The grass is greener... or is it?

Preetkamal Kaur Cheema

India is the world's 5th largest economy. The positive energy surrounding India is evident as soon as one lands at the New Delhi airport. Gone are the days of flying in a modern gleaming plane from America to cross the ocean to Europe and Asia, and then being led to a disgusting terminal to board an old decrepit plane as a connecting flight to the "third world". As one passes through the capital city, the growth and modernisation of India is evident. 

However, instead of signage advertising major corporations, new construction projects, green energy and cleanliness endeavours in Delhi, those dotting Punjab are signs for IELTS, IVF and student visas.

Throughout the American history, there has always been a ruling rich class and an underclass to serve them. The golden era of the US was in the 1950s-60s, when the country went through modernisation. Suddenly an average American had an access to a colour TV, washing machine, AC, and car.

An interesting subset of white Americans are those living in the Appalachian area otherwise known as the rust/Christian belt. As America became successful, major corporations sprouted factories producing cars, steel, and other goods, people were pulled out from the Appalachian rural areas into major cities to work. From living without running water and reliable electricity, now they saw unprecedented wealth. They would travel back to see their families. The ones left behind would enjoy time with their 'city folk' relatives, and enjoy the gifts; but neither felt comfortable around each other. As the factories closed, they became part of the underclass again. This area is now going through a drug epidemic.

Americans, who work two to three part time jobs, have no benefits, no bank balance — a hand-to-mouth existance. Study after study shows that this underclass has the worst health and outlook - they are fat, they die earlier, and they are angry at their lack of access to health and wealth. So what does the ruling class of America need now? Of course, people to work for them — clean the toilets, serve at restaurants and drive the trucks. America and other industrialised nations need workers; overpopulated countries of Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe are providing this labouring underclass.

During the growth of America, in the ’70s, talented physicians, engineers, and skilled educated people were the emigrants. Those leaving Punjab found high-paying jobs and used their Indian skills and  drive for saving money to acquire businesses and property to become successful. The second wave of Punjabis coming to America was moderately educated, and able to buy small businesses such as gas stations and motels. The new wave of Punjabis is left with nothing but blue-collar and menial jobs. While their cell phones show them the likes of Sidhu Moosewala dancing in front of a mansion with fancy cars, they are foolish to think that this will be the lifestyle easily acquired.

The American model is changing, no longer a land of small business and dreams, corporate and the rich own America. The upper 1 per cent of America has more money and resources than rest of the 99 per cent pooled together.

On my recent trip to India, everywhere I went, I heard people talking about 'trawlas' or getting a PR in Canada and Australia. Young, educated and beautiful women talked about going abroad to marry a ‘trawla’ or truck driver. Young boys stood around and talked about their cousins' success as a ‘trawla’ driver. I see it in my patients, the women can hold conversations with me, albeit in Punjabi and broken English, but husbands cannot. They are unaware to the extent that sometimes they ask me "doctor saab, where will the baby come from?"

The underclass abroad is vulnerable to drugs, sex, and alcohol. To stay up the hours required to work and make profit, individuals start with caffeine but then progress to dangerous drugs such as amphetamines to stay awake. These drugs keep them awake to stay up and work, but for sleeping, the cheapest option is often alcohol — the vicious cycle of addiction. Truck stops are notoriously dangerous areas with smokers, druggies, and prostitutes. There is an alarming increase in the rate of sexually transmitted disease in the US. In other communities, if you tell a married woman she has an STD, there is outrage towards the husband. The Punjabis are so lost in making the US dollar, they accept it anyway. 

Then there is a whole new type of schools - the ones training women for being a nurse in the US. However, their students can barely pass basic certifying tests in the US and often fail to get jobs abroad.

In my opinion, IELTS is a way to enter perpetual poverty in foreign land. People in India, particularly Punjab, should quit thinking that they will be a billionaire once they step out. Those migrating are signing themselves up for permanent status as the underclass of America: PR might as well stand for permanently resource-less.