ZanyBrown

Whenever I hear good news concerning a new South- Asian immigrant I know, I feel relieved and pleased. But there are people who feel jealous and insecure to hear of someone’s good fortune. I don’t blame people who are overcome by the pangs of jealousy when they hear that someone got a higher paying job, for example. I used to be that way for a while soon after I arrived in Canada, but not any more.

 When I first arrived in Canada I could not help comparing my situation to someone of my own ethnic or socio-cultural background who was better off than I was. It was a queasy feeling, and as much as I tried to go above it, I found it difficult to shoo away. Only now do I realize it was but natural.

Ask any ethnic Punjabi about it. Though he might not speak much English, chances are he knows the meaning of the word ” jealous.”  He will tell you that his people “ Bahut ‘Gelsy’ (jealousy) karate hain!”

There could be valid reasons for his dubious claim, but chances are, he has blown it out of proportion.

Let us consider the following scenario: ‘Gordy’ Brar has purchased a new “Hybrid” Honda Civic and he decides to park it in the driveway although his two older cars are housed in the garage.  His neighbor, Amrik Singh Sanghera wakes up one morning to peep out of the bedroom window and is greeted by the sight of a new silver gray Honda Civic “Hybrid.” Instead of appreciating his neighbors concern for the environment he calls out to his wife and both view it caustically while standing on a hotplate. The net result is that his neighbor’s good fortune has now prompted Amrik Sanghera to work another weekend job and his wife to work in a more upscale greenhouse.

Then one day, out of sheer revenge and an excess of savings in their checking account they buy a ‘Hummer’ and make Gordy Brar feel foolish for having fallen prey as a sucker to all that Salesman talk about how a “hybrid” help keep the environment green. He vows that the next time he has the hard cash he will be buy a vehicle as big as a Punjab State Transport Corporation bus and silence his ‘arrogant’ neighbor once and for all.

That is quite likely to happen. The circle of “Gelsy” goes on an on and before you know it, ethnic Indians are a very powerful socio-economic group and a political force to reckon with in places like Brampton, Ontario and Surrey in British Columbia.

I am not saying “ Gelsy” is a good emotion. All I am saying is that if you feel that way during your first few years in Canada, consider it natural. You are ten thousand miles from home and always hankering for material security.