JOIN USTasneem Jivi from Tanzania has one appeal for Indians that they should not change their perception towards their age old customs and traditions in the awe of western culture, rather Indians should be proud for the affluent heritage they have inherited.
Tasneem landed in India as a shy introvert girl who had strongly decided to try something that makes her more outspoken besides bringing her out from her own zone. Tasneem says “it was more of a challenge than choice for me when I opted to come out from my home country. I was a science student who always had inclination towards writing. As I felt that communication course was one option that will realise my both aspirations of becoming a writer and also make me more interactive and extrovert.”
Stating that she felt that India would give good exposure, Tasneem says “I always wanted to go out from my place and be independent and India was my first choice. My father had studied here and he had the idea of how the country is.” She adds that the process of learning in India is more practical when compared to Tanzania where students are inclined to books and it is more of theory oriented study.
Tasneem tells that she had heard many stories about India from people. Each had their own idea about India and the foremost decision she took was “not to take peoples perception”. She says that Indians are good with warm hospitality. “Initially I was scared because of huge population. My country is somewhere around one per cent of Mumbai’s population. Life in Tanzania is very slow, while life here is fast.”
Amazed over the Indians being embarrassed when they come across comments from outsiders undermining the culture and traditions followed in India, Tasneem asks “why should Indians feel humiliated when people from western world call them as the inhabitants of the country of snake charmers. Rather they should be proud to have owned such a wonderful legacy that is nowhere seen across the world. India is unique and so is its cultural and traditional values. They should appreciate and try conserving the diminishing values of their ancient tradition. They should enjoy and infuse the approach of distinctiveness for having rarest of the rare cultural arts,” she adds.
Tasneem has come from a land where the food is graced with minimum spice and salt.
African food is a blunt food. “I still have problems when it comes to the spicy cuisines in India even after my stay here for nearly two years. Our food back at home is very simple and we don’t put salt and spicy items. I enjoyed eating in Daba and I like almost all food served in Dabas than in restaurants. Various types of dosas are my favourites,” she says. She had fun getting wrapped in the sari worn in Maharastrian style and jewels like huge nose rings when she visited Manded in Maharastra during vacation. Besides, she also dressed herself as “Pahadi” during her visit to Himachal Pradesh. All she has to say is “India is special” and she adds she wants her friends to visit India for two reasons.
Firstly to become independent where one can learn. Secondly to get the pinch of totally a different cultural tradition, she concludes.