The India I love does not make the headlines. But I find it wherever I go — in field or forest, town or village, mountain or desert — and in the hearts and minds of people who have given me love and affection for the better part of a lifetime.
If America is a melting pot, then to me India is a thali — a collection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each may not mix with the next, but they combine on your palate to produce a satisfying repast.
India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay.
Until around the 20th century, the cow was considered sacred (and beef taboo) in Japan, China, and other parts of South East Asia. It was also similarly considered in Ancient Egypt.
Mount Semeru, a volcanic mountain in East Java, Indonesia, is named after Mount Sumeru (or simply Meru) from Hindu mythology. Meru is said to be at the centre of the cosmos.