India

It is difficult to blame the western worlds who for ages have been fed a fare of a medieval India and the orient by Imperialistic English authors. Most of them depicted India as a vast, rotting sepulcher- a charnel house dominated by conniving British exploiters- in league with demented and perfidious rajas and maharajas. Most travel writers Machen etc states Miller paints a devastating portrait of Asia. Diseases like dysentery, malaria are shown to be flourishing in India. And from disease to poverty, and from poverty to superstition and from there to snake charmers, degradation, despair, hopelessness and pollution. None of them elaborate about the architecture, the music, the spiritual learning, the religions, the philosophies, the beautiful physiognomies, the grace and delicacy of the women, their colorful garments- the pungent odors of the street, the tinkling of temple bells, the great gongs, the gorgeous, landscapes the riot of flowers, the incessant processions, the clash of tongues, races or sun kissed beaches. The early emigrants to US had to endure many hardships, first to reach America, then struggling to keep body and soul together- while finishing their studies. Some renounce everything to return home and devote themselves to the advancement of their people. Most westerners find this hard to believe, let alone emulate them. Many Indians who endured the early miseries and humiliations inflicted on them got the opportunity to live the American dream in its entirety – but found the rich, splendorous life of money, clothes and cars empty. In passing some mention the esoteric teaching of Upanishads, Vedas and associated words like prakirti, Sudra, nirvana, chela, guru, the idols, stupas, Hanuman and Siva which suffice to put westerns under a trance or spell. But the accent is on fermentation, pollution amidst death and corruption. Would people colonizing other countries evolve some creed for themselves? It’s a moot point because people would not be primitives, whose initial deities are nature based or pagan, being far more evolved and matured multiple faiths always flourished in secular India. They gave it all up to return home, to their villages and simple folks where they respect the elderly, listen to the prayers of the devout, the admonitions of parents and gurus, the music of the streets. They gave up the riches but in their hearts there was happiness, gentleness, humility, truthfulness and integrity. No foreigner can extirpate them from the soil which they nourish. SCENE: Somewhere in 2007/8 Ironically decades later there is a role reversal, the IT, software Czars doctors, engineers and other young professionals who have made millions from high salaries and stock options- entrepreneurs who have become multi millionaires by building businesses in the knowledge sector. Now you will find young Hindu boys lolling on soft cushions, wearing diamond rings dancing at night clubs, driving expensive cars and seducing young western virgins is now a norm and not an aberration . Recession in US and the west has caused an economic slowdown, and all the luxury brands- Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti, Breguet, Canali, Chopard, Gucci, Harley Davidson, Mont Blanc Hermes, Rolex etc are all racing, making a beeline into India and China opening up showrooms and estimate that the current $3 Billion market will grow exponentially to touch $30 billion soon. I think it’s time we rewrote the travel brochures of the east