India has been the destination for the travelers from ages. Many have written their travelogues as they saw India during their time. As usual these travelogues are not free from biases. The travel writers have always seen India with prejudices and pre-conceived ideas what they carried even while they traveled. Hardly any one have done any justice to describe what true India is all about. Americans, Europeans and many others have seen India comparing with their nation and its people. None of these travelers have seen India from an Indian’s perspective.
The mystic land of India, off late has been quoted as land of poor, farmers, beggars and snake charmers. Ancient travelers nevertheless were more truthful in their expression than the English colonial masters. The perception about India in today’s world is because of the image created by these so-called travelers who consider themselves the masters of everything. Even few non-resident Indians find the place not worth living yet they feel more about it. Their love and hate for the country is another dream of the nation what they want to carve comparing the other developed nation. Some of the people in the world whose lineage connects them to this land are both averse and attached emotionally. If you happened to read V S Naipaul, he wants to be away from India in his writing consciously, but unconsciously more he does that, more he is drawn towards this country of his fore fathers. Why is this love and lust?
In spite of the tarnished image created in the world about India and its people, still it attracts people across the world who want, at least, once in their lifetime to visit India. What make them feel so special about India?
Once I met a Japanese couple in New Delhi near India Gate. As I could see during the evening, they looked very much happy and contented than any other traveler who acted according to the whims and whishes of their travel agent and looked skeptic and careful. I could not resist to broke a conversation with this couple and asked what best they could see in India.
They replied, “India might be poor and underdeveloped but its people are rich. They are rich by heart. They might be hungry and unhappy, yet you give a smile to them, they will reply you with a bigger smile. That’s something amazing and makes your day.”
