Feringhee: The India Diaries
Checkout photos of monks from Tibet expressing themselves: photos by Sirensongs who lives "somewhere on the Great Asian Road between Kathmandu, Kailash, & Kashmir, India".
Her disillusionment and childhood memories of "Tintin In Tibet" have led her to adventures throughout India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Tibet and Bhutan are next on the list).
Sirensongs is "inordinately proud of her ability to read street signs and argue (successfully) with taxi drivers in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, French and Nepali languages. Her Tibetan, however, is still a total disgrace. She's working on it."
Quote: "Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to LOSE yourself."
Amen.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
My visit to Ranipur Village
Two days ago, from Babatpur Airport, Varanasi, I took a waiting car (generously sent by my Brother-in-law, Mr. Anand Prakash) towards Ranipur Village near Jaunpur, UP.
Somehow, at the back of my mind, I thought this would be a "small town" type of place with the hustle-bustle of rickshaws, tempos, tractors, etc.
But, just before our destination, when I saw a series of mud-houses and crops, I realized that I was about a visit a "true-blue" village with mud-houses and no public (and very few private toilets).
Now, a confession...I never been to such kind of village... Considering that there are 6,38,365 villages in India (including the uninhabited villages, as per the Census of India 2001, www.censusindia.net/results/eci6.html), that is an unbelievable depravity in my part. But, more on that part later.
I always wanted to visit such a village. So, it was turning out to be a “dream” visit. At that moment, it was exhilarating to pass through those mud-houses and crops across barely two-meter wide roads with friendly villagers guiding us to our destination.
Although, comparing that with the explosion of flyovers, malls and cineplexes in Delhi and rest of urban India, I didn’t know which emotion to choose.
Should I celebrate truly being in natural surroundings OR do something about the wealth and infrastructural gap? I certainly didn’t miss the first part…
But, what about the second option?
What do you say guys?
Let us brainstorm…I know we may be doing our bit by paying taxes and lot of people and institutions (incl. govt and NGOs) seem to be doing something at least…..But, let us see WHAT IS MISSING…Are there any GAPS, not being plugged….Are we doomed or are we progressing?
Somehow, at the back of my mind, I thought this would be a "small town" type of place with the hustle-bustle of rickshaws, tempos, tractors, etc.
But, just before our destination, when I saw a series of mud-houses and crops, I realized that I was about a visit a "true-blue" village with mud-houses and no public (and very few private toilets).
Now, a confession...I never been to such kind of village... Considering that there are 6,38,365 villages in India (including the uninhabited villages, as per the Census of India 2001, www.censusindia.net/results/eci6.html), that is an unbelievable depravity in my part. But, more on that part later.
I always wanted to visit such a village. So, it was turning out to be a “dream” visit. At that moment, it was exhilarating to pass through those mud-houses and crops across barely two-meter wide roads with friendly villagers guiding us to our destination.
Although, comparing that with the explosion of flyovers, malls and cineplexes in Delhi and rest of urban India, I didn’t know which emotion to choose.
Should I celebrate truly being in natural surroundings OR do something about the wealth and infrastructural gap? I certainly didn’t miss the first part…
But, what about the second option?
What do you say guys?
Let us brainstorm…I know we may be doing our bit by paying taxes and lot of people and institutions (incl. govt and NGOs) seem to be doing something at least…..But, let us see WHAT IS MISSING…Are there any GAPS, not being plugged….Are we doomed or are we progressing?
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