MANAMA, 4 November 2006 — A university lecturer in Bahrain has conducted the first-of-its-kind global survey on non-resident Indians (NRIs).

The study entitled Reflections on Non-Resident Indians’ Proud Feelings Toward India by P.L. Joshi, a professor at the University of Bahrain, examines the perceptions of 90 NRIs from across 26 countries who responded to a questionnaire on issues relating to “what makes them feel proud of India.” The questionnaire was e-mailed to 1,441 people.

The study analyzed 10 statements that would encourage people to express their feelings toward India and five statements that would make them hesitate to agree on the issue.

Findings revealed that NRIs strongly feel that “the history and rich cultural values of India” and “India’s third-largest pool of scientists and engineers in the world (technical human resources)” were the two most important achievements and characteristics that made them feel proud of their country”.

On the other hand, a lack of infrastructure even 60 years after independence, and “unscrupulous and hypocritical issues in the way of life of Indians” (for example, gross inequities and prejudices, and the widening gulf between the rich and the poor) are the two negative characteristics of India that people do not hesitate to mention.

Furthermore, respondents from the Middle East — from where 31.1 percent of responses were received — seem to be more positive in their attitudes toward India than respondents from North America and Europe. The reason may be explained by the fact that most NRIs living in the Middle East are unique as they will not be naturalized and will ultimately return to their homeland. The study also offers a number of policy implications.

The study suggests that satellite television channels should start special programs for NRI news, views and other affairs in order to generate an interest and a feel of pride for their country, so that they can play a more positive role in India, in the same way as non-resident Chinese have played a major role in the economic development of China.