India:
Because of its religious and social complexity, India is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. But travellers to India must cultivate patience. Although Indians are used to tourists, they also are also underemployed, and therefore just to buy a ticket on a train, you may have to have forms filled out and stamped by four different clerks, for example.
Things are changing and modernizing, but slowly. For the most part, India is still a poor, rural country, with the development and modernization concentrated mainly in the cities. Religion also is the dominant factor in everyone's lives, and the down side of that is caste wars and killing, terrorism, bombs exploding in random places, people from various religions killing each other, and tourists kidnapped and killed in Kashmir. The dusty city of Delhi has grown to a megatropolis of 13 million people, and it's now got the ominous distinction of being the murder capital of the country. In 1998, more people were murdered in Delhi than in New York City or Detroit. As well, India seems intent on out-macho-ing Pakistan on nuclear development.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee won a national election in October 1999. His BJP party won a majority, soundly defeating Sonya Ghandi's Congress Party,At the beginning of November 1999, the eastern part of the southern state of Orissa got hit by the worst cyclones of the century. Floods, death, destruction, violence and looting have ensued. As many as 4 million people lost their homes, and 10,000 are died. Then again, in October 2000, eastern India became flooded, with more deaths and loss of homes. And, in January 2001, Gujarat state got hit by a devastating earthquake that killed about 20,000 people.
On the opposite end of extreme weather, in April, 2000, the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat were hit by drought. But fortunately, no people died-- just a few cows. However, lack of rain meant that thousands of poor villagers had to walk great distances looking for water.
In May, 2000, India officially became the second country in the world to have more than 1 billion inhabitants.
India is very hot in the dry season, and the heat peaks around May. After that you'll get caught in the monsoons. Transportation all over the country is plentiful, though crowded. Budget travellers, always on the lookout for the newest cheap travel hot spot, check out Ladakh in the north (populated by friendly Buddhists) and south India. Goa is still beautiful, but there are now more posh resorts along the beach than cheap backpacker accommodations. India is a rewarding destination for those with patience and persistence. Otherwise, you might find it an experience in frustration.
This page last updated February 4, 2001.
Books: Empire of the Soul: Some Journeys in India, by Paul William Roberts; India: a Million Mutinies Now, by V. S. Naipal; Scoop-Wallah, by Justine Hardy; Cobra Road: Khyber to Cape Comorin, by Trevor Fishlock