The pictures of the bathrooms were illuminating, brought some memories back. Glad that you appreciate Gandhi. My dad made us all read his autobiography "My experiments with Truth" when we were little. But I think his biography by Fisher is a better read. Gandhi was too honest and self-effacing in his autobiography.
politics, power and corruption is Stalin his real name? That does not sound like a proper Tamil name to me. A lot of people talk nice without meaning a word of it. When I trained in Medicine in India, I learnt not to believe any claims until I saw the evidence with my own eyes. Doctors lied and patients lied too. Here in the US too, I hear patients constantly lying about their drinking history, and doctors making claims not substantiated by good medical literature. So I continue to check the 'data' after I hear claims about it. Politicians are corrupt everywhere. The corruption is more ligalized and less obvious in the western worls. The lobbying scandal in the US is an example. A few years ago, Doctors would accept all expenses payed-for 'CME' to some Island resort by pharceuticals who would then 'educate' them about prescribing their more expensive drugs. All that has been declared illegal (and rightly so). Doctors can now only accept pizza slices/or sandwiches and cheap dinners sponsored by pharmaceuticals. What amazes me though is how honest an average western man is, I mean, the police, the railway ticket collector, the nurse in the western world. Indeed, corruption plays a very small role in the daily life in the west. In India, and in most of the developing world, corruption is everywhere. The policeman, the railway clerk, the doorman at every goverment office building- it seeps in like cancer. I don't think the British gave us a corrupt society. Corruption and misuse of power was already part of the culture. But the British did get replaced by the 'British in Indian skin' or the 'Brown Sahib' who do believe that the privileged have different rights than the underprivileged. It was very hard for my father to work as an honest man. I and Avinash quit India because we couldn't take it anymore. By the way, the British have always accused Americans of talking too much. Take care and keep talking.
Manju
torture Isin't torture a universally acceptable method of police interrogation globally.The invasion of Iraq to me is an act of terrorism and the U.S authorities would actually break every bone in a suspects body to get information if they think he has a hand in a major terrorist event looming ahead of them.Having said that I don't think we can justify torture of innocent people to settle personal scores or plain sadistic fun in the name of terrorist interrogation.
on a more pleasant note did you participate in buddhist or sanskrit chanting.Journaling is also an act of meditation.The inner journey always begins with an external one so for you travel is spirituality.
I recommend swimming in the sea to frequenting a swimming pool in which the whole world has pissed.If you get a fungal infection in your ear it could make you hard of hearing.Take care and keep writing.
musings You were absolutely correct in deciding to go to India for the second time. It seems that except for heat, you have been able to master other nuisances (a great feat!). The greatest advantage I believe is that you have started understanding the "east".
In India very few people are honest and forthcoming, thus, it is not difficult to understand why police should accept their excesses with victims. There is no escape for poor people if they are in jail for interrogation because they can't have a lawyer. There is no incentive for people participating in crime to divulge the truth. In the US I find that some such people help the prosecution resulting in reduction in their punishment.
Rarly people confesses in India; it's not the done thing. Thus the majority of suspected people are tortured. Only contact or money can save these people from being police victims. None of the tortured victims get a fair treatment in the society. How can they expect a fair treatment in jail. It takes a lot of guts to fight against corruption, thus, muting the voices of conscientious people.
I am glad you have been able to find positive things in India. Hope monsoon has arrived, though, sometimes it makes the weather extremely humid and uncomfortable. Do you have an air conditioner at your residence.
Glad you have a sense of humor! Hi Aaron!
I've enjoyed reading about your new NGO in the Hot part of India! It sounds like important work you are doing. I hope it will make a difference! It sounds like you are developing a good sense of humor in dealing with the ones who want to "hang out" with you!
Enjoy your time there, and I will look for your next update.
Suzy Raymond
I'm spending the summer in Tamil Nadu, in south India, working for an NGO called People\'s Watch that fights against the practice of torture in India and works to hold the state accountable for its excesses/complicity. This is my second foray to India. I previously spent ten months volunteering for an NGO in Rajasthan, where I set up a youth center. I guess I just had to come back for more. State-side I live in Brooklyn, NY.... full info
Manju
non-member comment
The pictures of the bathrooms were illuminating, brought some memories back. Glad that you appreciate Gandhi. My dad made us all read his autobiography "My experiments with Truth" when we were little. But I think his biography by Fisher is a better read. Gandhi was too honest and self-effacing in his autobiography.