We were at a Odissi dance event last evening. Our High Commissioner was also there. I was floored by Mrs. Shyamala Cowsik. She started out in fluent French (since the venue was in Quebec province across the river from Ottawa) and switched to English. She never stopped or paused to think for words. Her knowledge abt the Odissi dance was really good. She is very humble and graceful. While coming on stage in the end to give out the gifts, she took her sandals off. That shows her grace. IMO, this lady is different from the babus in India. No wonder she is posted to Canada.

Now coming back to the Odissi dance. I was in awe. This is the first time I have ever seen an Odissi dance event. I have just seen one dance before in cultural events. This one lasted two hours with an intermission.

We south Indians are imbibed that only Bharathanatyam is good. We were only exposed to that. Damn my narrow mind. I was so wrong. Odissi dance is in par with Bharathanatyam. Odissi dance, IMO is difficult. But these dancers were so good and graceful. It blew my mind.

DIO

Thanks for sharing.
The question is , How good an Administrator is she? How are the services at the Indian embassy/Counsulate in Ottawa?
In Toronto, It is a sham. The Counsulate in Toronto is like a fish market and the greeters (who generally donot know english) are generally very rude. When i was there, white people who came for getting a visa were unable to get their questions answered by these greeters.
Also the library of the Indian counsulate was in the same open space of the gen. counsulate waiting area and was covered partially by some very old partition. It is such a disgrace.

TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

It is totally unprofessional. If they do this to us, as we know how good in customer service we are, it should be ok. However for goras they are the first contact point about India and so that is going to be their first impression.

They must improve and who can do that?

I am not sure how they are posted here and how well there are getting paid in a foreign country, but that could be the reason for their such rude behaviour.

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A Proud Indian Canadian

Look at it this way -
Goras are waiting for Indian Visa. Consulate is already making them feel at India. Look no further. This is what they gonna face there. So why not start 'educating' them. Sooner the Better

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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...

I am a bit surprised over the Toronto office. Here in the Ottawa office, it is good. We have gone there number of times, passport, visa, PIO, OCI, etc. So far so good. For OCI, I had to postpone my meeting twice and the lady obliged.

Agreed, desis who are posted to the west (or any country) should undergo some sort of training. Govt of India wont do that. Also note that there is intense lobbying in the foreign service for the lower rung positions to be posted outisde India. Also I observed that everything is in Hindi. For us it wsa ok, but for other non-hindi speaking desi janata in Ottawa, that creates some language barriers.

DIO

Quote:

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Originally posted by desi in ottawa

Also I observed that everything is in Hindi. For us it wsa ok, but for other non-hindi speaking desi janata in Ottawa, that creates some language barriers.

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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...