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RE: A Pure Girl named Purinam, Smiling Amidst the Poverty – Portrait Photography
India has several different communities and they all often coexist in the same neighborhoods. The country leaves you with wonder and hope and at the same time sad and confused. I am there regularly and often try and understand how such despair and devaluing of life can be allowed in a contry with such wonderful people. Ad how can a government not make it a priority to improve the lives of all Indians. A lot of it relates to their belief systems and the fact that like China they are several "countries" under one flag. This young girl has a very bright spirit. I hope that she can find a good and better life. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your insightful comment.
In fact, the government has a few token programs that are intended to fight discrimination and support equality, but in fact, the government is one of the worst perpetrators of the system.
The only thing that gives one hope is – as you say – the "very bright spirit" of people like Purinam.
Re the similarities or differences between India and China, since Deng, it's been an expressed policy of the Chinese govt that it's "good for the average Chinese citizen to become rich."
As for the Indian govt, it could not care less if the 500 million Indians living in abject poverty never earn more than a few rupees a day (US$2/day).
Granted, the Chinese govt is not filled with beneficent angels, but the Indian govt's stance is unconscionable.
p.s. Thanks for the resteem ... from Chiang Mai.
p.p.s. Happy Thai New Year! Hope you are drying off!!
Thank you for your comments an the New Year wishes. Yes we have had a lot of fun last and this week with lots of water and partying too.
Yes the way poor Indians are treated is simply horrible and the upper classes justify it as part of their religion (Hinduism).
There are very poor people here in Thailand but there is a strong sense of community and we have local governments that seek out those who are in need and then they rally both the government and the local community to help. As a result few ever get left behind.
I have Indian friends here and I speak with them about it and most are ashamed. I tell them to go back and do something. Even if you only help one person it can make a difference.
Thanks.
Those Indians who are ashamed are the respectable ones. Many of the elite feel no shame whatsoever, and in fact are quite haughty. Definitely not my type of people.
I've travelled in Thailand many times, and have now lived here for 7 months, and yes, I notice a much stronger sense of community, and have seen numerous people give what little they have to their family or their friends. I've seen such behavior throughout SE Asia, and am always awed and impressed. And it makes me want to do what I can to help those kind people.
I find the social bonds and the decency and the humanity in such poor countries as Laos and Cambodia to be much greater than in India.
Since a strong and cohesive society makes for a strong country, I believe most of the countries in SE Asia will develop much faster than India, which will be forever dragged backwards by its backwards caste system.
Onwards, Thailand!!
Thanks for the kind words and glad you like it here. Yes there are some good Indians. SE Asia developed completely differently and the cultures here look at life and people very differently as well. I also think this part of the world will develop faster than India. As you can tell there is a lot of energy here and a balance trying to be kept between progress and family values. It is certainly a challenge because the world is moving so fast, but with some good luck the balance can be kept.
If people can pull away from some of their beliefs for a moment and look instead for results, then they can perhaps realize that just because something is a tradition does not make it right. In the meantime it is right for us to point out the bad stuff when we see it.
Are you in Thailand now? And if so, what city?
In Chiang Mai. I'm Canadian, but had been living in Singapore for 5 years. When I lost my job last spring, I "retired," and decided to live in Thailand for a while – since Canada's quite expensive.
Now, I sometimes spend 9-10 hours per day on Steemit, or preparing more posts for Steemit. But it's better than working for a company! Much better!