India
I just returned from my 10 day journey to India and I anticipated colorful tapestries & flavorful spices mixed with rickshaws zipping through traffic lights and food vendors lined along the street, but the reality of India far surpassed anything I could possibly comprehend.
I landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai and as I exited through customs and baggage claim you are greeted with an infinite sea of people lined up against a rail waiting for the arrival of family and friends. An unusual aroma wafts through the air and it is quite muggy for a late evening in January.
First on the itinerary is a 2-hour flight to Jaipur, in the city of Rajasthan. Known as the “pink city” which has many notable attractions such as the City Palace, Amber Forts, and Hawa Mahal. It has deep Royal roots while simultaneously having a staggering number of the population living below the poverty line. Driving from the airport to the city center looked like what I imagine a deserted area of Afghanistan with decrepit buildings and dust clouds would resemble. As we continued our drive livestock roams the city streets with the residents. This was truly the moment that I realized the polarity of this country. I was given a private tour of Rambagh Palace which was formally the residence of the Maharaja (king) of Jaipur and now a 5 star hotel. The grand presidential suite goes for $ 15, 300 USD per night and less than 200 feet off the property I witnessed unclothed and unsupervised toddlers in search of their next meal.
Once back in Mumbai a few days later, the worlds of the rich and poor, good and bad, and the beautiful and ugly continued to be inextricably combined. Seeing these contrasts really made me start to ponder existential questions and step outside of myself for a moment. It was hard to picture myself as the woman living in the slums, without the means to feed my children or provide a safe place to sleep at night to answer what’s the meaning of life? What keeps these individuals going with the monotony of hard labor and minuscule compensation? I realized believing in a higher power is what gives them strength and purpose.
Beyond the unfortunate circumstances you see some of the people of India having to endure, the country has been at the forefront of some of the most amazing practices we use today. India is the birthplace of yoga, Ayurveda- the holistic approach to medicine, and a leading country in a vegetarian diet. Even with all the chaos surrounding me, I was somewhat comforted by it. I went to an elephant sanctuary, received a traditional ayurvedic massage which consists of long strokes and essential oils, and visited Chokhi Dhani which provides tourists and locals with a traditional village life experience. We had a traditional Rajasthani dining experience along with henna, folk dances, and fortune telling. My time in India seemed relatively short and since the country is so vast, I intend on going back and visiting the other 24 states.
I am humbled and torn. I’ve traveled to many places, yet I’ve never seen such a chaotic and unidentifiable way of life. Dilapidated living structures, contaminated drinking water, and the absence of education for children are the norm. Neighboring the tragedy is a beautiful historic building decorated with semi-precious stones and adorned with real gold flakes. Privileged to be born in the United States, it’s mind-boggling that a country can operate the way India does. I’ve been subjected to poverty and lack of resources, but never to this magnitude. As you drive by the slums of Dharavi and see makeshift dwellings on top of each other, it not only instills gratitude but the desire to make a change.
I’ve done research on how I can make some kind of impact from 8,700 miles away and have begun contributing the following charity that I strongly believe in their mission and the attempt to break generational poverty:
Shanti Bhavan- They empower children from impoverished backgrounds to take control of their lives and bring positive change to their families and communities.
