Final Thoughts on India

The end is here. It is time to say good-bye to India. It seems like just yesterday that I disembarked from a 15 hour flight in Delhi. Yet, that was 48 days ago, nearly seven weeks. Through school and travel, these seven weeks have absolutely flown by. I have been fortunate enough to travel to a variety of cities and regions throughout the country, but, given that India is approximately one-third the size of the U.S., seven weeks isn't enough time to see everything. However, my time in India has given me new perspective; it has disproven several stereotypes, but confirmed many. As I depart, there are several conclusions I have drawn...

India is definitely the land of the haves and have-nots. There is a great deal of wealth, but it is concentrated in the hands of a select few. A large percentage of the 1.2 billion citizens live in complete squalor. Many are uneducated, unemployed and starving. I've seen them. Others work menial jobs just to afford something to eat. However, the domestic and foreign investment in information technology firms in recent years has led to the expansion of India's middle-class, which has grown by leaps and bounds. I would expect this trend to continue in the years to come, but it will take decades for Indian society to mirror that of the U.S. While this country evolves, it is apparent that the caste system still exists. People treat people differently based on their standing in society. The Indians I have run across - and this absolutely includes students at school - treat the working class horribly.

Some claim India will be the next superpower, I disagree. While India may have one of the world's largest economies, the country is too disorganized to rival western powers. There is a nuclear program, there is a space program, but the simple necessities don't exist. The infrastructure to support the economy just doesn't exist yet. That means roads, transit, housing, healthcare and education. It also means employment. Go into any business, I guarantee it will be overstaffed. The problem with having 1.2 billion people is that there just aren't enough jobs for people. This results in the country being a lot less productive than it could be. Along the same vein, because there are so many people, everything is overly bureaucratic. It is ridiculously difficult to complete even the simplest of tasks. I have to imagine that this slows everything down and deters investment and productivity. Sanitation, cleanliness and healthcare are a HUGE issue as well. Everything is dirty. People and animals eat and defecate in the streets. Disease runs rampant. Water is arguably unsafe. India is moving in the right direction and may some day be a superpower, but it won't happen during my lifetime.

I would come back, if given the opportunity. Despite my ranting, my experience here as been great. I've gotten to see and do a lot of really interesting and unique things. I've also gotten exposure to some things I didn't want to see (read previous paragraph). However, if I were to come back as a tourist (and this is my suggestion for anyone thinking of coming), I would go to Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan in the north for a week or two and then either go to Kerala in the south (which I visited) or Darjeeling, at the base of the Himalayas (which I unfortunately did not get to do). Delhi and Agra both make a lot of sense because they have a lot of historic sites and are adjacent to Rajasthan. Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of the country, is rich in history and culture. The arid landscape, which shifts from deserts to mountains to forests, is dotted with ancient forts, palaces and temples. When thinking of India, Rajasthan is likely the image one would conjure up. Kerala and Darjeeling would be more to experience the natural beauty India has to offer. Kerala consists of beaches, mountains, tea plantations and swamps. Darjeeling is home to Buddhist monasteries and scenic, snow-capped mountains. I also would like to have gone to either an elephant or tiger reserve.

Whether it be riding an elephant, being on a train for 25 hours, trying to bribe a police officer, going to the Taj Mahal (twice), zipping around in rickshaws, getting bucked by two cows, going to an Indian Wedding or cruising the Backwaters on a houseboat, I have a lot of memories. My experience was great, studying abroad here was the right choice and I'm glad I got to visit incredible India.