Learn what people imagine India to be like.
By: Kiran Khanijow
INDIA: a country that lives in my imagination just as vividly as it does in reality. Whether it’s for the food (chaat, gol gappe, cold coffee, or the chai I’d sip on at least three times a day); or for the booming economy that allows shopping to be such an exciting experience; or to visit the Gurudwaras, which is always a must-do on my list; to me India is definitely a go-to destination at least once every two years. Everything feels different in this country. The sounds, sights, tastes, smells, and sensations of all kinds come at you from all sides relentlessly, and I realise that the more I visit this country, the more I feel the need to go back.
However, some Thai-Indian community members haven’t been to India at all, which is more common than I realised. Masala talked to a few of them about their experiences, their expectations of India, and why they haven’t yet visited the land of their ancestors.
RAWEENA PAWA
Learning Support Mentor
“I have never been India” is my go-to truthful statement every time I play the game, ‘Two Truths and One Lie.’ As a Thai-Indian, I do feel like I’m missing out on an important life experience. I had a ticket booked to Mumbai about 15 years ago – in fact, visas were already acquired and luggage was packed. Unfortunately, there was heavy rainfall and flooding, so we cancelled our trip a day before our departure. It wasn’t meant to be.
Since then, I’ve had two other opportunities to travel to India with my family, for my sisters’ wedding shopping. However, I chose to stay in Bangkok because I’m waiting for the perfect opportunity to visit the country as a tourist. My goal is to embark on a multi-city trip to fully immerse myself in a country that’s full of adventure and diversity. I think there are similarities between India and Thailand in terms of the richness of culture and the emphasis on food, which is what excites me about visiting the country. My main focus would be to try familiar foods to compare the flavour profile to the food I eat at home and in restaurants here in Bangkok, as well as to explore unfamiliar dishes and cuisines that are unique to specific places in India.
India is so diverse, and I’m keen on learning more about the subcultures within different cities. I also want to visit historical sites like the Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal, and the Golden Temple. For my future trip to the country, I do not have any set expectations. I don’t want to put pressure on making the trip a life-changing experience. I think all experiences can be valuable if you keep an open mind and live in the present moment.
AQEELA ALLIE
Primary School Teacher
I haven’t travelled to India yet because it almost feels like I can’t relate to the culture, having been born and raised in a completely different country. It’s an idea that would just be the same as travelling to any other different country – to experience its culture and history, etc. My parents themselves only go to India if they have to. They haven’t been since my grandparents passed on, and we don’t have any close relatives living there anymore.
I think India is the perfect example of a cosmopolitan chaos of food, culture, shopping, iconic buildings, and scenery. I imagine it to be all these things infused with the richness of its history. India is also well known for the huge gap between the wealthy and the poor, and my mother always told us about the unkind sights of the harsh living conditions of the poorer members of society – people living under bridges, and homelessness in every city. It certainly would be an eye-opener to see the reality, knowing that it is my Motherland.
Nevertheless, I think if I travelled to India, it would certainly exceed my expectations. Indian food is no doubt a favourite around the world, and this is what I would most look forward to. I imagine it’d be like one’s Facebook feed, where you randomly see videos of street food everywhere. It’d be culinary art at every corner. Besides the food, the country is a hub for both Eastern and Western fashion. I expect that I would be enthralled by the fashion choices in the markets and the malls. You hear of brands such as Sabyasachi that incorporate both tradition and innovation into their designs, and this is something that cannot be duplicated in the Western world. So yes, India would definitely exceed my expectations in many avenues. I also look forward to sightseeing and understanding my heritage, possibly visiting the villages my grandparents called home. I’d love to meet my other relatives, and hear stories about my loved ones.
Ultimately, India is the home of my roots. I believe that if one does not have an understanding of their heritage, you don’t really know where to put your piece of the puzzle of human identity. I hope I’m able to experience its richness and diversity one day.
KUANON ‘KARAN’ PAMNANI
People, Culture and Growth Mindset Coordinator, Argyll Scott & Hydrogen Group
It often surprises people to learn that I have never visited India, but there are a few underlying reasons for this. Ultimately, it boils down to opportunity and timing. My father had only recently settled in Thailand when I was born, and he was deeply involved in establishing and growing his business as an entrepreneur during my early years. Unfortunately, this commitment meant there was no opportunity for him to take his young family back to India for a vacation. As life progressed, academic pursuits and various life commitments became a priority. When the opportunity to visit the country finally presented itself, our family consciously decided to wait for the alignment of ideal circumstances, especially considering the presence of our relatives there.
I’ve consistently heard positive stories about India from friends and family, praising various aspects, such as the warm hospitality of the people, historical landmarks, the vibrant street food scene, and countless other fascinating elements. I would be genuinely thrilled to immerse myself in the rich culture, diverse landscapes, and the unique blend of traditions that others have spoken about for years, making it all the more enticing. I’ve had friends from various corners of the world share with me the uniqueness and marvels of the place. The culture, the vibrant colours, the lights, and even the constant sound of rickshaws and honking cars on the streets throughout the day – the thought of it all fills me with excitement.
Simultaneously, there’s a profound desire in me to explore the place from which my culture originates, immersing myself in the traditions I’ve been brought up with throughout my life. The main thing I’m looking forward to is reconnecting with family. Some have been to Thailand and I’ve met them, but it stings that I haven’t met most of my relatives. Meeting and spending time with all of them, and catching up on what I’ve missed, is a top priority. Then there is the street food. You hear mixed reviews but I can assure you, no one has a bad story about Indian food! It’s a bit sad that I’ve never tasted ‘authentic’ Indian food so when I get the chance, I’ll be diving into all my favourite dishes. And yes, it might sound cliché but I really want to visit historical landmarks like Agra Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, and of course, the Taj Mahal. There’s something about these iconic places that I’m eager to experience
THATCHAVIT ‘MANAK’ VILASKHAMPHEE
Senior User and Technical Analyst, Medtronic
There are multiple occasions that I almost got to go to India. For example, when I was young, I almost went to study there, but I was too little to go alone, so my parents decided to let me study here in Thailand instead. On other occasions, usually a family or work emergency would come up, which clashed with my travel schedule.
I’ve heard a lot about India and imagine it to be a place with a very diverse culture and history. Many people tell me that there are a lot of underdeveloped areas, but I imagine that there are many developed ones as well. In the developed areas, I don’t believe it to be much different from Thailand or Malaysia. However, in my mind, since the country is very big, I expect a long commute between the cities and a lot of greenery.
I do think the historical sites might exceed my expectations, and I hope there are other areas that do exceed it too. I’d like to experience the best of both day tours and night life as well. If I can, I’d like to go to cities like New Delhi, as many historical sites there interest me. I’d also like to go to Bangalore, as it is an IT city and I have many friends and colleagues there as well. So when I get the chance, definitely in this order: sightseeing, visiting friends, and trying the food!
