About India

Dear Oscar and Franca,

Thank you very much for the treatise on India.  I am pleased to share with you the official Highway Code of India, which you have now experienced.   Many of your thoughts are similar to my impressions of this great country.   I was told by my guide on one trip that one-half of the people of India (thus, milllions and millions) are living on less than one dollar per day.   Poverty is very evident in some areasl---think "Slum Dog Millionaire"  in Bombay.  (Now Mumbai, but I like Bombay.)   And this poverty will continue for years and years, unless the country can adapt to a strict birth control policy.   The population is simply multiplying geometrically.  

And the sanitation issue will not be resolved until they do away with the stupid sacred cow policy.   I recall side-steppping cow dung in Calcutta, Delhi, and other major cities.  

Many years ago, India was a "walking" country.  Then the British brought in bicycles, so the people moved about a bit easier.   Then came the Honda Rebel, the little 125cc motorcycle, which sells for about $900, and suddenly, many of the people were motorized.   And you see families of five and even six, all on one cycle.   Now the latest part of this revolution is Mr. Tata's inexpensive car.  (There is a Mr. Tata, who controls the huge comglomerate that makes about 90% of all buses and trucks in India.)

When the Nano came out two years ago (maybe three??),  it sold for $1900, and now the Indian family began to really move about.   Mr. Tata says that he may introduce this car into the U.S. at an estimated cost of $4200 to $4600, with various changes to meet safety standards.   If he does, it will sell like wildfire, as many people simply want wheels for transportation, and do not really care about heated seats, fancy stereos, GPS systems, etc.

And so, I returned from one of my India excursions, and bought some TATA stock at $7 per share.  I sold it less than a year later at $14, because I needed money.  Wish I had not had to sell, as it is now about $27.   And may still be a good buy.   The other company that impressed me in India is Kingfisher, which has a great airline, and a great beer.  All of the airline personnel were unbelievably friendly, sharply dressed, and did everything to make a flight enjoyable.   Free beer within ten minutes after takeoff, food served on any flight longer than 50 minutes, etc.

Huge contrasts in India---very educated doctors, engineers, computer people, and right next door, squatters living on next to nothing.  In Calcutta, it is said that one million people live on the streets, and when walking the streets at night, I side-stepped many bodies sleeping on the sidewalks.   (If there were sidewalks!)   And a truck or trucks roamed the streets each morning to pick up those who died during the night.

Would be great to get together some time to trade stories!!!

Best wishes to all,  Gordon
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Thank you and thank you for a very interesting journal by you and your wife. I believe I shall pass on visiting India,

Victor Hugo

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Wow--- so similar to our observations of our 3 week tour this past february.(punjab-amritsar to cochin in kerkala and lots in between- varanassi, jaipur, udaipur, kharjala, delhi, agra)  let's get together soon-- it was a life changer of a trip- lots of thoughts about humanity/ civilizations,hope, faith,etc.etc.  lots of questions- few answers??  gave lots of perspective to our lives here in usa-  i dont even mind the camera cops as much- some orderliness is welcomed-  oh well-     happy healthy new year to you tooo-   we were ecstatic with turkish air for our flight to delhi-  in contrast to our return on lufthansa/united   .   I highly recommend turkish air.   ruth and Ken Krosin  
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Oscar,

I spent a few weeks in and around Delhi. Your letter encapsulates my experience as well. Immense assets, even bigger issues. Huge contrasts.

Welcome home.

Brad

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Thank you Oscar and Franca for this personal reportage on this fascinating, maddening and sometimes appalling country 

See you soon!

Ken
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Thanks for this very informative article. I am glad you made it home alive and that your son is well.
Nina Muys

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Thank you.  I really enjoy your reports.

Tom Warner

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your travelogue, which we found very interesting.  I thought I would send you our log as a comparison, since many of our adventures seem to have overlapped.  You were in teh country for a month, while we were only there for five days, but we apparently saw many lof the same things and had similar reactions.  I hope you enjoy our simple story.

Marshal Taylor

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very enjoyable , and indeed illuminating read

Shannon Larry

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Many thanks, Oscar, for sending your diary to us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Warmest wishes to you and family,
Emanuela
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