I've been in India for about a week now and I'm starting to feel at home here (sort of). It's so different than the US and I'll probably never get completely used to it. Extreme poverty (as an American would think of it) is a part of everyday life and for most of these people there is no way of rising out of these conditions. I read in a newspaper the other day that a family of basket weavers, (mother, father, and three small kids) committed suicide by drinking poison. This makes me think that they once had a better life because most of the people here have nothing to compare their desperate condition to. So they are content with their lives because it is the only thing they know. The large contrast between the American and Indian ways of life has shown me just how lucky I am to have been born in a developed society. I would say that for India to come up to American standards of living would take at least 20 years. A monumental cultural shift would also have to take place for this to happen. Much of India remains a cultural backwater and many here are still set in the ways of their ancestors. This, I think, is the biggest challenge to the developing side of India. On one hand you have huge growth in the IT and private business sectors and on the other there are still a lot of people who are living basically the same way today as they have been for centuries. For example, most of the food in India comes from a large number of small subsistence farmers who usually have less than an acre to work with. It would be much more suitable to development to have large farms so that people could focus on other aspects of life like education. There are many things that India has figured out from a spiritual and intellectual standpoint but culturally, they need to make up their mind about the development of this country.
I will probably do some traveling later this week so I'll have some new pictures and new stuff to talk about in my next post.
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We are indead lucky to be born and live in the U.S.A., though one should experience cultures of other countries if an oportunity comes their way. I am proud of you.
ReplyDeletelove ya,
Mom
Hey brothaman,
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping updated on your site here, and I must admit, its pretty stellar. Do you feel that a monumental cultural shift would be beneficial to the country? An "Americanized" world is not necessarily what people seek if all it does is destroy a culture and bring about nostalgia. Keep up the good work - its nice to know you're alive. Maybe we'll go together to Dubai sometime to visit those awesome buildings (hopefully finished). I'll start saving my pennies.
-Sethers
Almost forgot to tell you - I think you'd be proud of us fellas in Vermillion. We met a Switzerland bicyclist yesterday who is biking from Chicago to San Francisco. He was looking for a hostel of sorts so Keith and Tim offered our lodging. He ended deciding to stay another night with us here, so while I'm back at home, I'm doing my best to diversify as well. Its been pretty cool getting into discussion with him. Hope you're proud.
ReplyDeleteLater
Sounds like you're having an interesting time so far! Very cool pics. Ha I laughed at the Sturgis jacket on the guy who speaks no English :) Stay safe and I'll look forward to your next update.
ReplyDeleteKatie
PS--your aunt Suzy says hello!
About what Seth said about an Americanized world: I completely agree that it may not be the best option for many but India is already too far gone to go back to the way it was before colonization. They've had a taste of the prosperity that global developement brings but they don't yet know how to achieve it on a grand scale. They are living somewhere between a developed and non developed world and this means great strains on the country, both from a cultural and economic standpoint. It is true that their culture is being somewhat destroyed but it would be much worse if they were to stay in this middle ground forever. The only way to hang on to it is to preserve the memory of their beautiful ancient culture and this, I think, is difficult at the stage India is in right now. An Americanized/westernized world may not be the best option but for many its the only option for the survival of their people and their cultures.
ReplyDeleteBryan
Good argument.
ReplyDeleteI can see how this middle ground can produce its own turmoil that may in fact destroy both the culture and any preservation of the country's history. Perhaps "Western/Americanized world" is a poor term that should be modified to reflect a particular end goal of success rather than a culture in itself. Just because the present consideration of "development of country" first popped its head out in the Americas does not mean it is only the primary goal of the "American" culture. I would say that success has its own inherent placement in the minds of most that pushes any culture to advance itself through numerous strategical techniques. These techniques are incidentally associated with America because of America's ability to increasingly produce advanced technologies and America's head start into the modern world. India should continue its advancement through global development to get out of the middle ground that Bryan talks about so that India can at least provide economic stability along with the ability to preserve a living memory.
Had India developed first we would default to calling America "Indianized." Its not a culture - its a common goal.
Would you agree?
-Seth
Most definitely. It is the challenge of every developing society to develop at a rate that facilitates prosperity but also allows the people to hold on to their cultural identity. This is, I think, the goal you are talking about. Sacrifice is a necessary part of this process but it is important that you do not give up so much that you can no longer define your culture as different from others. The industrial revolution brought the same challenges throughout Europe and Asia and for many this problem has never been solved. America was still finding their cultural identity at the time and so the IR simply became a part of it. I believe that it's important to find a balance that allows for economic prosperity and a cultural identity (whatever it may be). A peoples culture should be always changing to fit the aspects of that time period. Their survival depends on this. Again sacrifice is necessary and it wouldn't be a sacrifice unless that which was given up was something you loved. I hope my thoughts are clear on this.
ReplyDeletePS to Seth- Ya I'm proud of you. Hopefully I'll get to stay at that hostel as well sometime soon.
Hi Brain,
ReplyDeleteWe missed you in Colorado! Your mom and Kay have started a new business. check it out.
http://DELIVERERENCEDEKORE.COM/Home.html
and if you can skype add me to your list!
Best
Thad