I often get people writing to me, wondering why I choose to live in India. They think I’m a crazy for giving up my high standard of living, to be here with my husband.
The thing is though, I fell in love with India long before I fell in love with my husband. Actually, I fell in love with India five years before I even met him. It happened the first time I visited India, in 2000. I was fascinated by the country. I found it to be vast, unfathomable, and full of life. I wanted to be a part of it (not that I ever imagined I would be!).
For sure, India often tests my patience. It’s like a never ending rollercoaster ride. I get frustrated and fed up. Yet, I can’t deny, I’m still under India’s spell. Here are five reasons why.
1. India is Untamed
Funnily enough, the thing the often irritates me the most about India is also the thing that ensures I’m never bored here. Every time I go outside, there is something different and interesting happening. Things that I’ve never seen before, and never thought possible. Camels, elephants, bullock carts, and overladen vehicles all jostle for position on the roads. Not to mention, the multitude of vendors with their hand pulled wooden carts. All around, everywhere, everyone is doing something.
2. Incense
The warm waft of incense never fails to awaken something in me. I love the fact that it’s so much a part of everyday life in India. I light it in the morning when I get out of bed, in the evening when it becomes dark, and often when I’m about to go to sleep as well. The smell is soothing yet inspiring at the same time.
3. Mystery
India is ancient. There is so much to discover and learn here. The history, the traditions, the rituals. And, India is a country that reveals itself only a little at a time. I feel like I have to earn my understanding of India.
4. Spirituality
I’m not a religious person, but I’m a very spiritual one. I actually don’t belong to any religion (thanks to my parents, who decided that I could make up my own mind). I’ve dabbled in a few, but it wasn’t until I came to India that anything really resonated with me. Here, God is in everything. People have such a close relationship with God in India. And, Hinduism offers so many different ways of connecting to God. It’s a religion for the mind and the body. I find the meaning behind the mythology fascinating, and strangely enough, believable. India has really helped me define what life and death is all about.
5. Clothes
I adore wearing Indian clothes. The colours, the design, all the jewellery and accessories. I feel transformed.
To all my Indian readers: Please do tell me what appeals to you about your country. I know there has been plenty of discussion in the blog about some of the undesirable aspects of India. Now, let’s show India some love!
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- My New Year’s Resolutions 2009
- My Parents’ Reaction to My Relationship and India
- Answers to Questions About My Life in India #1
- How India Helped Me Find My Purpose in Life
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when you visit Pondichery try their numerous flavored incense sticks and aroma candles your bound to love them
Sharell, loved this post and more than the post the comments, Ramit your rocking with so many things said, theres no scope for us to say anything except that India is a wonderful place to live it….. :d
Keep Rocking guys !!!
Good question. i would like to reaad your reply to this sharrell
V — I agree with everything that you’ve added.
(Maybe with the exception of Karan. I don’t really have an opinion yet, although his show “Koffee with Karan” is quite enjoyable).
Possible but not always available!!
nickki, I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying incense too! Apart from the other suggestions, I also like Padmini Spiritual Guide, Bic Shivnam, and Woods Natural incense. I also have a box of Mattipal incense sticks from Pondicherry, which I love.
Really want to go to Pondicherry!
I’ll be looking out for Panchvati incense, Ramit. Thanks for the tip!
[Comment deleted because it was irrelevant, provocative, and religious based].
Please stick to the topic.
Well, that’s that then. But we’ll sure miss you Sharell. Hope you would keep the blog running even then. (sigh)
Hail Shaunak the walking talking encyclopedia!
If only he’d stick to the topic though!
Don’t worry Ramit, the blog will always be around in some shape or form. Imagine, I could turn it into Diary of a Brown Australian Househusband! (My husband’s perspective on life in Australia).
I like everything about India, honestly speaking. Reason why I am in US is not that I hated India for anything or cribbed for things. I just wanted an exposure to the rest of the world, culture and professionalism. Well coming back to the question, it will be difficult to pen down in few lines what I like about India or why I like. Still to jot down, people, culture, religion, faith in things that no one has ever seen but still believe, closeness to family and friends, dynamicism in day to day life, the feeling of oneness among people, country landscape, history, vastness of everything be it colors, food, clothing, language, culture, lifestyle, reservoirs or resources, u name it India has it. There is always another side of the coin so that has to be there but the better side has lot to give someone who really seeks for something. India to me is paradise not because I am an Indian but because now I can compare two different worlds and I know no matter we lack dozens of basic things in India, yet we are better off in many things that defines Humanity and Life.
Thanks Sharell! I’d love to read your post on your parent’s reactions soon. Even after two years together, I think my parents are still hoping some white American stallion will whisk me away from my Indian man. HA! I keep telling myself and my boyfriend that they will come around, but just when I think they’ve moved ahead, they fall two steps behind again. Maybe not until we have children will they believe it’s for real!
MDG, I completely understand. My dad is very much like that but my mum is fine, thankfully. I’ll write about it soon.
Brown Australian House Husband? Musician Husband too? Amazing where life takes you eh?
Apoorv said it all very nicely. Thanks bro.
Indeed it is Ramit.
And my husband may very soon be leaving the family business to pursue an exciting music related opportunity that has come his way (and if that happens, we will move to a new part of the city!). I hope they are going to be okay with it. He can’t remain working somewhere that he has no passion for though.
All the best. Maybe he should start his own music band or group. Think of an exotic name for it though.
Oh, he definitely wants to do that. Like his good friend in Jalabee Cartel (who he’s actually going to Delhi to do some work with, while I’m back in Australia). It’s a matter of finding the right people though. It’s all heading in the right direction. Just have to have faith in the universe now!
He can always call me if he needs any help while in Delhi.
Awww, thanks so much Ramit. I know you’re good for it. You come highly recommended.
Yeah thank you. Do I blush now?
I’ve never seen a blushing Indian!! Unlike myself whose face turns bright red!!
Hahaha!
The best things: (a) I can sleep on the floor (b) Terrace above the house. Both are rare in US.
I really can’t get used to sleeping on the floor! We’re moving to a new place with our own terrace soon, and I’d love to try sleeping up there though (as long as I don’t get savaged by mosquitoes!).
India, an ancient land with a lot of beauty, history, and cultures is a special place to be.
You look good in kurta jeans. Like every dress, some dress suit more on girl with petite structure. Definitely Sari with decor looks good on all girls, but this red one on this page shows your free soul more clearly.
Read about Indian men.
A girl in my office in NYC, quite friendly, finds it so assuring when by default I walk on the traffic side, step one step forward getting lunch to go (she pays for herself – we are just nice friendly colleagues). Once she told me that she felt I am being too chauvinistic or maybe trying to hit on her; but later realized I am bred that way and nothing more.
In general, I have no idea if girls in western world think it is overdoing at least or overbearing/offensive in general! Post something on these lines when you are back from Australia. Not that I care for that particular girl, but that I myself feel uncomfortable if I have to treat a girl at par as far as convenience goes.
Ajay, I’m definitely a jeans and kurta kind of girl!
I certainly appreciate a man who walks on the traffic side, opens doors etc. for me. I view it as chivalry, rather than a man being chauvinistic. And it makes me feel looked after. There are quite a few feminist western women who want to be treated as equal to men though. These type of women aren’t too fond of such gestures. Don’t let it stop you though. The world needs more gentlemen.
For me its the homeliness i feel when I’m in india….the way people interect with me and each other….the sense of family and community….the feeling of belonging….it just feels right!
I love the food….i wish i had the luxury of stepping outside my house to buy things like vada pav, pani puri….and not have to spend hours making them in order to quench my appetite!
I too love the clothes! salwar kameez, saris, chaniya cholis….i can spend hours and hours shoppiing in india…ever since my incredible shopping experience in india last year where between my mum, sister and I we managed to do a 100kg worth of shopping (mostly clothes amongst other things), ive lost my interest in shopping here in australia! You just cant compare the blandness in western clothing compared to the vibrancy that is indian clothing!
I love our culture, our festivals, our language….our movies, our music…
I love the sense of spirit amongst the street kids, who havent been given much, but can still smile and live life without complaining….
Its just my country….they say you can take an indian outside of india but not india outside of an india…that says it all for me!
Gauri, I just want to say that you said all the things I have wanted to say. I feel the same about food, shopping, clothes and warmth of India. I believe, there are some Indians who, the longer they stay away from India, the more they cling onto the indianess within them. Not a single day passes when I don’t these aspects of India!!!
Sharell ji, a man has to take care of a woman not only during peaceful times and even when she’s in danger. Or else a man shouldn’t call himself a man. Indians aren’t all cowards who look at or use them women in a perverted way. There are some Indians who’d defend his wife or girl till the end with courage. Its our honorable tradition. Not just our own, strangers women or man who is being hurt. We cant stand there with our hands tied. Cant break our kshatriya sampradaya anytime, or anyplace.
Thanks Vandana! Despite growing up here in Aus, i find myself thinking about India everyday…Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been outside of india all my life that i have such a strong yearning for it…maybe if i’d lived there it would be a different story…but all i can say is that im just so proud that i still have such a strong attachment with india & i give my parents credit for that…who have never let us forget our roots!
Sharell,
I have read this topic previously, but reading it again now. I am simultaneously watching ‘aisa desh hai mera’ song from Veer Zara. The specific reason being, I am going to visit India from USA after 3 1/2 years. Added to that, I live in a small town where there is no Indian making me more deprived of my ‘Indianness’. Feeling very excited to go home !! The best ways to recollect my country is reading your blog and watching a colorful song that shows India. Thanks for the wonderful blog.
Oh, you’re most welcome Raghu. That really encourages me to keep writing!
Wishing you the best for your trip. I can imagine it will be very poignant for you. The longest I’ve ever been away from home is a year. I can imagine after 3.5 years you’ll have so many feelings and emotions going through your head and heart. Shubh yatra. I hope India doesn’t feel as foreign to you as Australia does to me sometimes!
Factually Incorrect.
@@Ramit says.
“We are the best country in the world to copy shamelessly.”
China beats India hands down in this department.
Raghu: “The best ways to recollect my country is reading your blog and watching a colorful song that shows India. Thanks for the wonderful blog.”
You are speaking my mind.
Sharell, “I hope India doesn’t feel as foreign to you as Australia does to me sometimes!”
When I was in India, I had a habit of referring to “Indians” as “Indians”. And I was often reprimanded and forced to say “we” or “us” instead of “Indians”. When I look back now, things make more sense to me and I recognize my vision of India as somewhat foreign.
@@ Amit Desai
And I was often reprimanded and forced to say “we” or “us” instead of “Indians
i too reprimand u
Ronny: “China beats India hands down in this department.”
Many south-east Asian country also copy…but wait, copy what? How China beats India in copying?
@@Amit Desai
Many south-east Asian country also copy…but wait, copy what? How China beats India in copying?
Absolutely.
China has a culture of reverse engineering.
They can produce duplicates of almost anything.
You name it. They do it.
Its a multi billion dollar industry.
Ya. They do make duplicates. Chinese women are cute, I wish they can clone more cuties as well.
@@Amit
Chinese women are cute, I wish they can clone more cuties as well.
Haha….they look like dolls……super cute…..almost like girls from north east.
Even girls from south east asia are also very cute.
5 things about India that I find attractive.
1.Food
2.Festivals
3.Ancient culture
4.Friendship
5.Monsoon rains.
5 billion things that I despise about India. (Statutory warning: reading this comment may cause serious psychological and ego problems for patriotic Indians (specially, in males) and may trigger their inferiority complex).
1. Smallness : small brains, small pricks, small heights, small houses, small income, small desire/passion…the list goes on…
2. Weakness: weak structure, weak perspective, weak work-ethics, weak sense, weak management…the list goes on…
3. Contented: content with life, content with impurity, content with glorious past (and insecure future), content with being submissive (women), content with laziness (men)…list goes on…
4. Lowliness: lowly ideas, lowly life-style, lowly thought-process, lowly self respect…list goes on…
5. Faith: faith in God, faith in Devil, faith in family, faith in ignorance, blind faith in “faith it self”…the list goes on…
Should I continue?
NRI would be a great help here in making this list.
Sharell,
)…
Feel free to delete the first comment (or both if you would like
“NRI would be a great help here in making this list.”
Nope. You’ve pretty much covered it Amit.
Good job!
@ Amit Desai:
I think you could simply summed it up as “A third world country with spiritually inclined people”. It would pretty much cover it all.
Abdullah, “A third world country with spiritually inclined people”.
Spirituality? Could you please point out the spiritual inclinations in every day life of an average Indian? (now, definition of an average Indian is not an easy one or is it??)
Third world country? India is a democracy, a third world secular democracy – a home of herds and herd behaviors , a British ridden herd.
Spirituality is the opposite of materialism. In this sense, Indians are a lot more spiritual than people of most other countries. The average Indian has smaller desires and ambitions in life which leaves them with everything smaller.
@@ Amit
3. Contented
Why do u need any other thing when you are happy with what u have got??
Human’s wanting for “more”(read GREED) is one of the prime causes of all sufferings in this world……..terrorism , climate change , deforestation, broken homes ….and etc etc etc etc.
Abdullah, “Indians are a lot more spiritual than people of most other countries.”
Indians have been known for spirituality. Today, it’s not the same thing. Plus, materialism has been existent in India for a long time (who knows since when)? Haven’t you heard many old folks rattle about the wealth in India in old times?
It’s not wrong to be spiritual. It may be wrong to pretend or lie or make excuses about one’s impotency or inability.
Look at the movie AVATAR…….
Once upon a time , Indians were like the NA’VI people.
Western ideals ruined us.
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