The title of this blog comes from my experience today. Me being a 20 something year old young man, being pulled around on a rickshaw by an Indian man with half of his hair already grey in 110 degree weather just seemed kinda guilt inducing to me. I made sure to tip him well though. The whole ride I was discussing with my fellow passenger how it felt like I should get out and pull this guy around.
The past few days have been a great experience though and India is a perfect place to come for some introspective self reflection. Especially in the context of a religious studies environment reading the Bhagavad Gita. An interesting read that I would recommend if you have never read it. The sights and sounds and smells are a bombardment on the senses, in a good way most of the time. It feels like a whole different world with apparently no traffic laws as I saw people driving along the side of the road in the opposite direction of traffic and drivers weaving through constantly beeping their horns to warn the other drivers of their presence.
The sites that I saw here with historical significance like the Taj Mahal and various architectural achievements are really something to behold. Especially when you consider the time periods they were built in. I saw a solar observatory today that was constructed in 1729 that can accurately measure time, predict eclipses, and track the location of major stars as the earth orbits around the sun. It really made me think about all the things that are missing in history classes I have taken when it comes to the eastern world.
The biggest impact on me though is the people. They all seem so friendly and being a foreigner here is like being a Hollywood star. People actually come up to you wanting to have their pictures taken with you to show their friends and family. I just wish I could do something for the poorer people living here. Compared to the U.S. and European countries that I have been to the poverty of some of these people is crushing. It really sobers you up and helps puts things in perspective.