Why India?

     The question defining the week I've spent in India so far has been "Why are you here, in India?" It seems that every time the question arises the answer changes. Am I here to study film, to learn about Indian cinema from an Indian perspective, to supplement my learning of American and global cinema from a Western, albeit, critical lens? Or am here because India is a democratic rising world superpower, a place of diversity and vibrancy, and is currently experiencing the excitement of the rise of a people's party during an election period? Am I here to engage a culture and people different from any I've ever experienced, with the hopes of gaining an understanding of some sort of myself and of both Indian and American society? Or am I here because other people in my life have encouraged and pushed me to be here? Or because I wanted to travel and a study abroad opportunity knocked on my door and proved to be a once in a lifetime chance to study in India at a low cost and during a perfect time in my personal development? The answer lies somewhere in between all of those answers.
      For now, new, positive, thought provoking, uncertain, interesting, challenging, engaging experiences occupy my mind, body, and heart; and so to all those who ever find themselves faced with either question "Why do you want to go to India?" or "Why are you here in India?" I would say, allow a thoughtful, fluid, open mind and response to guide you.

Pre-Departure

     Right now I almost feel the same way a third grade student I tutor feels about India.When I told my tutee, De-Nario that I would not be able to continue tutoring him this year because I would be studying abroad in India he gave me a quizzical, yet curious look. The he asked, "What's India?" 

     Though I've been reading about India, watching Indian movies, and tuning into Indian news for the last few weeks, and though I have been eager to visit the country for years, entrigued by its Bollywood tradition, Hinduism, and its many philosophers and philosophical traditions, including the Ghandi family, India still doesn't feel real. I still am asking myself, "What is India?"

      My drive to go to India, my intellectual, and personal interest and curiosity, can all be summed up in that one simple question. Yet the beauty of the question and my feelings behind it and reasons for asking it are much more complex than they first seem. De'Nario merely had no idea what India was. He was content with knowing it was a country. I want to feel, breather, live, and experience India. I seek to learn about the country intimately. The question, "What is India?" is different for every person because every person, Indian or not, has a different experience of India. The main goal I have during my time in India is to learn about what India means for as many different people as I can.