India offers a different way of life
I RECENTLY watched the movie, The Best and Exotic Marigold Hotel, about a group of British men and women who spend their autumn years in India.
The film, however, did evoke subtle memories of my visits to the sub-continent. I was a favoured child to have visited India in the latter part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
India can be charming, yet repulsive. It is home to Mumbai, the fifth most populous city in the world. Its population is nudging around 15 million and climbing daily. As its industries and economy become stronger, India is becoming an increasingly popular destination for British expats.
It offers a different way of life to that of the UK.
At last count, it was estimated that some 32 000 British expats lived in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai.
Of course, there will always be a historical link between Britain and India.
Currently, Britain is home to about 1.4 million Indians, making it the largest ethnic minority in the UK.
While the Punjabis and Sikhs have flavoured Britain with their patented “garam masala” for decades, chicken tikka has offered a new dimension in culinary choice when compared to the London fish and chips.
And our culinary genius and creativity do not end there, for acclaimed Indian chefs hold the spotlight in Michelin star restaurants in London.
India is a country with many distinct pursuits, vastly different convictions, and widely divergent customs and viewpoints.
There is a need to understand India’s democracy, the defence of its secular politics, the attempt at removal of inequalities relating to class, caste, gender and community, and the pursuit of sub-continental peace.
KEVIN GOVENDER Shallcross