India’s renowned ‘jugaad’ attitude applauded for its ingenuity and stingy fixes remains entrancing to locals as well as foreigners. Jessica Kumar, an American expatriate in India, made a viral video praising this society where almost anything can be cheaply repaired rather than discarded.
Jessica’s video highlights the way India’s repair stores give new life to products that most Indians elsewhere would throw away. From sandals to costly gowns, she highlights the way India’s repair work provides a cost-effective means of giving life to such common goods. Citing her personal experience, she narrated how her $45 Converse and $60 Crocs were fixed for 40 rupees.
One of my favorite things about India forever is this: get anything like anything repaired. Sandals, get repaired. $100 shoes, an electric device, a cracked bucket, cheap sweatpants, an expensive dress, get repaired,” Jessica states in her video.
Her video resonated with people on the web, and there were conversations about how good repair culture is and the ecological price of throwaway consumerism. Her Hindi accent was also complimented by a lot of viewers, with one of them saying, “My jaws hit the table when you spoke Hindi. You speak Hindi better than I!!!”
Others hailed her positive perspective towards India. “Good to see someone enjoying these good things about India. It was becoming very monotonous and repetitive to see the movie makers (Indians or overseas) coming out with non-stop Indian poverty porn,” said one user.
Others also pointed out the extent to which this attitude extends beyond objects. “We use things until it’s last breath,” one said, and another, “Why throw ’em when we can fix. With things and people.”
