OPINION
An Indian Responds to the American Traveller
Dear Sean Paul Kelley,
This has reference to your piece ‘India-Reflection of A Traveller (I & C-May)
Let me tell you, India is the only place with all its faults, the soul finds its freedom, its peace & joy.
being home to a billion beats , this country has huge resources & beyond. Can they be typified under a single banner?
I agree when you say, this is a dirty place, electrical grid is surely a joke, there are many other concerns which india faces today.
But that doesn’t mean people out here aren’t interested . we are. to every enemy there is a friend. to all corrupt people, there are good people. its all round the corner, just a glance away.
I wouldn’t want to call you the spoilt kid of the west, but when you compare, why is there so many broken families? divorce rules the roost. depression takes its toll. at a young age , students are into bad company?
I bet, this is far far better in India. Night life is the only thing in most mindset in westerners.
the govt here is lack lustre, more appropriate corrupted, but change wont happen in a day right?
we can always look at the bright side of things, if we want too. its all in the state of mind.
" Here are some amazing facts that will make you more proud to be an Indian. Read on ...
India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software, according to a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
The World’s first university was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects there. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our
civilization. India was the richest country on earth until the British invaded in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India’s wealth.
Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun in the 5th century - 365.258756484 days. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
The value of "pi" was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians. According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world.
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BC during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).
Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community, that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.
Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
Chess (Shataranj or AshtaPada) was invented in India. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindh Valley, known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC. Spiritual science, Yoga and most of the religions were found in India and the teachings spread all over the world by Indian Mystics and the Saints.
The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ‘ 80-tonne ‘ piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola
India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called ‘Mokshapat.’ The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births."
There is so much, & so much more. But is it the blind side??
Why are the people there so racists? Did the people there create human or God did? Where do you compare culture? & traditions?
Moreover, how can you help to make this country what it can be? People like mother Theresa came here, did their best, many more are doing it. This can only change with time. The west only robbed India & went back. If not for the independence movement, we would still be slaves.
I can go on and on, but intend to stop here. i would want to hear from you.
Dear Sean, this is just my opinion, no offences, I just disagreed on some issues but respect your right to say.
Do you want to make a trip to this country again? Would be happy to meet you. Await your reply
yours in friendship,
regrds,
Edmond Fernandes
This has reference to your piece ‘India-Reflection of A Traveller (I & C-May)
Let me tell you, India is the only place with all its faults, the soul finds its freedom, its peace & joy.
being home to a billion beats , this country has huge resources & beyond. Can they be typified under a single banner?
I agree when you say, this is a dirty place, electrical grid is surely a joke, there are many other concerns which india faces today.
But that doesn’t mean people out here aren’t interested . we are. to every enemy there is a friend. to all corrupt people, there are good people. its all round the corner, just a glance away.
I wouldn’t want to call you the spoilt kid of the west, but when you compare, why is there so many broken families? divorce rules the roost. depression takes its toll. at a young age , students are into bad company?
I bet, this is far far better in India. Night life is the only thing in most mindset in westerners.
the govt here is lack lustre, more appropriate corrupted, but change wont happen in a day right?
we can always look at the bright side of things, if we want too. its all in the state of mind.
" Here are some amazing facts that will make you more proud to be an Indian. Read on ...
India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software, according to a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
The World’s first university was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects there. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our
civilization. India was the richest country on earth until the British invaded in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India’s wealth.
Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun in the 5th century - 365.258756484 days. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
The value of "pi" was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians. According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world.
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BC during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).
Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community, that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.
Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
Chess (Shataranj or AshtaPada) was invented in India. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindh Valley, known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC. Spiritual science, Yoga and most of the religions were found in India and the teachings spread all over the world by Indian Mystics and the Saints.
The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ‘ 80-tonne ‘ piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola
India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called ‘Mokshapat.’ The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births."
There is so much, & so much more. But is it the blind side??
Why are the people there so racists? Did the people there create human or God did? Where do you compare culture? & traditions?
Moreover, how can you help to make this country what it can be? People like mother Theresa came here, did their best, many more are doing it. This can only change with time. The west only robbed India & went back. If not for the independence movement, we would still be slaves.
I can go on and on, but intend to stop here. i would want to hear from you.
Dear Sean, this is just my opinion, no offences, I just disagreed on some issues but respect your right to say.
Do you want to make a trip to this country again? Would be happy to meet you. Await your reply
yours in friendship,
regrds,
Edmond Fernandes
Dear Friend,
Congratulations for collecting and collating so much about Mother India. We do feel proud that you are one of us and prides in being Indian. Surely we are all proud, at least most of us, being Indian. There is little doubt that India is great. But Edmond, it is the present state of Indian psyche, Mr Kelley is talking about. Its about the apathy, that is writ large, on the body politic of the country, that is indeed an ISSUE & a matter of CONCERN. Lest we mix past glory and present chaos. We all need to be responsive and responsible that is what Sean Paul Kelley had in mind. May be someday he may be pleasantly surprised to be back in India and meet you too – Editor
Congratulations for collecting and collating so much about Mother India. We do feel proud that you are one of us and prides in being Indian. Surely we are all proud, at least most of us, being Indian. There is little doubt that India is great. But Edmond, it is the present state of Indian psyche, Mr Kelley is talking about. Its about the apathy, that is writ large, on the body politic of the country, that is indeed an ISSUE & a matter of CONCERN. Lest we mix past glory and present chaos. We all need to be responsive and responsible that is what Sean Paul Kelley had in mind. May be someday he may be pleasantly surprised to be back in India and meet you too – Editor
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