India Now: An Anecdotal Account Part 4

One of the neighbors in my grandmother’s gated community in Andheri East has a driver. The driver, a member of India’s server class, is impoverished like most of the people in his position. Unlike many of the servants in the community, this driver has a reputation for being reliable. Neighbors frequently complain about other servants stealing from their households and talking maliciously about them behind turned backs. Not this driver. He has received muted praise from the community for the loyalty he shows his employer. The employer, however, offers few compliments, believing that too much appreciation can create unnecessary complacency.

India Now: An Anecdotal Account Part 3

It is hard to hyperbolize the influence of Bollywood on Indian society. Having grown up unabashedly exposed to Bollywood song and dance as the offspring of non-resident Indians in the United States, I understood the importance that Indians both at home and abroad placed on their cinematic heroes and heroines. One Friday night in Mumbai I joined an extended family outing to see 3 Idiots, the newest fillum starring Aamir Khan. Ever since one of his movies had been nominated for an Academy Award, Aamir Khan had metamorphosed into another one of India’s deities. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s combined stardom pales in comparison to the deference paid to Bollywood superstars. The only apt Western analogy might be the status rock and roll legends once occupied among their fanatical devotees.

India Now: An Anecdotal Account Part 2

Jai Mata Di. With those words in the darkness before dawn, we began a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi in northern India to worship the Hindu goddess Mata Rani. My extended family and I were journeying from Mumbai to the state of Jammu and Kashmir by train, which was to take thirty hours. We approached Bandra station in Mumbai as the first signs of day peaked over the horizon. I knew we were close when greeted by the station’s infamous calling card, the rank smell of sewage.

Trivia Time: 3/14/11 Edition

There's nothing I'd rather be doing right now than coming up with a trivia question for you Suiters. Except be at a wet T-shirt contest. Answer is after the jump.

Which U.S. Spring Break destination had the most visitors last year with over 500,000?

India Now: An Anecdotal Account Part 1

I made a trip to India in December 2009 and visited for 3 weeks. This is my account covering the spectrum of life there. It is divided into 4 parts.
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After fifteen hours we finally descended over Mumbai. As I peered into the darkness outside, I noticed that the night was undisturbed by the light pollution one would expect from a major city. As soon as we hit the tarmac, a distinct foreign smell permeated the airplane cabin. Even ten years later it was impossible not to recognize that Indian scent that might be described as a potpourri of concrete rubble, dust, cow manure and some mystery masala. Nervous to meet my relatives again and use Indian bathrooms, I was both suffocated and reassured by the smell.

Spring Break 2011!

I'm not in college anymore but I still like to celebrate Spring Break. As a gift to the millions (AND MILLIONS!) of loyal Suiters that may be stuck in a cubicle this week instead of chilling with runway models like I do on a regular basis, I am giving all of you a free trip to exotic India. No, not an actual trip. This one will take place inside your mind, courtesy of my boy Slumdog. On the plus side, at least you still have functioning toilets.