The Ganges River, or Gangaji, is the second most polluted river in the world, according to science. However, if you ask one of the bathers in Varanasi, they will argue that nothing can pollute the river because it is holy. Science and religion have different definitions of pollution, which has had catastrophic effects on the Ganges. Last week, I visited Varanasi, one of ...
International Environmental Racism
Made in China. What do you first think of when you hear these words? Does a McDonald’s toy come to mind? What about a Wal-Mart gadget? Made in India. Do you think of jewelry or clothes? These words are on most mass-produced items that are sold in America. It is unexpected to buy an item that says, “Made in The United States of America.” Many of the US’s products are made in ...
Violence Against Women in India
Today is the day you’ve been looking forward to. You’ve been asking for a sibling for as long as you can remember. Your whole family has waited in anticipation for the birth. As you sit in the hospital with your family, you notice everyone is on the edges of their seats. It’s like they’re on a game show and have just answered the million-dollar question except they don’t know ...
Fisheries and India’s GDP
Overtime, natural resources decrease in quality and quantity when a government encourages its people to focus on development more than preservation. This is the case in India. People encroach upon India’s environment in many ways due to the government’s constant encouragement for economic development above all else. Dr. L. Venkatachalam of the Madras Institute of ...
Public Spaces and the Use of Religion
Two neighborhoods: one with towering mansions offset from the road by lengthy, gated driveways; the other with tall, concrete apartments divided by alleys so slim that the presence of the sky is only known by thought, not sight. During my time in Hyderabad, I worked with Hyderabad Urban Lab (HUL) using GIS, a mapping application that allows you to insert your own data points ...
Hyderabad Past and Present: The Qutub Shahi Dynasty
During my time in Hyderabad, I was able to explore and witness the diverse history, architecture, culture, and religion found in the area. What fascinated me most was the ability of all of these factors to seamlessly merge the past and present together. During a bus tour of the city, Dr. Anant Maringanti, one of the staff members we worked closely with from Hyderabad Urban Lab, ...
A Mosaic: India’s Unity in Diversity
Picture a beautiful mosaic with each unique tile adding a new dimension to the masterpiece. A mosaic requires heterogeneous features. For without the dissimilarity, one could not label it a mosaic. The diversity is exactly what unites it. The same is true for India. India is home to a pluricultural civilization whose polity is organized around the founding belief of unity in ...
Planes, Trains and Auto Rickshaws: Transportation in Chennai
Think of New York City taxi drivers. Add a couple thousand motorcyclists. Sprinkle in some pedestrians and bicyclists. Oh, and don’t forget about the cows. Mix it all together and you might come close to imagining urban transportation in India. Street in West Tambaram My group and I arrived in Chennai on August 26th at 3AM. As I exited the airport and took my first steps in ...
Thoughts on Tourism
I have been reflecting on what it means to be a tourist, especially a tourist in India. When I think of visiting Europe, different feelings enter my head than what comes to mind when traveling to parts of Asia, Africa, or even South America. Why? Is it the difference in culture? Language? People? Clothes? I’m not sure if I fully understand, but I know there is a divide ...
Before India
When I think of India, numerous images and emotions come to mind. Instantly, I picture the red and yellow colors of the festivals with thousands of lights flickering as women dance in their saris. I taste the flavors of curry and saffron in my favorite Indian dishes. I remember the instructions my friend gave me on how to make a mango lassi. I think of the Hindu temple down the ...
