Ten reasons to love India. September 2009

A few years ago, I wrote a post on eGullet that about twenty reasons to fall in love with India. It has been a while and yet it is one of the posts I get most emails about. I love India, perhaps in a maniac, obsessive sort of way! So you will forgive me if my views are a bit biased, a bit romatic, a bit crazy, a bit passionate. There is a lot to complain about – as there is with any place on the planet. But in my humble opinion, there is a lot to love. There is a lot to learn from this country that not only survives but thrives inspite of chaos and poverty etc. It grows but one thing stays the same – the romance it envokes in my heart, the longing it creates and the best part – India makes me want to write. What more could a writer ask for?

So for those of you who want to see it, here are twenty reasons to love India, all of which still stand and I hhope will forever… and then

here are ten more –

1. The Taj Hotel in Mumbai — you may wonder why I selected a photo that shows in interiors instead of the outside. Well, there is a reason. After the events of last year, I wanted to show how much work the hotel has done to restore all the charm. There are security guards and metal detectors at the entrance – a sad but necessary step. But inside, all the charm, all the elegance, all the glitz are alive and well. I saw movie stars, models, everyday folks and enjoyed delicious meals. Ah Taj!

2.   I just love this silly shot. This is one of the mall's in Delhi and this guy sits there each night playing the piano. Mostly ignored. But he shows up each day and plays the prettiest music. My kids loved him and danced to his tunes. I love the security guard in the picture…watching the paino guy so intently. I wondered what goes through the mind of a man whose job is so unappreciated. I guess this is my way of paying him some respect.

3. Now I show my ignorance for the world to see. You see, this is my favorite fruit of all time. I know in India, it is called a jamun but I NO idea what its English name is. If you can tell me what the correct name is, I will be forever grateful. I love, love this fruit. It is gorgeous purple in color, and tastes earthy and sweet and always reminds me of my childhood home. My cousins and I would sprinkle chaat masala on it and then chow down like there was no tomorrow. The local jamun walla or the guy who used to sell these in a woven basket on the back of his bicycle used to be my buddy when i was a kid. I must have purchased all his jamuns during all the summers I spent in India. Ah.. and the apples on the side are small but really yummy.. they were, the vendor told me pre-season before the Kashmiri apples make there debut

4. All the images below are of local flowers. Dont ask me their names, I dont know. All I know is that I love them. I love their colors, I love their shapes, i love their scents (most of them anyway) and I love their feel. They are as pure as the earth they are birthed from.