“There is a backstory here that is worth savoring. By the time Modi proposed International Yoga Day, American entrepreneurs had been busy doing what American entrepreneurs frequently do: monetizing someone’s heritage.”

That thing was lying there, silent, for decades in independent India, and all Indians of ability did was disparage their own heritage. It got picked up by someone else, and they walked away with the heritage and the money. Can’t complain.

As for the sadhu, he wouldn’t be crying; he would be happy that someone has taken his heritage forward, having lost hope in his own country’s people.

India expresses, but does not consider. That may be the problem. It is not that India doesn’t have experiences; it is not curated enough to suit a modern traveller’s taste and wallet. I don’t call for a national policy; but everyone must be encouraged to improve the quality of their offering. It would help if the authorities respected Indian tourists as much as they would feel short not being able to serve foreign tourists.

India’s problem, in short, is self-loathing.