"We Indians"

As an Indian, how often do we use the phrase "We Indians are ...". Or more familiarly, the "desi" attitude towards things, etc. Upon introspection I find that "we indians" are experts at finger-pointing, mostly towards other Indians. If you are an Indian, choose a region. Now recall the word used to describe people of that region (legitimately, not in a derogatory manner). So for example I would be a Maharashtrian. Now remember the last phrase you heard that began with "Those XXX (Maharashtrians for me) are ...". Sound familiar?

Being away from our country has the strangely integrating effect of laying blame on "all indians" instead of a particular region (we all hear our share of those ones too, but more commonly it is the "desi" attitude). Recently I came across a forum on a website managed by local Indians in which an (allegedly) American was complaining about the commonly found obsession of tuition classes that Indian parents have, and how he had a problem with a particular person providing tuition classes outside of his job, and how tuitions were stressing the poor kids. If you have come across such fora online, you will be able to correctly guess the eventual outcome of this particular thread--the discussion became a rant on racism and jealousy.

My personal interest in this particular discussion was the issue of a person providing tuitions clearly in violation of his visa status. Evidently this person is good at teaching--the kids seem to be doing very well thanks to the guidance. As an immensely law-fearing human being I find it impossible to relate to people who would do such a thing. Unfortunately this is more common that one might think. Students working beyond their allowed 20 hours, professionals earning extra (read cash and thus unreported) income by doing odd jobs (sometimes completely belying the status of their legal job), etc. As someone who has been a student and is currently a professional I can empathize with some of the reasons provided, all centering around money. Yes, it is an expensive country, often one has non-earning family members to provide for, or a loan to be paid back in India, etc. However these are excuses nonetheless. The most basic and crystal-clear truth is that doing such things may be illegal depending on your visa status. There will be very little to argue against legal action that will be taken if such activities are discovered.

Personally I am of the opinion that if you are in a country that is not your own, you have to live by the laws of the land, no matter how unjust they seem to you. Unless you were kidnapped, you chose to live and work in another country. If you do not agree with a particular law to such an extent that you seem to have no choice but to break it, you must seriously consider returning back to your country. Despite all the protection that a country would provide to its foreign workers, the fact remains that you being there is a privilege. Yes you pay their taxes, but you also draw an income. So nobody's really obliging anybody here. In this particular forum, the alleged wrongdoer holds an H1-B visa. That means he has a decently paying job, and is unlikely to be in need of money for survival.

So the question I find myself pondering upon is: why do it? Is it just a case of doing something because there is a decent chance you can get away with it? If so, is this attitude cultural--is this another characteristic of "we indians"? Or is it a subconscious training that all Indians are inevitably subject to thanks to the pervasive low-level corruption in India? The biggest question that I have is: will we be consistent and pardon someone else indulging in an illegal activity that is somehow detrimental to us, if there is a reasonable explanation for it? Or as with all illegal things in this world: it is alright so long as we are on the profiting side of the equation?

Can a reader help me to understand this better?

P.S.: This particular forum contained elements of another "we indians" characteristic. One individual immediately pointed out that lots of Americans also have undisclosed incomes and thus swindle the same tax authorities. In short, the "catch them first" argument. I think as a world of 4 billion people, we have comprehensively lost track of "who started it", no matter what the issue is. So again in my opinion, such arguments may contain vestiges of truth, but are totally useless and thus pointless.

The above is a hint to a potential reader who'd like to point out that immigrants of all origins indulge in such activities. Law, unlike democracy, cannot be a victim to the vagaries of a majority. Just because lots of others do it does not make it legal, nor morally correct.