this is not the whole story
I had a nearly-bad experience in thailand with people reading my blog who I handn’t planned to, so for that reason this entry is censored slightly, at least for a few days, then I can fill in the story. For now I’ll just say that I landed in JFK, from BTV and since I had 9 hours I went into Queens to meet Roger, had trouble finding him, and then finally met for some great conversation, including the current trend, among “liberal/hippie” types to broadly slander America, blithely using such terms as fascist to describe our government. But I can’t get into that here. So then I caught my flight, and sat on the runway for 4 hours (luckily i had three seats to myself so i slept), but when we reached Frankfurt, we’d missed my connection to delhi so i was routed to Munich, then Delhi, where I took a taxi to Vasi’s friend’s aunt’s family in Delhi (in future entries this family is known as The Family. It is 3 brothers, their wives, their 6 kids and the husband’s mother, plus 2 day-servants and a little boy, who will be the subject of my next entry as soon as I know no one is reading over my shoulder). Essentially I’ve done nothing but eat Punjabi food, sleep, play with kids and try to read.
On the plane I met a great guy name Pramoud, we sat sat next to each other for 9 hours and finally i asked him where are you from in HIndi and we ended up talking for a while about strict vegetarianism, career choices of Indians etc etc. Anyway, he told me about the caste disruptions on the Agra Jaipur highway –essentially there is affirmative action, known as “reservations” for certain “low” castes, in schools and jobs, but a certain caste had an agreement with a goverment party to be ranked lower, and therefore receive more reservations. This agreement was not kept, and now they are stopping trains, etc. That seemed slightly disturbing, and mildly interesting and I didnt think about it again until I called Sajee, Evan’s friend In Dehra Dun whom we plan to meet, to arrange our trip up north. THe people I’m staying with then informed me that I shouldnt go, it’s too dangerous due to that agitation. Hmm. They recomment “just a few days here to wait it out” that prospect seems impossible to me, and I dont know what to do. Layers of culture, hospitality, etc are at stake, Im just trying to pass the hours till vasi gets here and we can make a plan, 4 hours till i leave for the airport to get her!
Tags: Travel
nabrams
Yikes – not the best return to India but at least you had a good companion on the flight. Before worrying about agitation and taking the family’s precautions, talk to Saji in D.dun – he will give you the real scoop and can help facilitate your travels to make it the safest and best trip. I have lived through many such ‘agitations’ in India and I always felt that I was much more at risk anywhere in the US!