PTSD (Post Tripathi Stress Disorder)

Matt Illing 

Don't be misled by the title, Mr Tripathi is a truly knowledgeable man with valuable and extensive knowledge of Hinduism and Varanasi but as I sit here in Varanasi train station squatting on a pile of backpacks I find myself pondering the impact his actions have left on me.

Ok that's a lie. Mr Tripathi was not even involved in many cases but I like the title so I'll stick with it. My 'stress' has to do with what people are willing to do for money in this country. An example that stands out is the men working in the silk factory (more like silk emporium). After a ten minute demonstration of silk making we were quickly rushed out of the weaving room to a large shop where for close to an hour we were given a sales pitch for every possible silk item in existence from scarves to tapestries to bed throws to ties. I mean I can't judge some of the boys purchases as it's their money not mine but personally I was persuaded out of buying anything the second we sat down like an audience to the three men working their looms. It was designed for tourists and I didn't come to India to be treated like a package bus tour vacationer (I dislike bus tours just so you know). I came to this place for an authentic experience and I find when I face an 'attraction' such as this factory or the Buddhist temple that morning in Darjeeling or the marble inlayer's in Agra I struggle to find positives about the place when it is clearly all for money.

I understand this is a different opinion to many of the boys who enjoyed the shops/factory/temple and I have no objection to that view as we all have different views and reasons why we came to India but I just felt pretty irritated by the place. On the bright side Mr Tripathi earned a very healthy commission that day from us. 

That concludes Mr Tripathi's actions that caused my stress. So he wasn't that bad and we can all forget about him now for another two years. Continuing on the theme of what people do for money you can't ignore the beggars in the street. Most of them are small children I would guess to be aged under ten years old and they have been clearly been trained by their parents or someone with the knowledge of two simple gestures; a hand with fingers clasped like you are scooping rice to their mouth and a palm outstretched, cupped slightly. The gestures for food and money. These kids should be in school or at home but they are covered in dirt and wearing ripped clothes begging for scraps and loose change in the streets for their families. As we entered Agra train station today we walked past a group of 100 or so beggars sitting outside the entrance. As soon as they noticed a rather large group of foreigners passing by some children detached from their pack, probably commanded by the adults, and descended upon us , begging for food and change. It's not dishonest or anything but it is still a sad thought that after hours and hours of begging they go home with 10 rupees, enough to buy a samosa on the street or a small bag of chips. Not a nice thought.

Another profession that is common place here in India that I dislike is the men and women out on the streets trying to convince you to come into their shops, or hawkers as I have come to know them as. On our last evening in Varanasi we had a man from the infamous silk factory come up to us post silk factory visit harass us to come to his shop. Surely he recognised us as the white boys from two hours previously? He wasn't as irritating as other men in markets who pretend to know where everything you could ever shop for is. I could ask for somewhere that sells All Blacks shirts and they would say they know a shop. Probably their shop. I have mentioned this before but it's still a nasty thought that someone has to harass people in order to put food on their home table. I'll have to try think about that next time they strike up a conversation with me.

In a country of 1.4 billion  people, many of which can be hindered by the caste system in economic and social pursuits I understand that these jobs and businesses if you will call them that are necessary in a developing Indian society but sometimes I am finding it hard to come to terms with it. I have another 16 days to get used to it. But should I try to get used to it though? Because to me that involves ignoring them and their issues and I think it's something I should be taking awareness of. Good food for thought.