India - The Conclusion

In conclusion, the two weeks in India was most informative and I think I came home at least five pounds lighter.  Not my luggage, though.  I purchased a sari for my daughter who laughed at it and happily I will keep it for myself.  I made some wonderful new friends and look forward to next year’s trip.  No trip will ever equal this one thanks to the work of both Professors Grossman and Rao.  Jet lag from India was unbelievable.  I had no idea I would be so affected.  I fell asleep and stayed asleep for unbelievable periods of time for days however, I returned to the needs of my children and the fact that the Spring Session began just days after.  Even the (formerly) live Christmas tree needed to be removed from the living room.  I have lived abroad (in Europe) but this culture, history, foods and habits makes one see the world in different ways.  The use of human touch was different.  The food was different.   While I have had bouts in my life of vegetarianism, Mr. Ranganath of Grundfos certainly made meat eating sound very different when he spoke about an excursion to Subway that cost him so much more money to purchase a sandwich because it had cold cuts in it.  There is no way that I will ever recover from the transportation of India partly because of the amount of people that require some way to get from point A to B.    Seeing the smiling faces of people living and working together in small communities with little services and homes that we could fit into some of our kitchens, certainly make you appreciate the conveniences of the average American home.  All in all, one has to wonder if we are tooooooo pampered and if so, what will become of us and our society. 

India - Krushi Orphanage

I wish I had photos of the orphanage in Hyderabad called Krushi.  This home was started by the Alumni of Professore Rao's high school, known as Sainik School, Korukonda, Andhra Pradesh, after having some measure of success in their own lives.  I had many challenges with my camera and the requirement for batteries during my two weeks in India.  I am fortunate to say that I came home with over 350 photos, but sadly none of this day.  As our livery entered the compound, a swarm of SpongeBob Squarepants shirt wearing little boys met us with wide smiles.  When asked if they knew the character on their shirts, all smiled and responded negatively.   No Nickelodeon?  A smile from me (really a yellow sponge living in a pineapple under the sea?).    Seems the shirts were a donation to the school.  On this particular day roll call included 92 boys ranging in age from 5 up.  The newest boy had walked across the state and then was picked up at a local train station.  At lunch time, he could not get enough of the yellow rice and vegetables on his plate.  This boy did not speak the language of the others (or us, English).   The children enjoyed the members of our group that ran the soccer ball around the field with them.  A tour showed us how the facilities were self-sustaining with a reverse osmosis treatment facility.  We saw the bunk beds set in a military fashion inside of large rooms by age and met the residential help.  The home had hoped to expand and was in need of additional funds.  In a jaw dropping moment, Professor Rao pledged to assist with this goal and also provided the lunch meal that day.  The one thing that truly struck me was the little library of less than three shelves of books for the children to read at their leisure.  I have always been an advocate of reading with my own children, nieces and nephews and I live in the town having the first public library (benefactor Benjamin Franklin).  It is my future goal to assemble additional reading materials and send it to Krushi for these wide-eyed children that will hopefully have a brighter future thanks to Dr. Rao and his classmates. 

While touring the various businesses, the subject of salaries came up.  There was no discussion on any differences between men and women but rather the hours that a woman worked as opposed to a man who was able to work at any hour.  Call center employees started at approximately $10,000 USD per year while the skilled workers (university educated) such as software developers/engineers, etc. started at approximately $70,000.  Those working at the sewing factories were making $100 USD per month.  Employers spoke on the benefits that there were available to their employees including additional training programs and certifications at employer expense, cafeterias, wellness programs including gyms and fitness trainers and in some cases, housing and transportation. 

India - Celebrity Fashions International Ltd

Celebrity Fashions International Limited is a shop sewing shirts for Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland and Indian Terrain (an Indian brand of clothing).  This shop had a goal that day of putting together four hundred shirts.  During our briefing, the managers gave information on cotton grown in India, harvesting and some history of cotton in India and Pakistan.  We started our tour in another building where fabric was rolled out and cut with precision.  From there the pieces were brought into the main building, assembled and processed for shipment.   As we entered the gates, there was a sign saying that only those over the age of eighteen years would be considered for employment.  Both men and women worked in these buildings with mostly women using sewing machines.  There was signage saying that all overtime was voluntary.  It was explained to the group that the business ran six days a week with an average work day of eight hours.  There were several buses in the backyard that the managers explained were for transporting employees to work.  We were told that the average time it took an employee to come to work was thirty miles or one hour of travel.  This site employed 1400 employees.  There was a lot of signage throughout this building with an employee bulletin board in the front explaining HR policies, etc.   

We were not shown any recreation at this site to garner camaraderie amongst the employees.  There was no visit to a break room or cafeteria.  The average employee was making $100 USD per month.  The price tag being snapped into the fabric of an Abercrombie & Fitch man’s shirt showed $78.50 (USD).   Most surprising as we departed was the sight of all of the women’s handbags on shelves outside of the building (inside the gates of the shops but untended by any of the security guards).

India - Grundfos

Grundfos was the business in Chennai that we visited on January 11th.  Managing Director Ranganath N.K. sat with us for quite awhile discussing his views on the differences between modern day India and the United States.  Mr. Ranganath is a constant visitor to America.  Grundfos is a Danish company having started in 1977.  The green building of Grundfos in Chennai has garnered awards for its use and design. It opened during 2005.   Mr. Ranganath spoke on the social responsibility of creating a pump that was energy efficient therefore it was natural that they would inhabit a building that would be healthy and happy for its employees to work in and that would not be harmful to the environment.  Grundfos creates pumps for domestic waste water applications.  We were shown how discarded wood had been turned into office furniture for use in the building.  Mr. Ranganath opined that he did not believe that American/Indian abilities were so different but rather there are cultural differences which require consideration in the workplace.  In wrapping up his visit, Mr. Ranganath spoke on the unnecessary violence in the United States saying it was more challenging to get a driver’s license than a gun permit.  He also gave an example of a senseless practice when he tried to turn in a rental car earlier than the contracted date.  Even though he was willing to pay the difference in the contract, the rental company refused to allow return of the car.  His personal opinions on U.S. policies were insightful and gave reason to consider an outsider’s view.   Generously we had a tour of the plant and enjoyed lunch in the company lunchroom.    

India - Education

Education in India was right in front of our face every day.  The children go to school six days out of the week wearing uniforms.  We saw many field trips of these children while touring historic sites in their nice orderly rows looking intently at us and the exhibitions.   Even the most rural village we toured near Bangelore had their children going off in their tidy uniforms to school each day.  Higher education is everywhere.  Colleges and universities are springing up to support the needs of India.   We toured Symbiosis Institute of Business Management and had an exchange with faculty and students of the differences in our educational systems.  When asked if the Indian students were contemplating coming to America after receiving diplomas, the students were unanimous in agreeing that there were too many opportunities in their nation to consider leaving for employment reasons.  When touring the businesses discussing employment, many said they would not consider hiring anything but Indian students.   However, these employers discussed the challenges of keeping their skilled employees.  It was not uncommon for another company to offer a better package and without company loyalty, those employees would “jump ship”. 

Shopping in India was a lot of fun for the majority of the group.  There were bazaars featuring gold jewelry, handmade wood items, clothing and other textiles.  Teak was very popular with intricate carvings.  While visiting the owner of Cow Paradise close to the Fireflies Ashram, the owner showed us a beautifully carved teak chair looking out into the garden for the express use of visiting religious monks.  Most shopping was done at locally placed mom and pop operations.  Our first walk outside of the Fireflies Ashram was to the local village where cigarettes were purchased for approximately half a dollar.  This business, like a convenience store, had a few other small items for purchase by villagers.  While I would compare its service to our convenience stores without the volume of inventory it had no welcoming doors, ADA ramp or even a sidewalk outside.  Instead there was only dirt.  To close the business there were pulled down gated doors.  No credit card machines , ATM or parking area.  It was possible to get a Coca Cola or Pepsi but the only decaffeinated Coke I had during the two weeks was the one that came with me which I drank after six days and being chilled in a hotel fridge.  We were always careful to ensure that our water had been boiled or filtered prior to consuming. 

Later we travelled into Bangelore where we went to an area known as their Times Square where saris, scarves and other tourist items were available.  There were lights strung over the congested street.  Trying to cross any street was its own adventure.  In Chennai after taking our train ride to the street bazaar, we got off the bus at a MALL!!!!  It was heaven to sit and have a cup of coffee with a muffin before browsing through the many floors available of multi-national brands and some solely Indian such as Indian Terrain.  (Indian Terrain was a textile company to be visited later in the week.)  McDonald’s with veggie burgers was available in the food court along with Chinese food, Arabian food and a pastry cart (just to name a few).   Currency was always a challenge.  Happily I brought along my calculator which got quite a workout.   While one professor assisted the group with currency exchange, we found it necessary on occasion to use exchange places.  45 rupees equaled the USD during our visit.  Saris were a popular item for purchase by mostly the female students or as a gift for a loved one back home.    Sadly, street vendors and beggars were extremely aggressive.    Even though they were told emphatically no, they would not let up and move on to other targets.  Persistence was their motto. 

India - Historic Places

While in India we visited many historic sites.  Our first visit was to the summer palace of Muslim general Tipu Sultan built sometime in the late 1700’s.  While there we saw a Persian manuscript book written by hand which contained the code of regulations used by the general and his Army.  It was a beautiful palace requiring some restoration which was being done while we were there.  From there we visited the gorgeous cathedral of St. Philomena.   For lunch we headed to the Queen’s Castle in Mysore.  Professor Rao explained that the ladies of the court stayed with the queen in this smaller palace while the king conducted business across town in his much larger and more majestic palace.  The Queen’s Castle was now a five star hotel accommodating guests as a cost of about 6000 rupees per night for two people in a standard room.  The grounds had monkeys roaming around and were found in the outdoor pool when one of the group jumped in for a swim.  Sitting at the lunch table under the Wedgewood blue colored ceilings we ate from a Thali.  The Thali contains a plate of various curry entrees, bread and a dessert.  There were sitar players serenading the group.  It was a magical experience completed with a surprise visit by a lizard on the veranda as we left the building.  From there we ventured across town to the King’s Palace with many cannons guarding the entryway.  Large photographs of royals showed the group who inhabited these magnificent domains.  There was a quick stop to the Timpurthy Temple and the wonders at Mahabalipuram.  There were many temples throughout our visit.  While in Chennai we went with a guide to the oldest temple there.  We left there to see St. Thomas’ Basilica and then to Fort James Museum.  We ended that day with a trip to the Snake Park seeing massive reptiles all in one place.  The next day we set out for a long drive to Pondicherry, a French colony.  This looked a lot like the architecture of New Orleans.  Pondicherry is also on the ocean.  We rode by another beautiful Christian church and stopped at an ashram where silence was a requirement.  The last and most breathtaking monument (for me) was that of Golkonda.  This fourteenth century fortress encompassed a massive amount of property which included several walls to surround several villages.  To reach the top one must climb more than 350 stairs passing two mosques along the way.  That evening we took our seats to a fascinating history of the fort including a light show.  The challenge besides the 360 stairs was staying awake after the early morning departure, physically exhausting day and the excitement of being in India.  Fortunately some old was mixed in with the new when we had a stimulating visit to the new golf country club in Hyderabad courtesy of Professor Rao’s former classmate, Mr. Amarnath Devabhaktuni. 

India - Transportation

Transportation throughout India was indeed a challenge.  We were blessed to have luxurious bus service everywhere we went but it was not without its moments.  On our first business visit while dressed for success, we ventured into the city to the EcoScience Park for a visit with MicroLand.  Our journey was not without excitement.  The traffic of India is not something you can envision driving down our own landscaped expressways and clearly laid out road systems.  This is a country exceeding one billion people with a median age of 24 years old.  Just as done by their former British rulers, Indians drive on the left hand side of the road.  Most roads are narrow and the cacophony of horns is overwhelming.  There is a horn blast for getting a slower vehicle out of your way or for letting oncoming traffic know that you are passing on the right.  While we were travelling to MicroLand the left hand lane was obstructed with a rare piece of some type of construction vehicle.  Vehicles, cars, busses, bicycles, auto rickshaws, etcetera were all trying to get around and to continue on their journey.  In a flash a city bus came by and knocked off the driver’s left hand mirror from our bus.  The driver stopped, put the bus into park and took the keys with him as he ran after the offending bus.  It appeared that as the city bus stopped to hear the complaint that the two drivers may come to blows.  Instead, our driver entered the bus which continued down the roadway!!!  We sat stupefied unsure of what to do next.  After a lengthy period of time the driver returned saying that he settled with the city bus driver for ten rupees (approx. $4.50) for the damage and we continued on our way to the happiness of all of the traffic stalled behind us.  Auto insurance is essential in India (says Auto Mobile India, internet January 21, 2011) and there were many billboards advertising this service.     

To give us an additional lesson on day to day life in India, the two professors took us to the train station where tickets were purchased for us, handed out and we boarded the train for a short ride to the bazaar.  It was explained that there was an upcoming holiday which required new clothing so everyone was shopping this particular Saturday afternoon.  Entering and exiting the train was done in a rhythm that did not allow for error.  The throng of thousands banded together and moved.  The same precision was necessary to get from one end of the market to the other.  Stopping for a transaction was out of the question since the study group would have been lost in the masses.  Similarly we returned to our hotel by city bus with so little space people were standing on the stairs leaning out of the bus. 

Coconuts in India

We received an additional education while in India in the use of coconuts.  While having a sightseeing excursion to Mysore (famous for its silk fabric), we had a visit to the cathedral built in 1933 (Wikipedia says 1936) to honor Saint Philomena .  It was quite beautiful having the catacomb for St. Philomena located in the lower area with the alter on the ground floor above.  Outside are vendors selling religious relics, teak carvings, etc.  Professor Rao steered the group to a local vendor selling coconuts.  He purchased a round for the group.  The vendor took his machete and hacked off a portion and dropped a straw into the liquid inside.  Once you drank the liquid, the coconut was handed back to the vendor.  He carefully took his machete and hacked the coconut in half and then whacked off another piece of the hard outside to be used as a knife to cut through the soft inside of the coconut to eat.  We wandered off leaving the two shells of the coconut with the vendor.  Later we learned that the shells are burned for fuel.  Coconuts grow very well in India and could be seen in many of the areas we visited.

India Rising - One Billion Reasons to Care

In the ABC Documentary India Rising – One Billion Reasons to Care, the videographers took to the streets of India to see life as it occurs in India.  It was quite surprising to see the internet school with the older model computer knowing that the call centers of India are taking incredible volumes of calls on such outdated computers.  The language of English was constantly referred to but as we viewed many signage throughout the country, the use was not always correctly stated or spoken.   The housing was as poor as it was in the first video and transportation also difficult with so many people to be transported.  I also viewed another video not on the list about the Indian Military:  Future Superpower.  This made me very curious about an aspect that was spoken little about – the role of women in Indian society.  While travelling about we did see women performing in military uniform.  In the prestigious companies of Infosys and Microland we saw women employed at those businesses but it was in the pharmaceutical company of Astrix Laboratories that we heard that the social norm only allows women to work during certain hours of the day (I assume this is outside of the home).  We saw women selling fish and working in the fields of the village. 

Review of the Future of India

The video, Future of India was very insightful giving a history on the many contributions to progress the Indian people have made.  It also appears that with the challenging educational process that is common in the nation of India, there is much more to come from them.  One must wonder, however, when people will become unsatisfied with the poor housing, challenging public and private transportation, long workdays and lower pay.