India's Divide

I get a feeling that the so called intelligentsia of India is actually an intellectual elite .

Background events: The great shock in Indian cities on UPA winning the general elections 2009, personal observation that people around me seem to know more about Hurricane Katrina than Cyclone Aila,the occurring in Lalgarh,

Main event: Discovery Atlas, A nice show.

Basically, The Indian episode concentrated on only 3 people:
  1. A young boy becoming a priest in Haridwar
  2. A cable operator in Dharavi
  3. A marriage organizer in Delhi.
The Italian episode concentrated on:
  1. A young wannabe Palio Jockey in Siena
  2. A race car driver in Rome
  3. A freediver in Sicily
  4. A mountaineer in the Alps
  5. A fashion designer in Milan
  6. A Gondolier in Venice
Now my question is : Why only three for India? Given that India is considered to be a land of great diversity: The makers of discovery Atlas, or specifically the "India experts" they must have consulted (I believe they did given that there are country specific narrators) do not know enough different stories among Indians . To me the most logical explanation is that they themselves have not much idea of India outside stereotypes and big cities. One of my friends from a Big city admitted that till a recent trip to Kashmir, he had not visited any village !!

The "educated" middle class of India seem out of touch from the others , I am not asking for any kind of " oh those wretched brothers" sympathy which a lot of people seem very eager to show . I am asking for recognition that there are these other ways and means of living which people follow .I want to know more about my country and expect the so called experts to help me . Till recently the wikipedia article on Folklore of India was filled more with info on the "folklorists" than the main subject itself.


Comments

Saad Shaikh said…
I agree.. India is a land of diverse cultures.. and there are many traditions that are pretty interesting..

besides, when you see India on any international channel.. dharavi has to be there.. these people show India more of an "under-developed nation" than a developing nation and this has to change..

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