I recently visited India to explore how this vibrant country has evolved and what drives its rich and complex culture. One of my key takeaways was the enduring influence of royal families and their historical role in shaping India’s identity (and how India shaped the world) — a legacy that continues even today. Nine Royal Families Still Thrive in Modern India Despite India’s transition to independence in 1947, I noticed that the remnants of its royal past remain active, espec

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In 1947-48, a momentous event occurred: Indian independence and the establishment of Pakistan took place almost simultaneously. The Road to Independence Faced Many Hurdles British Rule:  By 1849, India was effectively under British control, with the cooperation of a few states governed by their own rulers. From the mid-1700s, the British East India Company gradually transferred India’s manu

Location of Varanasi I recently visited India to learn about how this country evolved and what makes it tick today. One major insight was the key role the city of Varanasi plays in the spiritual well-being of India. Varanasi is regarded as the centre of the world  and the city of the gods . It is believed to be blessed with special dispensation from the cycle of re-birth that dates back to the origins of creation and rebirth. Key Learnings: Where: Varanasi is located on the w

Buddha Preaching to First Five Disciples I recently visited India to explore how this vast and dynamic country evolved and what drives it today. While in Varanasi—the spiritual centre of Hinduism—I discovered its connection to the birth of Buddhism, a faith that developed as a response to the Hindu caste system and the dominant role of Brahmin priests. My journey through this sacred history led me to Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, where Buddhism first took root. Religion is

I recently traveled to India to explore how this fascinating country has evolved and what drives it today (As well as to further research on how India shaped the world). While India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, it’s also among the most unequal. Stories of extreme poverty coexist with accounts of India’s rise as a global superpower. How has this stark dichotomy come to be? Here’s what I learned: The Size of the Divide Two simple facts underscore the im

Urban Versus Rural Divide Around 75% of India’s population lives in rural villages, where infrastructure, services, and employment opportunities are far more limited compared to urban areas. The agricultural sector struggles with low productivity, outdated farming practices, and little bargaining power with buyers, resulting in meager incomes for farmers. Rural Women Washing Clothes in Pond Yet, despite these challenges, India stands as a global agricultural leader. It produc

Rich-Poor Divide Within Major Urban Areas The Greater Mumbai area is home to an estimated 22 million people, with approximately 11.5 million residing in the central part of the city. Of these, around 60%, or 6.5 million people, live in slums. During my visit, I toured Dharavi, the largest slum in Mumbai, which houses an estimated 1 million people. Dharavi was also the setting for the Hollywood film Slumdog Millionaire - a modern pop culture example of how India shaped the wo

Residential Zone Most slum houses in Dharavi lack individual toilets and taps. Residents must pay to use community toilets, which are seldom maintained, and they buy overpriced water from vendors. In fact, 78% of community toilets in Mumbai’s slums have no water supply, and 58% lack electricity. Many homes also don't have proper doors, further highlighting the poor living conditions. As I walked through the alleyways, I found myself navigating a maze of narrow passageways bet

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. Many first-time tourists start with traveling the Golden Triangle, a 720km circuit by road that provides a good spectrum of India’s landscapes and most famous structures. What is the Golden Triangle? This comprises three major cities located in a triangle, each in a corner of the triangle – Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur: Delhi – the national capital contains both Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi has

Agra: Home to the Taj Mahal The mausoleum is the eternal and enchanting symbol of India. There is an undeniable sense of excitement as you approach the compound gates, eagerly anticipating your first glimpse of it. You won’t be disappointed! Built of pure white marble, the mausoleum is perfectly proportioned, inlaid with precious stones, and houses the tombs of the two lovers it immortalizes. Constructed by Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, as a tribute to his beloved wife, the

I read Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book  as a child, so seeing an Indian tiger in the wild was high on my India " Must-Do " list. The book is also an example of How India shaped the world. Today, the Indian Government has established over 15 Tiger Reserves, the first being the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve , created in 1936. Since I was traveling to Delhi, Jim Corbett was the obvious choice, located about 300 kilometres northeast of the city via a mix of highways and rural roads