Wonders of India

The world seems to be discovering its heritages with urgency. The new seven wonders few days back, and now the wonders of India...All that is good. But all the emblems of humanity, and culture are old. Maybe one could come up with Modern Wonders... and not necessary splendors carved in stone or sand.

Here's my list of seven (concerning India).

Bombay's Dharavi Slum-
Dharavi is the living emblem of human struggle. The conditions are poor, and the atmosphere over it is worse, yet the men, women and children in it, live as family units, and share a laugh when they can. Such a remarkable feat of courage and strength ought not to be overlooked.

Calcutta's Shonagachi Harem-
While walking past Rabindranath Thakur's kindergarten school, my cousin's friend pointing to the right side of the road and sniggered, "Shonagachi" and for the first time I saw the sex workers waiting along a stairwell for business. They were not heinous as people might want to portray them in our section of society. These girls painted faces, and broad lipsticked lips, that hid their tired countenance. But we could see their bruised mind... yet their eyes had a limited amount of glitter- maybe that's the gift of hope.

Delhi's Jama Masjid-
Situated in the heart of busy business ventures, this mosque has given me calm that I have seldom found elsewhere. Although I am not a Muslim...his presence seemed to speak for itself in the quiet air, surrounded by the hodgepodge of Delhi life.

Hyderabad's Hitech City-
I lived in Hyderabad when nobody would dare to build a house near Gacchibowli. Now, this once neglected rural area has turned into the limelight of a city that has seven universities. It shows us that if the people want development they can strive to get it...something other cities might profit from.

Benares-
Do I need to explain why so? Think not.

Mattur village-
Sanskrit being the source of most Indian languages has always been close to our hearts but not our tongues. Most Indians do not speak it. We might chant a prayer or two in this language because the old Hindu scriptures were "written" in Sanskrit, a language now almost extinct from practical usage. But the town of Mattur has fought for Sanskrit by having it spoken everyday, as if it were Hindi, Tamil or English.

The Brahmaputra-
Even though our border issue has not be solved since the days of the British Raj we continue to drink the waters of the same river flowing through our countries. We might have the occasional bickering at foreign policy tables, and scant transaction of gunshots, yet we drink from the same river, and it would do both nations good to remember that.