KZN pair make Agra their home

EVERY morning, the blaring sound of hooting taxis and the fragrance of freshly served jalebi (sweetmeats) awaken a pair of Durbanites who are revelling in their Indian heritage in the foothills at the Taj Mahal monument in India.

Hindi language boffins Sushmitha Budhayee and Aradhna Ramballi have been exploring the bustling city of Agra, where they will live for a few months after securing a scholarship to study Hindi at the university.

They are among dozens of aspiring language experts from around the world selected to participate in the programme.

Budhayee and Ramballi said South African Indian culture was similar to that of India, but they were surprised by some aspects of the lifestyle.

“Working hours in India start at 10 and end late at night,” said Budhayee.

After witnessing the craze of morning rush-hour traffic on Supta Dasgupta, a friend from Bangladesh, with Aradhna Ramballi and Sushmitha Budhayee of Radio Hindvani, who are exploring their cultural roots in Agra, India. Indian highways, Budhayee said she missed South African roads.

“The nightlife is different – bazaars are open late as people make their way home,” she said.

Ramballi said: “This journey has allowed me to connect with different cultures across the world and they’ve got to learn about South African in return.”

Budhayee added: “Young people need to keep our culture alive and pass it on to the generations to come.” – Karinda Jagmohan