I'd like to begin this entry with a disclaimer: I love India and this post is not meant to degrade or denigrate any part of the Indian government, rather it is a perspective from a foreigner. The views represented are merely commentary.
The day after our son Daniel was born, I spent about fifteen minutes going through the paperwork involved in obtaining a birth certificate. This included triple and quadruple checking his name, the spelling, our address here in Mumbai, our address back home in Minneapolis, and the details of our marriage. I suspect it is similar to a form that one would fill out in America, maybe not the asking for our religion part though. After finishing the forms, I was told to call the Bandra office for births and deaths in 15 days to get the birth certificate.
So I did. On New Years Eve, I went to the office to pick it up -- but I should have known it would not be so easy ...
To start with, this is the first office (out of three) that one encounters to obtain a birth certificate.
Unfortunately, no one at the office spoke enough English and my Hindi is so basic that I had to have another newly-minted-proud-papa help me through the process. We filled out a form and the gentlemen at desk used his computer to look up our details. He gave me another form to fill out with Daniel's name, address, and our contact details.
We then went to a different office to give them the document request form. I had to pay 22 rupees, found a cashier that spoke English, and she printed out a receipt for me so that I could pick up the birth certificate from the head desk. Then I had to go and get the purple stamp of approval from a third office. However, as I was walking over there I noticed the name on the birth certificate -- yikes!!
Unfortunately there is only one person in all of Bandra who had the authority to make my son a Wixson, he was legally a Richard! And she was out for the day, I was told to come back the next ...
... so I did, but was told she was out for the day. I was told to come back the next ...
... so I did, but she wasn't there. As I walking out to the street chai stand a gentlemen came running out yelling "sir, sir! madam is here!"
And so with the click of a keystroke on her computer, our son is legally back to being a Wixson. Dr. Meena was a delight to talk to and was, like so many other Indians, so excited to hear my thoughts on India. As I was suppressing the complaints about the bureaucracy and frustration with filling out so many forms only get it wrong, I realized that there are 22 million people here in this city and although the system of keeping track of all of their offspring may not be fast and efficient, it does work and that in itself is a minor miracle.
So I replied, as I always do, with my general comments about the warmth of the people, the spectacular colors and smells, and the long and complex history that continues to amaze and educate me here in India. She smiled and thanked me and we parted ways.
And now we get to apply for U.S. citizenship, a passport, and an Indian visa for our little man -- many more lessons to come I'm sure.
So here's my question for you: what was it like getting a birth certificate where your son/daughter was born? What comparisons can you make? I look forward to reading your responses!
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