[Bengaluru, 12/10/22] Englandbound his entire life, Shakespeare mentions “China” just once, but only as “China dishes.” “India” or “Indian,” though, appears in ten plays. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, there’s a wordless “Indian boy” who’s adored by Titania, to the exasperation of her jealous husband, Oberon. In
One of the most wondrous of your columns, weaving and twisting through the indescribable chaos with such grace. The first time i went to India it was pure culture shock, the second time i appreciated it for the miracle it was. But this was all 40-50 yrs ago, i am sure it is a much greater and more stupendous conglomeration of people, dogs, diesel fumes, spices, noises, plastic, and everything else except possibly cats.
Loved this post, Linh. I’ve only been to India once, unfortunately. About 8 years ago on a Gate1 tour which we shared with some other fun people. We travelled with Gate1 a number of times and enjoyed each trip a lot. Now, however, unvaxxed are Verboten at Gate1! Amazing! At least the Blacks in Mississippi in the 1950’s were allowed in the back of the bus! At Gate1 they won’t allow the Unvaxxed on the bus at all! Fuck them!
I have an Indian friend who married a Taiwanese woman and now lives in Taiwan. Every year he goes home to visit, and comes back with some of his family's curry, which he is very proud of. I suspect Indian families and their secret curry recipes are probably like the Koreans and their secret kimchi recipes.
All those Indian engineers, doctors, and computer scientists may find their way back to India in the end, when quality of life in the West starts to erode more noticeably for them. Unlike the West, India seems to be making the right moves needed to remain part of the productive part of the world.
Do you count VS Naipaul as an Indian writer? After having read many of his books over the years, I recently read Patrick French's "authorized" biography of him. One of my chief impressions was that he was trying to out-English the English in his writing. In a way, the descriptiveness in your own travel writing reminds me of his. (Meant as a compliment, if it's not obvious. :-) )
Those poor bloody cows! The condition of those creatures is woeful. They're supposed to revere them. Surely as a nation they can do more for their health and care. Of course they should not be on hard ground. They are poorly fed, lacking shelter and they're filthy. I feel sorry for them.
Paul Theroux has written quite a bit about Naipaul (they were best of friends at one time) but fell out. Threoux once presented him with one of his autographed first editions and later discovered it at a second hand bookseller. How's that for a cosmic wrench in the relationship?
One of the most wondrous of your columns, weaving and twisting through the indescribable chaos with such grace. The first time i went to India it was pure culture shock, the second time i appreciated it for the miracle it was. But this was all 40-50 yrs ago, i am sure it is a much greater and more stupendous conglomeration of people, dogs, diesel fumes, spices, noises, plastic, and everything else except possibly cats.
Loved this post, Linh. I’ve only been to India once, unfortunately. About 8 years ago on a Gate1 tour which we shared with some other fun people. We travelled with Gate1 a number of times and enjoyed each trip a lot. Now, however, unvaxxed are Verboten at Gate1! Amazing! At least the Blacks in Mississippi in the 1950’s were allowed in the back of the bus! At Gate1 they won’t allow the Unvaxxed on the bus at all! Fuck them!
I have an Indian friend who married a Taiwanese woman and now lives in Taiwan. Every year he goes home to visit, and comes back with some of his family's curry, which he is very proud of. I suspect Indian families and their secret curry recipes are probably like the Koreans and their secret kimchi recipes.
All those Indian engineers, doctors, and computer scientists may find their way back to India in the end, when quality of life in the West starts to erode more noticeably for them. Unlike the West, India seems to be making the right moves needed to remain part of the productive part of the world.
Do you count VS Naipaul as an Indian writer? After having read many of his books over the years, I recently read Patrick French's "authorized" biography of him. One of my chief impressions was that he was trying to out-English the English in his writing. In a way, the descriptiveness in your own travel writing reminds me of his. (Meant as a compliment, if it's not obvious. :-) )
Those poor bloody cows! The condition of those creatures is woeful. They're supposed to revere them. Surely as a nation they can do more for their health and care. Of course they should not be on hard ground. They are poorly fed, lacking shelter and they're filthy. I feel sorry for them.
Linh, Hello from the suburbs of Philadelphia! So glad to see the gadfly of the world still thrives.
Paul Theroux has written quite a bit about Naipaul (they were best of friends at one time) but fell out. Threoux once presented him with one of his autographed first editions and later discovered it at a second hand bookseller. How's that for a cosmic wrench in the relationship?
Linh
Beautifully written and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Bill