Small Business Blog from Atlantic Canada

When I first arrived in Canada, people used to ask me about India. The topics were varied - from marriage to outsourcing. I was even invited to speak at Dalhousie International Business University Association about India. I thought I’d share that with everyone.

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When I was invited to speak today, I was wondering what I should speak about. The Indian family values that one sees in action every moment; the arranged marriages; of the fourteen hundred years of Islam in India; the mesmerizing Hindustani and Karnatic classical music whose origins are deeply spiritual; the monsoons that rain life into India; the singular smell and the sound as the drops strike the parched earth; the science of aayurveeda; the art of yoga, or the Arabic numerals (the numbers we know today 0 to 9 was first invented in India and brought to the West by Arab traders - hence the name Arabic numerals).

My meditations on the subject did not produce any enlightenment. (I guess the great Buddha would have worked harder!) Neither did the goddess of learning “Saraswati” inspire me, perhaps due to my own limitations. I realized that inspite of having lived and traveled there for 25 years I knew very little of the vast country.

My limitations not-withstanding, I would like to invite you on a journey during the next few minutes into an amazing land called India. But I am unsure of where to begin. Perhaps it would be better if we start from the oceans and move towards the Himalayas.

Gods own country, Kerala; an enchanting paradise on earth whose luscious green flora never ceases to enthrall my senses. The Arabian Sea back waters, the paddy fields, skyline decked with tall coconut trees reaching into the sky, the annual boat races, elephants during Onam decked in royal finery are a sight to behold.

Tamil Nadu: What can I say about its fine temple carvings? The elephant carvings on the shores of Mahabalipuram on the Bay of Bengal are set amidst a boulder strewn landscape. All temples with towering spires called “gopurams” are a common feature of the temples in this state - seldom seen anywhere else in the country. Madurai, Kanchipuram, Tanjavur are examples of temple towns where within temple fortifications grew a multi-layered society. A striking contrast is Pondicherry, a former French colony, where even till to date French is spoken in villas and cobbled streets which is reminiscent of south of France.

Andhra Pradesh has created history (within India) in recent times with its path breaking e-Governance. Believe me - those Andhra peppers and chilies are weapons of mass destruction and their food hotter than hot! It is perhaps southern India’s answer to the Moghul grandeur of the north Indian cities like Delhi, Agra, etc. Lord Venkateshwara’s temple at Tirupati is the world’s richest temple. It eclipses Jerusalem, Rome and Mecca in the sheer number of pilgrims. The state has also the world’s tallest masonry dam, caves that date back to the BC era and beyond and South Asia’s first Lion Safari.

Bangalore the Capital City of Karnataka is India’s equivalent of the Silicon Valley. And among its millions of lines of code I found my wife. The enchanting perfume of sandal and incense sticks, the aroma of fresh roasted and ground coffee, and the heady fragrance of “Mysore Mallige” - Karnataka is truly a land of fragrance and a land that has all ingredients of a great holiday site. A multitude of religions and cultures have rolled through its terrain - Islam, Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. It is also home to some of key defense and telecommunications research establishments.

Goa, a tropical paradise kissing the Arabian Sea is a tiny emerald land. This former Portuguese enclave has enjoyed a prominent place in the traveler’s lexicon for many years. With its palm fringed beaches, it offers much more than the hedonism of sun, sand and sea. During the 15^th century it became a bone of contention between the Dutch, Portuguese, French and the British. With over 4 centuries under the Latin culture, Goa represents a different picture to a foreign visitor than any other part of the country. Portuguese styled white walled churches, lush green paddy fields surrounding villages and hamlets, dense coconut palm groves, crumbling forts guarding rocky capes mark the Goan landscape. Goa is famous for its sea food, cashew and locally brewed wine (fenny) and above all for its peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Maharashtra: A picturesque Western India state. Along the coast run the Western Ghats offering some of the best panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and adjacent coast. The state is dotted by rugged forts that stand as mute witnesses down the ages to the march of warrior kings, foreign trading vessels and invaders from across the seas. It is one of the most populous state and has a marvelous diversity. Due to its capital’ s (Bombay) geographical location, it has been the hub of trading activity over the centuries and people of various faiths have made Bombay their home. I can safely say that every religion in the world is represented in this State. Bombay is to India what New York is to the USA. You have to explore the Ajanta and Ellora Caves and their wall paintings to feel their emotions that we currently carry around us including elements of abiding love.

Madhya Pradesh - It is India’s largest state. Its forests shelter around 22% of the world’s tiger population. MP is called the heart of India; I guess because it lies right in the center of country. It has been home to cultural heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, forts and palaces dot the state. Its natural beauty is varied- spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles and miles of dense forest.

Orissa - The lush green state lies along the eastern seaboard of India. One can find some of the best fusion of traditional Indian art in its many temples and monuments. It was in Orissa that Buddhism found a large following. Historically, the state is famous for its once majestic battle elephants. But as a striking contrast, the state has a few forts and fortifications which are indicative of centuries of peace and harmony. Today, it is predominantly rural, with fertile green coastal plains. It is one of the biggest exporters of iron ore. The Sun temple at Konark and is one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. The entire temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot carrying the Sun God. Every aspect of life is depicted on its walls and the erotic imagery depicts the sublimation of human love manifested in countless forms.

Gujarat: Legend has it that the temple of Somnath in the Saurashtra region was actually there to witness the creation of the Universe. Recently excavated port of Lothal, an important site of the Indus Valley civilization, bears testimony to the states more than 4000 years of history. It was said to have trade links with Baylon and Egypt. The Parsis, who fled Iran under threat of persecution in the 8^th century first landed in this state. The state has been exposed to a succession of alien races and in the process imbibed elements of a variety of cultures. The state also boasts of a wild life sanctuary, beaches, handicrafts, mouth watering cuisine and colorful lifestyle.

Rajasthan: The land of warriors and kings is India at its exotic and colorful best with its palaces of breath taking grandeur, battle scared forts and whimsical charm, its riotous colors and a unique romantic sense of pride and honor. The desert city of Jaisalmer resembles a fantasy from the Thousand and One Arabian Nights. The state is home to Rajputs who have ruled that land for thousands of years according to a code of chivalry and honor akin to that of medieval European knights. All of Rajasthan enthralls me. Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, parapets of forts rising to touch the sky, The Jain Dilwara temples at Mount Abu, sandy desert extending into Pakistan: exquisite wonders of the world. Standing under the stars (you might want to take your sunglasses to deal with the starry nights), close your eyes and see the camel caravans coming through this desert town a thousand years ago. You are transported to a by gone era.

Punjab: Perhaps the only state to suffer the most destruction and damage during the partition of 1947 yet today it is the most affluent state. It is predominantly an agricultural state supplying a large portion of India’s rice and wheat requirements. Home to the fiercely proud Sikhs, the state has provided the fighting force for armies of the great kings in India, the British and now India. Universally famous for their diligence and usually the butt of jokes, they have humbly contributed a lot to the development of India.

Himachal Pradesh: the land of eternal snow peaks takes a transition from the plains to lofty Himalayas. Geographically the landscape is dotted with mountains and hills some as high as 6500 m. The mountain passes which are pivotal points are usually isolated during winter when they are blocked by snow. This region was the ancient trade route to Tibet and Central Asia. Simla, Dalhousie, Kullu, Manali: fantastic holiday retreats

Jammu & Kashmir - India’s fascinating northernmost state is a wide cultural and geographical contrast - Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh. The view of the mighty Himalayas can humble any person inspite of the stature on a clear day. The Kashmiri Carpet weavers capture India’s enveloping colors. Dal lake - its house boats, the reflection of the towering Himalayan snow capped peaks dancing in the ripples, its as close to heaven as one could get on this earth. Some day I want to drive down from Manali to Ladakh listening to Bethoveen all the way. Fantasies for now, given the turbulent situation in Kashmir! Those jawans (army personal at Saichen) give a new meaning to word tough!

As has been said the world is divided into two kinds of people, “those who have seen the Taj Mahal and those who have not.” The state that produced more than half of India’s Prime Ministers “Uttar Pradesh” has played a dominant role in politics since Independence. The Ganges, Varanasi, Allahabad, all scared religious places to the Hindus and Buddhists. Kumbh Mela that is held once every 12 years.

Bihar - where the great Buddha obtained enlightenment has incredible natural resources. Rival kings have fought devastating battles here, but by some strange alchemy this state is also the birth place of Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Gobind Singh. Then came the Muslims, who ruled for 5 centuries and then of course the British. Ganges flows from West to East. Perhaps the first international university, Nalanda, is located in this state where Chinese scholar’s like Huan Tsang studied here too.

West Bengal: The cradle of Indian Renaissance and national freedom movement. South Bengal has one of the largest deltas in the world (Ganges) and is home to the Royal Bengal Tigers - magnificent animals who are so much in command that I would like them to teach me how they do so with ease. I have emailed them but not yet heard back from them. Its history predates the Aryans arrival into the Indian subcontinent. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Nobel Leurate Rabindranath Tagore, celebrated film maker Satyajit Ray. Mother Teresa. The list is endless. Did I forgot to mention their yummy sweets - one of which I see on the menu today.

The North East is made up of seven rainbow states - Assam, Meghalaya, Trupira, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. The physical features of the natives are typically Mongoloid. Its radically different from the physical attributes of the rest of the country. This region is truly a melting pot of cultures - from South East Asia to South Asia. The North East is a part of the great topical rainforest extending from the Himalayan foot hills to the tip of Malaysian Peninsulas. It grows 60% of India’s tea consumption. Predominantly hilly, the lushness of its landscape, the range of communities and geographical and ecological diversity makes the North East quite different from other parts of the subcontinent. In winters, mist carpets the valleys but swirls around the traveler during summer rains, thus creating an enchanting and romantic atmosphere. In addition, the states provide scope for angling, boating, rafting, trekking and hiking. Besides, there are a number of wild life sanctuaries and national parks where rare animals, birds and plants which will surely provide fascinating insight to the visitors.

That usually gets me thinking, “what holds this fabric together?” Perhaps India is the only country in the world where the language changes every 200 kms. Give the Indians a cricket match - especially with Pakistan - and you would have practically stopped the country from functioning. This is a country of cricket crazy fans. Or is it the festivals - Diwali, Holi, Ugadi, Baisakhi, Christmas, Id, etc. - that hold the fabric? An average Indian celebrates all festivals irrespective of his primary faith.

I could continue to share India’s various hues with you, but I suspect the only thing between you and the food is me. I hope I have been an informative guide and you have learnt something of this vast country in Asia.

Thank you