It is incredible to me to think that a group of people can conglomerate to form a microcosm of the entire country. A selection of multiple religions, "untouchables", wealthy, and young people can enjoy a meal as one. Furthermore, to find time in their day to set aside solely for that purpose. Prior to that, to volunteer sometimes multiple times a week to make it happen.
Trying to imagine such a thing happening in London, or even back home in my friendly Baltimore, is near impossible. Setting aside ones ego for more than two minutes in a city such as London would be tragic, unheard of!
I am realizing it's exactly that getting in our own way. All these stories coming out of western media criticizing India are the result of a stubborn jealousy routed in years of traditional superiority. An incapability to accept India's thriving economy. Nearly half the growth in 2008? Down to 5% from a record 9%? To quote Andrew Sopal, a representative of British government in India from the foreign office, "David Cameron would cut off his right arm to have 5% growth in these times." A refusal to accept their misconstrued people. "The story you don't want to hear," is more aptly named, "The story whose point is tired and bitter."
It is sad to watch the West as they desperately grasp at former superiority. But it is thrilling to see Indian people eat their dinner, full and aware as they claim it, ending the night on whispers of "Namaste", and "Bohot, bohot, shukriya dost."
