The last time I was there was in the mid-1980's.
Hard to get the picture of the beggars, multilated by their parents to beg better, out of my mind. I do recall the SMELL of poverty. I've smelled it in other third world countries. Impossible to rid myself of that memory.
I also recall the traffic, the congestion, the cars SEEMING to go where they wanted to go. I guess there aren't any more water buffalo being herded in the streets.
I do recall the beauty that I saw too, but it truly was besmirched by the grinding poverty that seemed to be almost everywhere.
We lived in Saudi Arabia and traveled over the middle east. We were there five years. We saw so much. I had thought that India was dirty until we went to China. China won the dirty award.
Of course, in India we were taken only to the nicest places, as in China, so we saw the best of what the place had to offer. BOTH countries were APPALLING.
Shalimar Gardens were a joke. We heard that they were so fabulous.
We TRIED to play golf there but small boys would jump out of the bushes and steal our golf balls. Before we teed off the "caddies" had a HUGE fight as to who would be our caddies. The biggest boys won, of course.
PARDON ME for having higher standards, obviously, than you.
We also worked with a multitude of Indians in the middle east. I liked them and it was because of the good experiences with them, well with MOST of them, that we even went to India. OF COURSE, there are sourpusses everywhere.
I'm glad you love India and I'm glad that India has stopped taking aid from MOST countries. I guess you're saying that they still have their hand out for $$$ from others.
As for skulking under rocks, YOU had better watch out for those lovely COBRAS in India. I guess you HAVE to insult. Lol. You show your true mettle, personality and character...or lack of it with you snide remark. At least you were polite enough to say "please."
And so, I say THANK YOU for allowing me to delve back into my memories of your country.
Namaste.
30 year old experiences explain the rather morbid view you have, but I agree with you about the traffic !
As for cobras, there are any amount of other snakes too, but its not as if there aren't any in the US either.
And regarding the gratuitous insults, you started it by saying "India will return the money in beggars, thieves, murderers...a la Fidel Castro's move in sending US their jailbirds and poor folk "boat people." Iran was FOOLISH not to get the BILLIONS up front. They know how the Indian government works" .