RESPECTFUL GRADUATE
When they finally receive their degrees during commencement ceremonies, graduates occasionally show their elation in unexpected ways, whether it’s tossing their caps in the air or attempting backflips. For Gaurav Jhaveri, an Indian student at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, it was a gesture of respect rather than exuberance that gained him attention and acclaim.
Upon receiving his degree, Jhaveri bent down and touched the feet of Dr. Robert Carlson, dean of the IIT School of Applied Technology. Jhaveri quickly made his way off the stage, not intending to bring attention to his act, but the baffled look on Carlson’s face made it a memorable moment. He first glanced down to see if there was something wrong with his shoes, then looked toward Jhaveri, raising his hands as if to say, “What was that all about?”
The video of the moment went viral, with many expressing their admiration for Jhaveri’s homage to tradition. “U can remove an Indian from India but you cannot remove India from an Indian,” one Twitter user said.
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge.
[Comments? Contributions? We would love to hear from you about Chai Time. If you have contributions, please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips, and more.]
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
