10 Comments

It's a lovely photo and fully deserving of admiration. I love the spontaneity and the openness of those faces, they sort of welcome you into the frame. I have to agree with you that Indians really are very friendly people. I found that most of the anti-colonial sentiment came from politicians, a permanent excuse for the country's failings. The people at 'street-level', on the other hand, knew different !

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Thanks Ben. I'm glad you appreciate it. Curious as to where and when you visited?

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My pleasure Tony, I spent several weeks in India for work as an engineer in 1990. This was for a Japanese company called Pacific Consultants International (they no longer exist) who had been engaged as design and project managers for the Anpara Power Station in Uttar Pradesh. I spent sometime there, but most of it in New Delhi. Fascinating place !

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I deliberately avoided New Delhi and the Taj Mahal, totally fell in love with Kolkata and pretty much everywhere else. I would imagine enormous progress in

the 25 years from 1990-2016 all around...

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New Delhi wasn't too bad and there were some interesting things to see. The trains were a revelation and a fabulous experience, though challenging at times ! Have visited Mumbai a couple of times since (2004 and 2015) and enjoyed it very much.

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Thanks @SteveSchallencamp. (For some reason I am having trouble posting in the 'reply' section...) Without researching it all, I would just speculate that the growing economy would have allowed India to make investments in certain sports and fitness programs with a definite desire to compete internationally. That same growing economy is the one that allows others in what has historically been a very fit country (you don't see many overweight people in India) to take taxis where previously they might have walked. In that sense not unlike the States or the UK or anywhere else that has incredible athletes alongside problems of obesity etc.

And a definite disclaimer... As well as noting that you don't see so many overweight people in India, they take certain national sports incredibly seriously. Cricket certainly, kabaddi (look it up!) and a growing participation

in footie/soccer.

Thanks for popping in and commenting.

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Hi Tony, In the last two summer Olympic Games, I noticed more Indian athletes than ever. The Indian government must have instituted sports and fitness programs as part of a national health initiative to address this issue you highlighted. :)

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Please see above...

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That really is beautiful, both the image and your description.

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Thank you Mick.

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