India: A Treat for The Eyes

India is definitely a country of extremes. You can find the best there, and possibly, some of the worst. Some of the world’s richest people are from India, and definitely some of the poorest live alongside them. But, for me, and for many tourists, it is the juxtaposition of modern development and ancient tradition that stays with you after you leave. Within minutes of arriving in the city you begin to understand the dichotomies that India is famous for. Cows wander alongside modern trucks and cars and traffic, already bottlenecked by random construction will gently swerve around a sleeping cow who has chosen the middle of the highway as a good resting place. My Indian friend pointed out to me that wherever there is a free spot in the city, a temple is raised and indeed there is no shortage of beautiful shrines nestled among business centers and housing developments.

The “extreme” that I appreciated most in Indian culture is their penchant for all things beautiful and ornate. I never managed to take a picture to do justice to the magnificent decorations on all the trucks and auto-rickshaws, but the silver tassels and paint definitely added a cheer to the morning commute. Ancient artisanship and decorations on wood, marble and paper, plus the gorgeous fine fabric of the women’s saris certainly make India a treat for the eyes. Indians definitely know how to make life, however difficult, appear beautiful.

Delhi Development

Travelling to India from Rwanda was an extremely interesting experience. Having studied India extensively for my International Development degree, the India that I had imagined, based on the development literature, was far for the reality I experienced once landed in New Delhi. I suspect, that if I had never lived in sub-Saharan Africa and I flown from Canada to India, I would have been more affected by the poverty that is still pervasive in India. But instead, coming from Rwanda, I was more impressed by the industry and the wealth. Only 12% of India’s GDP is from imports, which means that a huge amount of their resources are found within their own country and their massive population both drives the demand, and supplies industry with the human capital to meet the demands. Within Delhi I was overwhelmed by the number of massive malls filled with retail activity, and then as we left Delhi, I was even more impressed by the large manufacturing centers where the world’s biggest brand names from all industries were sprawled on busy factory buildings. It became clear to me just how far Sub-Saharan Africa has yet to go before they can be considered global economic players.

Genocide Week

During the first week of April, Rwanda shuts down for Memorial Week to remember those who were killed during the genocide in 1994 and to say, as a country, “never again”. The theme this year was “hope”; an indication that even during a week dedicated to mourning, the country continues to look forward rather than backwards. During the week, commemorative events are held, including a candle light procession to the memorial in Kigali, and a service at the stadium in town. Music and dancing at any time are prohibited and the country takes on a definite feeling of mourning. It is a reminder to us all that while Rwanda amazes everyone with the strides it has taken to overcome its past obstacles, there is an important lesson, which is not to be forgotten, lying not far in its past. However, the word “hope” is a key message here, and one that Rwandans do not take lightly. Once the week finished, the call to go back to work was heard and the regular bustle in Kigali resumed with amazing efficiency as everyone kept their eyes on the prosperous future they so clearly want to realize.

Visit to the Taj Mahal

As if living in Rwanda is not enough, I recently jetted off for a week to India. I was fortunate enough to travel around New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra – the so called “Golden Triangle”

India was spectacular and I’m ready to write several blog entries from my first time on the Asian continent, but my favourite thing was by far the Taj Mahal.

The monument far surpasses any representation of it, not only is it huge, but the artistry and craftsmanship are phenomenal on their own, not to mention the fact that it was all done over 400 years ago. The Taj Mahal was built by 22,000 people over 22 years and has got to be the most spectacular monument built in the name of love on the planet. Usually when one considers the great monuments of the world they are feats of engineering and technology built by a male who wants to demonstrate how big his ego is. But the Taj is built in honour of a King’s wife; it’s a monument that symbolizes the generosity of love rather than immortalization of egoism. The reality of this hits you when you enter inside and look at the tombs of the King and Queen. The Queen’s tomb is perfectly in the center of the Taj and everything from the fountains to the entrance gate, mosque and guest house expand from her in perfect symmetry. The King, however, is squeezed into a space next to her, off center and clearly an afterthought to the design. Perhaps this was his last great gesture to her, even in the afterlife, to put her before his own royal ego and therefore immortalizing himself as a man best known for his extravagant devotion.