Travels to Homeland - Part III

Let’s continue with the Delhi travels. I have to admit each time I go home, I too get a culture shock. Of course not in the sense as visitors from the Western world do, but a jolt in terms of how the country has rapidly changed and continues to advance in terms of the expansive consumerism and luxurious lifestyle characterized by modern amenities that are now considered must-haves as opposed to being considered almost unattainable luxuries when the country was dominated by the public sector when I left in 80s. The awareness and pride among the Indians about their country’s rapid progress ever since the restructuring of the Indian economy in 90s (Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization) is evident from the Indian media writings and general conversations with the average Indian citizen. And this pride shows up in a number of political forums-I truly believe that the West has to be really sensitive to India’s new found place in the hierarchy of nations if it wants India’s cooperation on a number of pressing issues like climate change etc.

The following pictures will illustrate to some extent the changing face of Delhi and the increasing Western influence on the urban landscape.

The pictures immediately below are of a very upscale shopping complex in Delhi near the beautifully planned and maintained Diplomatic Enclave and Chanakyapuri where all the embassies from the different countries are situated along with the residences of the embassy staff. Naturally, the Indian government really focuses on this area in terms of its image.
Santushti Shopping Complex caters to the elite. It is about thirty of so boutiques surrounding a beautiful landscaped area - like a courtyard. The prices in this private arcade, the favorite haunt of the embassy crowd and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton during their 2006 visit, are extremely exorbitant. To say, it is not the best spot for bargains is a joke! I took one look at the price tags in a couple of boutiques and literally ran from there, only to just focus on the beautiful landscape thereafter.
Here I am with a another dear friend at a favorite Chinese restaurant in Delhi's Connaught Place. This restaurant known as Berco's is so popular that there are always lunch lines waiting to get in. The manager and the staff recognized me after years and gave me a warm welcome because my friends and I frequented this place at least once a week when I lived there. Great food, nice decor and reasonable prices. I must say that the best Chinese food I have ever had has been in Delhi. I recall the first time I ate Chinese food in Washington, I almost wept because I was pregnant and literally craving that cuisine only to be so bitterly disappointed. American Chinese dishes have different names are relatively sweet and full of peanuts and cashews and completely bland compared compared to the Chinese food back home where it is served with vinegar and other sauces and without any any kind of intrusive nuts and corn etc. While I would like to believe that the Indian Chinese food is authentic even though there is no Chinatown in any Indian city other than in Calcutta - in truth, Chinese food in India is almost as Indian as Indian food itself which is why I enjoy Chinese food made in Indian restaurants in US as opposed to the Chinese restaurants. Bottom-line, we Indians just don't like anything bland!

Here I am in Starbuck's equivalent in India. Actually to be honest, more upscale. Coffee shops known as Baristas have cropped up all over the city. This is a homegrown enterprise unlike Starbucks which I last heard was also planning to make a foray into India. Remember India has a tea-drinking culture which is deeply ingrained in the Indians whichever part of the world they may settle in. (Ask my long-suffering co-workers in DC who groan very audibly when it is 3.30 p.m.and I am holding up everyone in the employee lounge when I start my many-step process of brewing tea at the right temperature for my afternoon cuppa.) Anyway, these Barista are hangouts for the hip young professionals with their designer brands and lot of money to spend due to good salaries coupled with the Indian cultural tradition of staying with parents till at least they marry, thus enabling an easy cash flow. Thus Baristas are again a reflection on the desire of the youth in India to enjoy a flavor of the "Western Experience".
Here are pictures of two American Chain restaurants in Delhi, TGIF and Ruby Tuesday. Of course, I did not eat there as I had no desire to pay for an insanely priced salad bar. Remember these US chains have entered the Indian markets but they do not cater to the average Indian's earning ability. These restaurants target the burgeoning rich middle-classes for whom these American restaurants are a novelty-at least initially. For an NRI like me or non-resident Indian as we Indians settled abroad are referred to, our real hankering is for the delicious and unparalleled Indian cuisine only found back home... I must add that McDonald's is doing great business in India and that all these American franchises normally substitute mutton or goat meat for beef and customize the names of the regular menu items to suit Indian palate and taste. I can tell you with confidence that the McDonald's mutton or veggie burger (most Indians are vegetarians) are much tastier than their American counterparts. Above is again a picture of an outdoor eating place which again is not cheap by the common man's standards. I doubt that I would visit such an eating joint regularly if I didn't have the power of the dollar behind me.

Essentially the pictures above reflect the impact of liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy on the expanding Indian middle class which is undoubtedly the economy's greatest strength...