Appalling. Disgraceful.

Vishwagurus are drunk on flights, dancing on the streets, stealing in stores, stalking girls and even children. Many Indians are shaming us when they travel overseas

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"Around the world, almost as an unwritten rule, most bad behaviour comes from feelings of self-doubt and insecurity..." — Debra Winger

I am not a frequent international traveller anymore. I count my blessed stars and thank my 33 million Gods for that exculpation. In the days that I did regularly travel overseas, I held my head up high, as 20-something I got there on my own steam, in most cases representing my country for some reason or the other. Come to think of it, everyone who travels abroad represents the nation, turning into India's mirror and ambassador the moment they set foot on foreign soil. Of late, though, our people have not quite been warming the cockles of our hearts with their screwball rendition of Indian-ness.

From the moment some board international flights, they put chameleons to shame by changing colour, acting boorish and entitled. They get drunk enough to fly even without the aircraft, dance on public streets and go topless on snowy mountaintops, steal in stores, indulge in illegal acts, double-park and jump traffic lights, stalk girls and children (some have been arrested for paedophilia). By doing so, they shame an entire nation on the global stage (see Box: 'Shaming Us').

What makes things worse is the 'other' India. This India is on the rise, striving to be an economic superpower, a global IT hub, a youthful democracy and a nation with aspirations of taming the 21st century. As we stake claim to this Utopia, a counter-narrative is being acted out by our 'ambassadors', one airport gate and overseas selfie at a time. Who are they? They are average Indian travellers, driven by money and unchecked entitlement—'specimens' with a complete disregard for propriety.

Worldwide Mockery