So what are the best known Indian 'imports' in Japan? Curry,Vedic Maths,Rajnikant and Radha Binod Pal. An odd collection which I wouldnt have guessed in a million guesses!
Curry - 'kare' (car-eh) in Japanese. The Japanese love it and have embraced the spicy concotion with unconditional devotion. The dish has acquired its own meaning in Japanese cuisine - indigenised to the horror of purists.Much like what we Indians have done with 'Gobi Manchurian' (Indian Chinese) and paneer Pizza (Messrs Dominoes) among other unspeakable horrors. The 'kare' is thicker and sweeter and includes pork and beef. There are exclusive 'kare' eating places.Curry powder occupies supermarket shelves.And I am sure the 'kare' enjoys equal status alongside miso soup and noodles on Japanese dining tables.
Vedic maths - what?? Yes apparently word has got around that Indians are a bright lot when it comes to numbers. Atleast three cab drivers and two others in Tokyo have accosted me with this flattering trait my race allegedly posseses. Glowing references were made to our head for numbers! Cab driver: "Jozu desu" = meaning 'skilful at' (maths). Or head in general- "atama ga ii desu" = literally "good head/brains"!! Me as humbly as possible : "jozu-janai desu" = (I am) not skilful. Or to make a stronger point "zen zen dame" = not at all/not in the least! Apparently multiplying two figured numbers in our sleep is what we Indians do best! Wish.
Rajnikant - if you are a movie snoot who smirks at the 'Thalaivar's ('leader in Tamil) zero gravity leaps , you might be out-voted here in the Far East. He is the loved 'Odori Maharaja' (Dancing Maharaja) and his movies 'Muthu' and 'Chandramukhi' created waves here. So I've heard. He is probably some sorta exotic Indian manga hero in their eyes! 'Naruto-Thalaivar' anyone?
And...RadhaBinod Pal. Come again? Prime time Japanese TV it seems recently ran a programme on the life and times of Binod-da. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visited his family on his recent trip to India and he is seen as a 'friend of Japan' . For the ignoramus - he was a jurist on the international panel that tried Japanese war criminals, post WW II and gave them a clean chit. He certainly had a soft spot for the Japanese (and vice versa).
And the more I look at the above list the curiouser and curiouser it gets!
