India: The Bottom Line

In retrospect, what struck me the most during the two weeks in India?

1. The colors - India is a very colorful country, and the color lends even the poorest, most run-down places a striking and happy air. Nowhere are the colors more diverse and better displayed than on women's garments. I felt like taking pictures everywhere I looked.

2. The friendliness - Indians, and especially the women, are extremely friendly and open. Although the women may keep quiet most of the time in the presence of men, their eyes reveal a certain warmth and make you feel immediately at ease. Of course, part of this could be due to curiosity. (This is definitely true among children, who would follow us around but then run away laughing as soon as we turned around to look at them.) All in all, even the severe hardship that many families face, did not detract from their hospitality and friendliness. A fact that lies in distinct contrast to how many Bulgarians would react under the same circumstances.

3. The diversity of religions - I was amazed when I first learned how many religions co-exist in India. From Buddhism and Jainism to Islam and Hinduism to Christianity and Sikhism. I am happy that I was able to visit some of their places of worship. But what struck me the most is how all of these religions can exist peacefully side by side, when political groups don't have a say in the matter. It is only when such groups decide to abuse differences for their own subversive purposes that violence and unrest erupt.

On the not so positive side:

4. The poverty - Unfortunately, the poverty in India is omnipresent. It probably would have struck me even more had I not spent the ten weeks prior to the trip in Nicaragua where poverty is just as widespread. The level of poverty seemed similar; however, in terms of sheer numbers, India's poor surpass Nicaragua's by far. I have heard from others who have been to India previously that this has started changing ... for the better. But there is still a long way to go, especially in the rural areas.

5. The "guiltripping" - I already wrote about this at length, but it is (for better or worse) one of the things with which I will associate India. I realize it is not meant in a mean way, but Indian vendors'/drivers' ability to take advantage of your touristic self, and then make you feel guilty about not allowing that, is quite extraordinary. I don't think I have experienced it anywhere else.

This trip was a wonderful introduction to India. However, I realize that it allowed me to only scratch the surface of all that the country has to offer. I explored a very minute part. Hopefully, I will get to return in the future and dig deeper. It would be an honor.