EMPLOYEES AT THE Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi presented a rendition of the Indian national anthem in Indian Sign Language to celebrate India's 78th Independence Day on Aug. 15. The hotel shared the video on its social media accounts, extending Independence Day wishes to all Indians.
"We are deeply honoured to present the National Anthem in the Indian Sign language as we proudly celebrate our nation’s 78th Independence Day,” the hotel wrote in the post. “A heartfelt collaboration with our incredibly talented specially-abled colleagues, Indian sign language experts, and dedicated NGO partners, along with our passionate teams from Taj Mahal, New Delhi, Ambassador New Delhi, The Connaught, New Delhi - IHCL SeleQtions, and Soulinaire. Together, we celebrate the spirit of inclusivity and freedom."
The post’s comments were full of appreciation for the hotel team's gesture.
Entrepreneur and columnist Suhel Seth praised the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi's initiative to present the Indian National Anthem in sign language. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Seth commented: "How amazing is this! The National Anthem in sign language by the folks at @TajMahalHotel touches the soul like never before. Kudos!"
Indian Hotels Company Ltd, owned by Tata Group, operates the Taj Group of hotels.
In June, Brand Finance reported Taj Hotels as the world’s second-fastest-growing brand, fueled by revenue growth and increased brand strength.
Canadian traveler picks Pakistan’s hospitality over India’s
Pakistan Beats India in Hospitality, Says Canadian Vlogger
INDIA IS KNOWN for “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning "The guest is God," but some foreigners disagree. A Canadian man, when asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality, picked Pakistan without hesitation.
His brief interview with an Instagram user has since gone viral, Hindustan Times reported.
Instagram user @officialnamour, known for vox pop videos, recently asked Canadian traveler Nolan Saumure about "desi" hospitality. Saumure, a Canadian travel vlogger, has visited dozens of countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Indonesia, the U.S. and Vietnam.
When asked, “India or Pakistan—which has better hospitality?” Saumure instantly replied, "Pakistan, obviously."
He explained that Indians often see foreigners as wealthy customers, while Pakistanis offer warm hospitality, inviting tourists into their homes and offering food.
"You go to India, and people just see you as a walking ATM," Saumure said. "You go to Pakistan, and people are like, 'Oh, come here, sit. Take this free food. Come sleep at my place.'"
The video has more than 4.4 million views and hundreds of comments, many agreeing with Saumure.
"As an African living in Dubai, I agree with him. Pakistanis are friendlier than Indians. Pakistanis see you as a friend, while Indians see you as a stranger," one user commented. Another added simply, “I agree (I’m Indian).”
“India gets a lot of tourists, so we’re used to it and have built an economy around them,” another Instagram user said. “Pakistan gets only a few hundred tourists a year, so seeing a foreigner is a big deal for them.”
Some criticized Saumure’s opinion, some with racial overtones.
“Why do whites expect princess treatment from Indians after stealing $45 trillion from India?” one user asked.
A whitepaper by the Confederation of Indian Industry and EY projects India’s tourism and hospitality sector will create 6.1 million jobs by 2034. It currently accounts for 8 percent of total employment.