A young boy, Aditya, taught us how to fly a kite – they grow in trees there :-). We saw people sleeping on the pavement – lots of them. All kinds of animals work and roam around like camels, elephants, donkeys, cows and pigs. We had to find our way in intertwining spirally roads. We visited old forts and castles. I’ve met a miniature-painting artist that showed me how he paints with a mountain stone and squirrel tail brush – yes, I tried it too and it didn’t work :-). I did some hard bargaining in Bapu Bazaar and got things for half the price offered.
Murderous look:
One day while visiting the fort on the hill in Jaipur I heard some fighting. I saw a small man being dragged by his neck by a huge angry man. It was obvious that the small man did something very wrong. But I could not believe how the offended and his friends treated him – they kicked him in the back, slapped him on his head and barely gave him space to breath while they strangled him. I could not watch this any longer and being the brave/stupid kind I shouted at the huge man in my loudest voice – “Kya hoa?!” (What’s going on?!) It was then that he gave me the murderous look. At that moment my courage failed and I just watched like everyone else as this man was being dragged away – I was certain to his grave. I prayed for his protection and took a snap just in case the police needed it.
Recently I’ve read the book “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga. It helped me to understand the complex Indian culture and society a bit more, maybe even explained what happened at the fort. I had to ask myself if I look at people the way society prescribes or like God, who loves each one of us equally and unconditionally. Another scary moment …
“My greatest challenge has been to change the mindset of people. Mindsets play strange tricks on us. We see things the way our minds have instructed our eyes to see.” - Muhammad Yunus
