Bharat Beyond My Expectations: Two Years In India
For Eternal Sino-Indian Friendship
By Li Xiaojun
As an average Chinese
Before coming to India
I’ve heard of Dr. Kotnis, Rabindranath Tagore, Indian PM Nehruand of course Mahatma Gandhi
I also know India is home to Taj Mahal, Bollywood
Awara (Vagabond), Two Bighas of Land, Tempest are familiar names to those above 40
It’s home to holy cows and snake charmers
It’s the land abundant with curries and Bodhi trees under which Lord Buddha got enlightened
It’s the sacred place close to the “West Paradise” which Monkey King accompanied Hsuan Tsang to learn Buddhism
I’ve read Mahabharat and Ramayana
Because famous Chinese scholar Peking University Professor Ji Xianlin translated them into Chinese
I heard the Sanskrit-speaking master talking about ”30 years for the West, 30 years for the East” when I was a student 15 years ago there
I had no idea how the Indian summer was like hearing everybody saying it is like an oven everywhere
But I came, with me were my wife and daughter
Exactly two years have passed, sweet memories go hand in hand
We made a lot of friends
Friendly people everywhere regardless of caste
Indian cultures excellent with cultural shows every night
You are allowed admission without a ticket
Indians are all billionaires, spiritually
The monuments are too magnificent
The scenic spots are too many to visit
Chicken Biryani,Masala Dosa,Butter Nan, Ladoo, Gulab Jamu are my favorites
Tragedies and saddening things did happen
Upon arrival I was shocked to see the mental torture forced upon Arushi’s parents
Media turned it into series
Terror in Mumbai
Cash flash in the Parliament
Drought in the North
Naxals too many
Communal tension manipulated
Indian people suffered a lot indeed
Enough is enough they want to put an end to it
But one big guy says
Good is good, bad is also good
Only if you are surnamed "Democracy"
But there are things beyond my expectations
Film stars and cricketers like gods
Muslim population so big
Buddhists so few
Price tags to each packed item
Trains extremely nice
Rooftop passengers turned out to be a fallacy
General elections comparatively perfect
There are inconveivable things too
The media spat venom to China for quite some time
But the parents of my daughter’s classmates were always so friendly to us
It made me ponde about the credibility of the 4th estate
Although my personal friends are mostly among them
Pakistan syndrome so entrenched in the Indian minds
As see in the Sania-Shoaib-Siddiqui saga
The Indian people are as traditional as Chinese
But Khajuraho shows you erotic expression and Kama Sutra is widely available
They do urine everywhere because there is no toilet
Toilet is nowhere toilet is everywhere
Delhi drivers are the best
One inch is the space they park their car side by side
Delhi drivers are mad
They compete with each other even only 2 cars on road
Delhi drivers are good
They let you go even you hit
Delhi drivers are bad
They pay you nothing after scratching
Now I say
Delhi is not hot Beijing is cold
You cann’t understant well Indian English without learning some Hindi
India is called Bharat
India is like China but India is different from China
China is like India but China is different from India
We are neighbors and friends forever
Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai.
New Delhi, India
April 8, 2010
lixiaojun2000@yahoo.com
