1:56 am
BTW Happy Independence Day. 🙂
August 17, 2009 at 6:17 am
Bang on post. Agree with every single word of yours.
Ambika Soni of all people wants a tit for tat with every American now. Hope at least that will spur our immigration officials to start checking all the terrorists coming into our country thru the legal channels.
August 17, 2009 at 6:37 am
I agree with you about the SRK business being blown out of proportion…I wonder if he is complaining or is it just the media and his fans?
August 17, 2009 at 8:35 am
Thanks a ton man 🙂
August 17, 2009 at 8:40 am
😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
SRK took the headlines for almost two days 😛 which was actually I change from the swine flu headlines 😛
chirags new website is great…. I checked it out…………
August 17, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V from my blog 😉 :
I agree with the fact that we Indians need everything to be vetted by the US! And that’s because of our inherent ‘mai-baap’ attitude. We love to please the Gora log. Its disgusting. But is that any justification for the US to throw its weight around?
As for the SRK episode..it might be a gimmick, but this again is an example of us Indians always, ALWAYS giving the other person benefit of doubt.
Why can we not, for a second, assume that this was an intentional act by the US immigration official?!
Why do WE justify THEIR arrogance?
Why do we go all out to prove that we (and not them) might be in the wrong?!
Its true…we need no enemies from outside! We will kill each other soon enough 😦
August 17, 2009 at 1:29 pm
-http://writerzblock.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/my-name-is-dog-watch-dog/#comments
August 17, 2009 at 1:41 pm
QI: Profiling is a reality of life. Did you read how Bob Dylan was recently apprehended by the police near his own concert venue, because a concerned citizen reported a dishevelled pensioner roaming around? Cue: How does it feel, …, like a complete unknown… 😉 (From: Like A Rolling Stone, a Dylan number, if someone is wondering).
I have 2 friends – one Jewish and one Multani Punjabi (the community has a recognisably different fair complexion which makes the descriptor relevant beyond mere detail). Both travel alone. Both travel a lot internationally. And both get stopped at security and at immigration EVERY SINGLE TIME. I used to think they are exaggerating till I travelled with one of them. I cleared security and turned around and found her being frisked. She said she has experienced this 100% of the times she has travelled and not just since 2001 (she did u/grad in the US way back in the 1980s).
I am glad SRK has realised that he is not that special outside India after all. People with less access to the media get profiled every day. BFD.
August 17, 2009 at 2:52 pm
SRK.s detention for special interrogation by Immigration officials for 2hrs denying even the use of cellphone was most probably because of his Muslim sounding name. Malayalam film actor Mamooty had the same experience ,One of my friend a Doctor with a Muslim name was also detained for 3 hrs in NewYork while his family waited anxiously outside. Due to the delay they missed their tour bus and had to spend 6000 rs for a taxi to take them to tneir hotel . Tnese are detentions at arrival point and is not like the security check before the entry into the plane or random baggage check. I am sure neither John Abraham nor Amithab Bhachan would have faced such special interrogation for 2 hours .It is better if the USA officials stop this hypocrisy and say boldly that they suspect most guys with Muslim names to be terrorists.
August 18, 2009 at 12:08 am
A way to promote his upcoming ‘My Name Is Khan.’ Simple. Cuz if he had not opened his mouth, how else this story would have been out. Rascals…
Forget Videsh… I have been asked to remove my Shoes at Pune and B’lore Airport… Happens.
And what’s with this Tit for Tat stuff? Sab sathiya gaye hain.
August 18, 2009 at 12:12 am
And I checked Chirag’s site… Looks marvelous… Congratulations to you too.
August 18, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hmmm, we should frisk Hillary Clinton and Brad Pitt and a few more people just to even the scores. That said and done … heck frisking is for our own security. Why froth in the mouth? It happens. The yanks are shit scared of us brownies anyway. All bullies are cowards …
May be there is a point in the comments above about publicity for My name is Khan.
August 18, 2009 at 8:40 pm
As Ritu says, we should frisk a few Americans like, say, Megan Fox to get even.
And I am more than ready to do my patriotic duty.
August 18, 2009 at 11:03 pm
But isnt Shahrukh Khan, like, the King of India? How dare they stop him?
If this sort of thing happens to an SRK, then what are we lesser mortals? The mind shudders at the harrowing prospects!
August 20, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Aptly scathing post, I meant to do a similar post abt SRK issue.
Even more hilarious reactions were the outcry if humiliating Americans, but who had sked you to throw yourself at their feet in the first place.
Much ado at the wrong issues. 😦
P.S: Chirag’s beautiful initiative duly noted. 🙂
August 27, 2009 at 7:10 am
Love the words your indignation chooses. And then you shift to higher gear with insults – super!
If you want inconsequential immigration officials in the US to recognise you, act in crappy Hollywood movies instead of crappy Bollywood movies.
LOL
September 8, 2009 at 4:38 pm
@Rakesh: The timing was suspicious…..
@Balu: Reducing paranoia is one thing, and recognising and correcting holes in one’s foreign and defence policy is another….I am not sure if the latter is happening.
@IHM: Exactly! The government had to intervene….sheer stupidity. As if there aren’t other pressing things to deal with.
@Indophile: Welcome and thanks for the comment. Not sure if the Chinese wold be dumb enough to accept the gift….
@Smitha: Politicians and actors live in a different world, one that is out of touch with reality!
@SC: To be fair, the officials have been unfailingly polite every single time, and this is something that every other traveller I know agrees with. And why should that official have known who SRK was?
@Solilo: Many feel it was a stunt. And bang on about the effectiveness of their checks….and very belated thanks for the swatantrata greetings!
@Liju: Ha ha…..well said….hope they start doing their jobs now. And thanks.
@Bones: He complained, and when the general reaction was “so what?”, I think he sort of backtracked.
@Chirag: Anytime! Good to see you back. You were gone a long time.
@OG: It’s not as if he has a problem getting into the papers…..
@Pal: It’s their country. They have a certain process. If I want to visit that country, I will have to follow the process. And I am not sure of the arrogance part – as I have mentioned earlier, they are always very courteous and polite – unless you show some attitude.
September 8, 2009 at 5:05 pm
@Shefaly: Thanks for the comment. True, it is a fact of life. BFD, as you so nicely put it. 🙂 One has to deal with it.
I was quite amused by the Dylan episode. He was actually taken to the station before somebody came in and identified him. I’m sure he felt just like a rolling stone. Did he complain of victimisation? I wonder, is it correct to draws parallels with the Gates case, also around the same time?
Either way, I have very little sympathy for these “victims’……..especially if they’re part of the rich and the famous, like SRK, and so very far removed from reality.
@Charakan: It’s very easy to raise the issue of victimisation. It would interest you to know that it is not only Muslims that have had to undergo this – Shubha Midgal, Amitav Ghosh, Rohinton Mistry, Bob Rajkumar are some of the other names that have suffered. Please do take the time to read this article:
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?218180
Finally, it is their country, and their process…and it is a country that radical and extreme Islamic elements target…so, like it or not, a Muslim name with brown-skin will make you be looked at closely. We have the choice of not going if we have such a problem.
@Vee: Baat ka batangad banane may hum champions hain!
@Ritu: It was, I am sure, a totally new experience for SRK.
@Hades: The country needs more selfless patriots like you!
@AD: Yup, can you imagine what will happen to us? Did you ever face any such problem, by the way?
@Poonam: Absolutely. Baat ka batangad. And who asked us to give them special treatment in the first place?
@Anuja” 🙂 Thanks. All these rich and famous people, with their “Oh, I was victimised” sob stories really piss me off.
September 8, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Thank you Quirky for that link to the 2002 article written 2 months after 9/11 describing racial profiling by USA security agencies. May be the racial profiling must have natured in to religious profiling in last 2 years. Instead of spending 2 mts googling and one or two calls to local hosts of SRK the 2 hrs wasted by the officials in questioning him shows the inefficiency of the system.
September 9, 2009 at 1:56 am
oops the article is 14 months after 9/11 not 2 months Sorry
September 10, 2009 at 3:14 pm
@Charakan: On the contrary, I think their system has been extremely efficient and effective – but painful. You need to take into account the more than 400 million international travellers of all races and religions entering the US every year. Given that number, and the fact that the country is a constant target, I think their system is practical and has worked very well for them post 9-11. I am sure it is still evolving, though. And, may I add, in most cases, particularly in the last 5-6 years, they have been scrupulously polite. And it is a no-brainer that even after Bush and what he did to undermine America’s rich tradition of civil liberties, it still affords its average citizen more freedom and liberties than India does for its people.
September 23, 2009 at 10:13 am
I am from Australia and have been to the US and India on numerous occasions.
I think the US has a astronomically better track record with regards to civil liberties and tolerance for other races and classes compared to India and many other countries.
I take issue with these kind of comments, most western countries have friendly immigration policies and take in huge amounts of immigrants.
We embrace their culture, and we happily take the good parts of other peoples cultures with the bad.
India is ranked fourth in the world of immigration rates to the United States. Where I guarantee your brethren indians are living there under greatly improved living conditions.
And all you guys care about is whether some guy got pulled up at the airport? I’ve been searched heaps of times at the airport and I am white…
Stop acting like victims.
February 8, 2010 at 3:08 pm
[…] written about that little incident. I, too, got conned into writing about it, though there were some people even then who suspected that this was nothing but a means of promoting the film. Now, on a […]