India is truely a land of contrasts and it is hard to express it. We have met some of the most kind and beautiful people. Some have lead a fairly privileged life and inherited land and a title- yet they have still had to find a way to make a living. They open boutique hotels on their property, which we have been lucky enough to be able to stay at. For example Chhatra Sagar- two brothers inherited the land and chose to recreate the opulent hunting lodge that was used by their grandfathers.
In our journey through India we have met so many wonderful people. For example we met a 9 year old boy who was delivering tea in Delhi. He was hard working and industrious- he didn’t beg or ask for anything from us. Only after we left the markets did we learn that his father died when he was young and this 9 year old boy boarded an overnight train to Delhi and was completely taking care of himself. He didn’t have anyone to provide shelter or food for him, yet he didn’t beg at all- he found a job and was supporting himself at 9 years old. Can you imagine the 9 year olds you know doing this?
We also met a wonderful girl in her 30s who has an engineering degree and was working and living on her own, but her parents arranged a marriage for her, so she gave up her engineering career (designing solar powered cars), got married, had 2 children and has stepped into the role of housewife living at her in-laws house. She went back to wearing traditional clothing out of respect for her father in-law s traditional beliefs. Now after speaking with her she would prefer some jeans and t-shirts and will raise her daughters in the modern world, but also believes they must be respectful of their past.
Just a few of the other people we have encountered:
A semi-retired goat hearder who has walked across India with his livestock to ensure they had food and water. He spins camel hair into yarn in his spare time. He wears all his accumulated wealth on him and can sell bits of it when he is in need of money. He also carries a bit of opium on him in a little silver container he showed us.
This is the last potter left in the village and he makes 4 pots for every village family twice a year. He is paid in grain and what his family doesn’t need they take to the markets to sell in order to support themselves. None of his son’s wish to continue this and so the village will have to find a new way to haul water to their homes when he passes away.
Even the middle class family home we spent the day in are still holding strong with the traditional vales and limits their 16 year old daughter to one hour a week on the internet. Her mother and grandmother are teaching her to cook, but also making sure she has the education she need to be a success in life.
It is hard to believe all that we have experienced so far and we still have another week to go!
The Johnsons 