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Just came back from whirlwind trip of India of less than 3 weeks. This is an annual pilgrimage due to commitment to the NGO that we have undertaken.Felt different from last trip due to dependency on others for every step. But I am doing way better than my prognosis on my health a year ago, so no complaints even if it has affected my ego/vanity a little bit.May be I will be independent and self sufficient by next year's trip (hey, it doesn't cost to be optimistic, isn't it?). Enough rambling, now on to trip observations.

Visited interiors of Karnataka(mostly rural and tier-2/3 towns in coastal Karnataka) and Bengaluru.

Observations:
-Rich have gotten richer and youth's purchasing power has gone up significantly.

-Coastal Karnataka and rural hasn't changed much from last trip.I did not get much time to evaluate whether their income levels have gone up to keep up with the inflation but based on spending, I would like to think so.

-Bengaluru is dustier and felt pollution has gone up significantly from last visit.

-Cost of eating out has not gone up from last visit. Same is true for the clothing costs or window shopping.

-Relatives and family friends attitude towards us was unchanged but the usefulness and purpose of activities for NGO were questioned by many and my trip's primary intent was criticized openly which did surprise me a little bit and wasn't observed in my prev. trips. May be living there year around amidst people with haves and have-nots has desensitized them as the pain of downtrodden doesn't bother them like us or this was the first time I sought help in trip planning and had to hear unsolicited advice due to their help which was not the case due my self sufficiency in prev. trips.

-Bengaluru's youth culture is competing with west culture and IMO in mainly negative points. I felt lot of productive time (in the age group of 18-25) was being wasted in passing crude SMSes and on chatting or in burning videos/CDs from downloads. Main aim seemed like getting into some IT companies if studying and if already there,switch jobs after 2 years with no thoughts on self improvement or in giving back to the company for free training or to get to US/West for couple of years.So did make me realize that by bringing up kids in US, we aren't doing any dis-service to them if their age kids are planning to come here anyway. OTOH may be we are raising them more complete than their counter parts in India in compassion/empathy,preparing them in doing their own work without maid/tutors and we are more engaged and better equipped in monitoring their extra-curricular or after-school activities etc. This will surely raise objection from India die-hards but this is my opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree with me.

-Live-in arrangements, extra marital affairs, pre marital affairs doesn't raise eyebrows in the society anymore, atleast that was the perception I gathered.

-Bacheler/ette parties with strip show and drinks before marriage was mentioned to me by couple of relatives as I got to attend couple of relative's weddings; I was surprised by the acceptance by older generation to current fads of the society. Is it signs of being too liberal for the detrimental of the society?

-Saw many 'aunties' in spagetti strap tops and strapless tops. Yikes, when will they realize that indian body types (with no toning) aren't meant for such indecent (for female eyes) exposing :-)

-Affinity for Bengaluru is lessening with every year's trip and re-affirms our decision to retire to tier 2 city though nothing can beat Bengaluru weather even now with all this population explosion but pollution has worsened definitely.

-Saw 'GaLipata'(Kannada movie)and didn't like it compared to 'Mungaru MaLe'.Saw 'Jodha-Akbar' and would have been better if it was shorter.If one hasn't seen a movie in first week in India, be prepared for recitals from repeated audience or from front rows for every scene.Takes away the joy of watching movies in theater.

-Had to console myself for seeing Mumbai only from the airport; didn't have chance to visit anyone (though lot of the family has voluntarily migrated from Mumbai before RT's crusade :-)). When will they improve international arrival walk-through and departure lounges? Compared to that, 'domestic' looked lot better and snack stalls in domestic were reasonable compared to International.

Nice post.

Mumbai airport has come a long way within the last decade. They are rebuilding airports and they will only get better from here. Don't lose heart.

RaReSha3,
Very good and informative post.

RaReSha3;86824
-Cost of eating out has not gone up from last visit. Same is true for the clothing costs or window shopping. [/quote]
So, are they charging for window shopping too now? Last time I visited, it was free :emembarrassed:. Just kidding :)

RaReSha3;86824
OTOH may be we are raising them more complete than their counter parts in India in compassion/empathy,preparing them in doing their own work without maid/tutors and we are more engaged and better equipped in monitoring their extra-curricular or after-school activities etc. This will surely raise objection from India die-hards but this is my opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree with me.[/quote]
I completely agree with you on this. No amount of external help can make parents 100% hands free from raising their kids. I believe in very active parental involvement with raising kids. My father raised us exactly like what you said and I plan to raise my kids the same way.

Is the NGO activity some sort of charity? If it's not persnal, please post more details on it. I was looking for pointers on charities/philanthropy.

Very informative and so true...I spent almost an year in India in '04 and abt 4 weeks last year....(in B'lore and Hyd)


Cheers,
Aspiring

CD,
Yes, the airport is under construction. But the graffiti of 'under construction ' everywhere was too crass for my taste. Hope it's fully constructed for the next visit.
mn_op,
I am not too much out of touch NRI but things are changing too rapidly for its own good IMO. I am aware of the Mantra that only constant in life is the change but I felt older values are disappearing faster than the society can digest and society is not replacing the older ones with worthy newer ones. One example was rich are getting richer with overall affluence but the don't care attitude towards less privileged has increased instead of otherway around. Youth has arrogance instead of confidence due to increased opportunities, I would not consider it as self esteem.Little humility would not hurt IMO. Same is true for careless sexual experiments.Awareness for the price they pay if not careful should be higher.
iluvhyd,
The NGO we are involved is too community specific(especially towards dakshnina kannada's koraga community and uttara kannada's halakki community; both are scheduled tribes); NGO is educating the community with their own school/community center, basic hygiene and self sufficiency(employment) and though it would require generous donors for its growth, it's at a stage, where it needs more hands on approach than money.I will share with the members once it is at a stage where it needs more monetary help.
Going_nowhere,
Any one married and above the age of 25 is considered 'aunty' in Bengaluru lingo. Though Bengaluru brigade road was known for indecent exposure from the 90's, other areas have caught up :-). May be I was being over sensitive with my two teenager's roaming eyes! I always feel that we should dress up according to what we look best rather than simply ape the teenagers/west's current fad. Good change was Kurta/pants has become default dress for anyone even the older 'aunties' and even in rural parts that I wouldn't mind as it's more modest than 6 yard saree.

RRS

Indians are more conservative in US. Indians in India have moved on. FOr some life gets defined by contents in Page3.

In Upper middle class and rich households, teenagers experiment with wine and beer. Smoking starts early. Number of women who smoke has gone up.

A friend of ours just moved from India to US. Growing up she was very liberal - a tomboy. She was aghast at the mundane work-to-home-to-grocery-to-kids school-to-kids activities life that most of us lead here. She narrated stories of swinging couples and no-strings attached casual relationships in Bangalore.
We were dumbfounded.

World is truly different in this part.

This again is one major factor why my wife has stayed back taking care of the kids in US, while I shuttle between the two glorious democracies.

There are plus points as well in India, but very easy for a teenager to get sucked into the ills of the society.

[QUOTE]Saw many 'aunties' in spagetti strap tops and strapless tops. Yikes, when will they realize that indian body types (with no toning) aren't meant for such indecent (for female eyes) exposing :-)

haha. are you by any chance dissing your own kind? :emteeth: but good observations though. hope you will post more on your trip.