As we were driving around Bombay, my father quoted economist Joan Robinson who said, ” whatever you can rightly say about India, the opposite is also true”.
Having grown up in India, I am still struck and alarmed by how true this is: where contrasts lie in close proximity with each other, heartbreaking poverty shares roads with opulence. And I am not yet immune to this juxtaposition of contrasts as they bounce off one another every single day. And the thing about India is that she makes me feel unsettled. And thing about India is that she makes me want to write. Because here there is so much that needs to be said.
As I was being driven along Marine drive, on my right the bustling streets were milling with people (to the extent that I wondered the seams didn’t burst), and on the left was this:
Purple paper planes 
India… you can never write me enough or show me enough images.
Portia x
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for stopping by Portia! I can’t get enough of India either…:)
A fascinating description of India, Lavanya … and a beautiful photo. Love its dreamlike quality. Hope your journey is going well.
Thanks S!
I have not been to India, but I did watch Baraka, which gave me a hint of the wonder and enormity of the country and its many facets. I have one friend who is just back from a long holiday out there, and another who is just about to set off for a 9 month study trip. I sense that India exerts a visceral pull on people and I hope I go there one day. Meanwhile, see you soon over here! 😉
I need to watch Baraka!
That is such a perfect quote, Lavanya. I’d never heard it before. Your description of the hectic street on one side of the road and the scene in the photo on the other, says it all.
Can’t wait to hear more. See you soon!
It was so lovely to see you and Vanessa – you both were as lovely in person as you sound on the blogs!
I hope you’re enjoying your trip. We miss you here.
aww..*hugs*
Varietas delectat! India is trully amazing
I agree!