25 December 2002

Tangent:

In their bedroom and bathroom walls were posters of cowboys. Besides providing a bit of nostalgia, it provided me a seed of thought. What about this country and its people do I find so similar to my native land [the United States]. More specifically, what does Texas have in common with this subcontinent?

ONE
The most obvious: Hospitality in India is rivaled only by Texas. No where on earth are you provided the same care from strangers as you would get from your own grandmother. This is, of course, unless if you share your last name with that of a shrub. But that's neither here nor there.

TWO
The food. Though completely unrelated in origin and development, the food of both India and Texas share one common element. The quality of prepared food is measured in the severity of sniffle and sweat. Spiciness seems to be the common culinary currency. Unlike Bengla, I am thoroughly familiar with this language.

THREE
Family structure. This seems to be more distantly related form my eyes. Though not uncommon in Texas, it is a bit more difficult to find multiple generations of extended family in the same house. Grandparents, their children, and their children's children. However, the inclusiveness of family friends is all too familiar. Mr. Das becomes uncle, Sharoni becomes sister. Mrs. Child becomes Aunt Wendy and Allycin, cousin. It feels warm and just as pleasant.

FOUR
Bovine reverence. Both Texas and India hold high esteem for the cow, though for, to say the least, very different reasons. Both, however, can be described as religious fervor. In both Texas and India close contact with a cow would not be out of the ordinary.