India Appreciation Post

"So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked."

 ~ Mark Twain

     From the time I was a little girl, I have always had a fascinating love for India. I once had plans to go over to India and work as a missionary (inspired by Amy Carmichael of course) and that still might happen one day. There is such a beautiful and extraordinary richness about India and Indian culture that I find it hard not to be intrigued by it. Well, for one thing, the general beauty of the country is astounding and it's historical landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple of Amritsar are just two out of staggering amount of buildings that India is famous for.

The Jungle Book (1994)

     My earliest introduction to India was from Disney's 1994 live-action production of The Jungle Book starring Jason Scott Lee as Mowgli and Lena Headey as Katherne 'Kitty' Brydon. I absolutely love that movie!!! There was something about the wide array of animals to beauty of the Indian landscape as well as Mowgli and Kitty's love story against this vast and wild terrain that I found absolutely breathtaking. It was good way to fall in love with India.

     India (followed by Paris) is probably the top of my travel list. As beautiful and rich in culture as India is, it is also one of the poorest countries in the world and is plagued by war, disease and social division. Mother Theresa herself has been a wonderful inspiration for me to go to India and find a niche for myself to help the people there. 

     I've made it no secret here that I'm a first-wave feminist and female infanticide is a cause that has always (always) been an unjust crime against humanity. The act is practiced all over the world, in America, Great Britain, China and most especially India, due to the progenitor and dowry laws of the country that still is very set in its traditional ways. In spite of the Female Infanticide Prevention Act of 1870, more often than not (and this is primarily seen in poor families; not so much with the middle-class), if a little girl is born, she is thrown out into the streets or even killed. Those who do survive are horrifically abused by their parents and forced into arranged marriages where the abuse becomes more and more rampant if they do not give birth to a son. A horrible truth, but a truth all the same.  

     If I was able to accomplish one goal in my life regarding the preservation of humanity it would be to help end female infanticide in India (as well as other countries). Yes, this infuriates me and it infuriates me even more, when people I know really don't see the horror of it, maybe they do and they are at a lost to really know what to do about it, but all the same, it is a cause that is close to my heart and something I feel called to do.