Delhi – 18th Century in the 21st

VISIT TO DELHI – SAW 18TH CENTURY IN THE 21ST
I had been to Delhi many times, but this time it was different. I went to present my paper in the 8th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, IIT Delhi. My paper was ‘Sex Taboos and emerging worldview of Rural Communities in India’. I submitted my paper for oral presentation, but it was allowed for Poster Presentation. Happy, at least it was accepted for poster (Academic advisory committee might have had their nerve-broke when they saw the title of my paper starting with SEX… sex topic in an academic forum… ohh.. no, that too when foreigners attend in good numbers….)
I was not happy when I heard some sub-standard (research???!!!) papers presented by some students under the auspicious cover of their PhD mentors (long live PhD mentor - student slavery). Sometimes it happens. Of course there were some substantial papers both from Indian and foreign scholars that opened new vistas in my thinking. Overall, it was a new experience attending an international conference in India.
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Coming to the other side of my visit: I got opportunity to visit some historical places in Delhi. The impressive Qutab Minar made me click as many fotos as possible. However, the structure that attracted more was another tower Alai Minar planned to be constructed taller than the Qutb Minar that ended abruptly when it was about 12 meters tall.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan and the neighbouring building made me curse the British rulers who enjoyed royal life sucking the blood of Indians for centuries in India and sucking now from abroad.
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Another WONDERFUL experience was walking in Chandni Chowk, the dirtiest place I have ever seen in my 46 years of human existence. It took me back to an imaginary 18th century rural India in the 21st century. I have seen Chandni Chowk in couple of movies, both Indian and foreign. Still real life experience in Chandni Chowk is different and more disgusting because in movies you don’t get the dirty urine and other filthy smells. Oh my God… no wonder why Foreigners curse Indians and label them as dirty creatures live in filth and dirt….