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Moon view
Guruji
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Some Views of Jalandhar
Mother and Daughter
Electric Pigeons
Waiting for Roti
Rooftop view left
Rooftop view right
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Welcome to India
I have been in India for 13 days now and I am learning to cope with the flow of life here. In this short period I have met some interesting people with different perspectives on India and its progress. I have also been living like a king since I came from New Delhi to Jalandhar. I have not had to cook or clean, and life is like when I was a child except for the sheer fun of childhood. But slowly, I am also starting my focus on music and other changes are soon coming.
Since I arrived in Delhi, I have talked with several different people regarding the progress of India and the changes that are happening. Indians seemed to be locally and regionally oriented, when they considered progress. The "metro", which is a subway system under construction for Delhi area, is the talk of the town. It is supposed to become a solution to the problem of traffic congestion in Delhi. Everyone I spoke with seemed impressed by the amount of work that is getting done and how quickly it is proceeding. Everyone seemed to think that this will actually work. The owner of the guesthouse where I stayed was not so impressed. His chief complaint was that anybody and everybody will be able to ride the metro and that is going to turn it into filthy and unsafe means of transport. He was especially unhappy with the uneducated migrant workers that come in large numbers to the city. He thought that they were the source of many problems of the city. He did not want his daughter to be riding in close contact with such people.
This of course reminded me of the situation with migrant workers in USA. The major difference was that economic class and education were the factors for this person and not so much race and reduction in economic opportunity as is the case in US. But not everyone had this perspective. My dad's friend who lived in one of Delhi's suburb thought that all people should have the equal right to use this transportation. He was also rather impressed with the strongman approach that was working well in the building of this metro. Apparently, the person in charge has such authority that even the rich and connected people could not make him change his planned sites and the government supported his authority.
The owner of the guesthouse had a negative view of the progress which he thought was superficial. He held the view that India at its root will never change, and he wanted his daughter to leave the country as soon as she was capable.
Indian culture is also very hospitable culture. For example, I am living currently at my Aunt's friend's childhood home. She lives in a different town, but her sister-in-laws take care of me. All of them were complete strangers a few days ago. Their daughter helped me get my cell phone connection, and is generally helpful. I am treated as part of the family, and I get great meals, all cooked to perfection. At least two different dishes with every meal. It is very tempting to stay here, but it will be easier for me if I had a place close to my teacher's location. The nice thing about such lodgings is the feeling of belonging.
My other Aunt's Son's friend who also lives in town has been helping me with house search and helped me get registered at the police station. So, these connections have been source of great help and comfort. People at the USIEF(United States India Educational Foundation), who sponsored my Fulbright award, were also very informative and kind. I had great time chatting with all of them. They were enthusiastic, encouraging and helpful, which is a refreshing thing in India because it is very different from dealing with people entrenched in the old bureaucracies.
Search for a place to live goes on, especially since the nice opportunity that I thought was settled has slipped away..... more about that later.
Since I arrived in Delhi, I have talked with several different people regarding the progress of India and the changes that are happening. Indians seemed to be locally and regionally oriented, when they considered progress. The "metro", which is a subway system under construction for Delhi area, is the talk of the town. It is supposed to become a solution to the problem of traffic congestion in Delhi. Everyone I spoke with seemed impressed by the amount of work that is getting done and how quickly it is proceeding. Everyone seemed to think that this will actually work. The owner of the guesthouse where I stayed was not so impressed. His chief complaint was that anybody and everybody will be able to ride the metro and that is going to turn it into filthy and unsafe means of transport. He was especially unhappy with the uneducated migrant workers that come in large numbers to the city. He thought that they were the source of many problems of the city. He did not want his daughter to be riding in close contact with such people.
This of course reminded me of the situation with migrant workers in USA. The major difference was that economic class and education were the factors for this person and not so much race and reduction in economic opportunity as is the case in US. But not everyone had this perspective. My dad's friend who lived in one of Delhi's suburb thought that all people should have the equal right to use this transportation. He was also rather impressed with the strongman approach that was working well in the building of this metro. Apparently, the person in charge has such authority that even the rich and connected people could not make him change his planned sites and the government supported his authority.
The owner of the guesthouse had a negative view of the progress which he thought was superficial. He held the view that India at its root will never change, and he wanted his daughter to leave the country as soon as she was capable.
Indian culture is also very hospitable culture. For example, I am living currently at my Aunt's friend's childhood home. She lives in a different town, but her sister-in-laws take care of me. All of them were complete strangers a few days ago. Their daughter helped me get my cell phone connection, and is generally helpful. I am treated as part of the family, and I get great meals, all cooked to perfection. At least two different dishes with every meal. It is very tempting to stay here, but it will be easier for me if I had a place close to my teacher's location. The nice thing about such lodgings is the feeling of belonging.
My other Aunt's Son's friend who also lives in town has been helping me with house search and helped me get registered at the police station. So, these connections have been source of great help and comfort. People at the USIEF(United States India Educational Foundation), who sponsored my Fulbright award, were also very informative and kind. I had great time chatting with all of them. They were enthusiastic, encouraging and helpful, which is a refreshing thing in India because it is very different from dealing with people entrenched in the old bureaucracies.
Search for a place to live goes on, especially since the nice opportunity that I thought was settled has slipped away..... more about that later.
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