What idea does this forum has about INDIA?

[br_prashant]

As a person who likes to be where i am and wants to be here i seem to like this place a lot. Even though its know for its population, poverty, politics what ever i like it.
But do people around the world know this place. How well and what do you know?



Even if you don't know and if you feel you want to then ask. Ill try my best to reply.

[bigtomrodney]

Well one thing I do know is that India, like so many other countries is known for a stereotype rather than for what it is. You mentioned poverty, politics and population. I think that's kind of what a lot of people see but obviously there is more to it than that. For such a large country there'd have to be!

Unfortunately a friend of mine worked in Chenai for three months...I'm not sure where exactly but when he came back whatever he had seen reenforced those stereotypes rather than disspelled them. I'd like to go there some day, but when I have time on my hands to really see the country and not just pay a flying visit to one part.

[ryokimball]

Most of what I know about India comes from history class. I mean, I hear plenty in the news and I know the population and poverty (and a little about the politics, but I don't pay much attention to that in the U.S. that often). What really interests me is the unique religious and historical details, and the literature (especially of a historical context) that I find from the region. I also have some sort of fascination with high population, so I would like to visit just to be in a place with so many people in one area at once.

[br_prashant]

First about bigtom's post
Chennai is the place i live in. And to be precise i don't know much of the entire country either. Like you told its huge.Three months is a good period to know atleast a few words from the language that will fly high in this place. But it also depends on the work schedule the ppl you meet etc. Also the place were you were from also matters
For a person form any country form the eastern part of the world it will be more easy getting used to this place.
Its unfortunate that your friend wasn't pleased much. I hope that this country gets better but i pretty sure thats not gonna be overnight. Will take time.

About ryokimbal's post
Religion History Literature You talk about these things INDIA is a heap of all this but to be honest you cant find it unless you want to. Its a big country with a lot of people with a lot of differences in all the three aspects considered here.Come here and you can find the treasure that is not lost but kept open in the crowded streets.

Well two comments in 8 hours. looks good. I do expect more.

[br_prashant]

Okay a little change in the intentions of the thread.

Answer to this question also.
Have you been here?
If yes then what affected you he most(good bad ugly all of it)?
If no what do you expect it to be?
What is it that you think should be happening in this country that will make you want to come here more often that it does now?

[genesus]

br_prashant,

I spent 4 months living and working in Rajasthan, mostly villages but I had an apartment in Jaipur I stayed at around 3 or 4 days per week.

Then entire experience was simply amazing, and I have nothing but the fondest memories of India.

I cannot wait to get back and am even considering getting a second place there once I cash in on the ungodly high property values and almost instant sells in Vancouver now.

There was nothing that I consider a bad or ugly experience of it. I was almost mugged once, but hey, I lived in Harlem and Brooklyn for years, so that didn't really bother me.

There is no weather more inviting nor comfortable than an Indian summer (npi).

[techieMoe]

The only things I know of India come from a programmer I used to talk to at work. He has since left to go back there since his father died (and apparently as the oldest son it's his responsibility to take care of the family now?)

He didn't talk much about it, other than odd comments like "Hey, take a guess how many gods are worshipped in India?" or "Let me tell you about the caste system there."

[Dapper Dan]

I've never been to India, but have been acquainted with Indians from time to time here, over the Internet and sometimes on the phone. My impression of the Indian people I've dealt with is that they are hard working, spiritual, industrious, very intelligent, sincere and polite to a fault. I know that is not true of all Indians, but that has mostly been my experience from the ones I've encountered.

[elija]

I mostly know about India from what I hear on the news over here.
It seems to be a country of extreme opposites with some of the
poorest people in the world, with a comparatively high % living on
< $1 a day. At the same time there are the "super-rich" who are
buying yachts for $2million.

Personally, I only know two Indians and my initial impression was
of their vicious and indiscriminate wit. I like them

I also know that I don't like Indian food, or at least what is
served as Indian food here in England. I seem to be in a minority.
I don't know how it compares to the "real thing" though. I like
spicy food, but don't like the spices used so I don't think I would
be easily persuaded to find out.

[fingal]

I've met a few Indians over the years, and they usually tell me a about their homeland, but I don't quiz them.

I've never been to India, but I've read about Gandhi and I admire him as a personality. Indians seem to be very direct and honest on the whole, and fair in their dealings with other people. They run a lot of the small businesses in my neighbourhood (including my local pub!) but they can seem shy and hard to connect with. Then again... It's very hard to to have a complete picture of a country when you live remotely from it.

I get the impression that India is an extremely diverse nation, incorporating a wide range of cultures and sub-cultures. I live in Birmingham in the UK, and some of the Indians who have settled here have brought social problems with them from their homeland: I won't talk about them here because they are controversial, and I don't know much about the context for them.

I like the way the Indian community are able to live and work together and just... get along. My own (white Anglo-Saxon) culture has abandoned this idea in favour of extreme individualism.