A William Dalrymple Day

It's a William Dalrymple day.  William Dalrymple is a Scottish historian who first encountered India when he was 17.  He has been entranced ever since.
 First, I came across an article in the New York Times about a literary conference he is helping to direct in Jaipur.  Salman Rushdie, an invited participant, was notified of threats to his life and advised not to attend.  He did not attend, but some authors present read paragraphs from his work.  This is illegal in India.
Next, the three Dalrymple books I ordered last week arrived.  He is an amazing historian, with excellent narrative skills.  I read "The Last Mughal" which focused on issues surrounding the princely states as India headed toward Independence. Now I have "White Mughals", the true story of a great romance between a British resident of the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad and a direct descendant of Mohammed, a great niece of the Nizam's Prime Minister.  It took place in the late 18th century after two centuries of British rule in India and casts light on the many British colonizers who "went Native."  The other books are "City of Djinns" about the many layers and complexities of Delhi, and "Nine Lives in Search of the Sacred in Modern India".
All this Dalyrmple reading is in preparation to seeing him speak at the Asia Society next month.  I'm not a history buff, but he makes his subjects so fascinating that you can't help but want more. .

Reading and Rice

Time to soak the basmati rice for kheer, a yummy rice dish flavored with cardamom, and spiked with nuts and coconut. Tomorrow night friend Lois and I are presenting "The Space Between Us" by Thrity Umrigar at the book club of the Smithtown Presbyterian Church. It bears many similarities with "The Help" and highlights the difficult relationships between servant and employer in a culture which defines people by their caste. At the meeting we will serve the kheer as well as an Indian carrot dessert that Lois is making.

Marigold Hotel

Can't wait to see "Marigold Hotel."   I saw the trailer today at the movies and all the color and joy of India were right before me on the screen.  It looks like a great ad to help convince people that they MUST see India.  As indeed, they must.

A Great Read

"A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur" by Gayatri Devi is the fascinating story of a beautiful woman who makes her own radical life choices as a Princess of a Princely State in Pre Independence India. We follow her through incredible wealth and turbulent political times, meeting along the way the people who made Indian history in the 20th century.
 We enjoyed drinks and dinner at one of her homes, Rambagh Palace (above) and toured City Palace, the centerpiece of Jaipur.  All of the "pink city" reflects the importance the Maharajas of Jaipur placed on city planning, architecture and beauty. Even as the Maharani mourns the deterioration of her beloved city, we find glory in it's forts and palaces.

Getting the Word Out

This afternoon I attended a presentation by Bob Wolf of Hope Skills, focused on the importance of personal connections in every endeavor in life. That certainly applies to growing a business. India Journey with Grace has a website, a Facebook page and Twitter account. We have put out press releases,and have a brochure. But with that said, it all boils down to personal connections. We really need to get out and present ourselves in every possible venue. Toward that end, I plan to call the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce tomorrow to join. I did volunteer to do a presentation for the Presbyterian Church in Glen Cove. Once I work up a presentation template with a photo montage, I can take the show on the road. It needs to be different than presentations we have done for our guests to India and for church groups.

Thinking Back

I keep thinking about our India Journey and the truly unique experiences we participated in.  One of the most moving was our time with Lama Tenzing at the Buddhist temple just outside of Darjeeling.  He talked about the rigorous training monks go through which includes many years (6, 9, or more) of solitary meditation and silence.  The relationship between the student and teacher is critical for fostering spiritual growth and understanding.  His own teacher is memorialized in the temple through a statue and photograph and by the level of understanding reached by his pupil, Lama Tenzing.  None of our guests had been in a Buddhist temple before and were overwhelmed by the art which covers every surface.  Their faces all reflected the respect and awe they felt by being in the presence of a person who radiates peace and love for all fellow beings.

Amber Palace, Jaipur

Amber Palace

This is the famous palace one can enter by elephant.  A continuous trail of colorfully decorated elephants brings us tourists up the palace ramp to the main courtyard.  Construction began in 1600 by Raja Man Singh, a General in Akbar's army.  Mughal influence is everywhere in the beautiful, intricate geometric designs,  inlay and lattice work.  Just as in other important structures built by the Moghuls, there are Hindu influences prominently displayed to signal a welcome to all.  There is a lot to take in with royal apartments for all the wives, gardens, a temple, hall of public audience,  mirror and pleasure  palaces; all the while hearing entrancing stories of the life and times of the rulers who lived long ago.