Comments on: Untold Stories of Forgotten People http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/2008/09/untold-stories/ Advocating change in a globalized world Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:26:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: jameshigham http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/2008/09/untold-stories/#comment-30754 jameshigham Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:18:26 +0000 http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/?p=280#comment-30754 Love the pen portrait and it gives an insight into another world. Love the pen portrait and it gives an insight into another world.

]]> By: Wren http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/2008/09/untold-stories/#comment-30723 Wren Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:13:30 +0000 http://www.internationalpoliticalwill.com/?p=280#comment-30723 Hi Wil... It was fascinating to read your description of life in Mumbai, of the trucks, the elephant and its mahout, the beggars, the mentally ill, the policemen and starving kids. And sad, of course. For those of us who live in luxurious homes and uncrowded environments, such things DO seem exotic and terrible. And I can understand how, after living there for a time, you'd get used to seeing it all. I'm glad you have so many questions about it, though. And I hope that perhaps you'll be able to ask them, somehow. Your mention of the "beggars mafia" reminded me of an excellent book I read about a year ago. It's called "Sacred Games," by Vikram Chandra. The author is an Indian-American who grew up in India, and it's fiction, but nearly all the people you've just mentioned make similar appearances throughout the story. It's a fat book, and dense with detail, but it held me fascinated throughout. I don't know if you can get the book there, but if you can, I'd recommend it. Another is Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children." But of course, why would you need to read fiction about India when you're living right there in the middle of it? Thanks for sharing what you're seeing, hearing and feeling while living in that amazing country. Perhaps one day you'll write a book of your own about your travels there, in Japan and in Afghanistan. I can't wait to read it. Also -- I loved the photos. More! More! Hi Wil…
It was fascinating to read your description of life in Mumbai, of the trucks, the elephant and its mahout, the beggars, the mentally ill, the policemen and starving kids. And sad, of course. For those of us who live in luxurious homes and uncrowded environments, such things DO seem exotic and terrible. And I can understand how, after living there for a time, you’d get used to seeing it all. I’m glad you have so many questions about it, though. And I hope that perhaps you’ll be able to ask them, somehow.

Your mention of the “beggars mafia” reminded me of an excellent book I read about a year ago. It’s called “Sacred Games,” by Vikram Chandra. The author is an Indian-American who grew up in India, and it’s fiction, but nearly all the people you’ve just mentioned make similar appearances throughout the story. It’s a fat book, and dense with detail, but it held me fascinated throughout.

I don’t know if you can get the book there, but if you can, I’d recommend it. Another is Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children.” But of course, why would you need to read fiction about India when you’re living right there in the middle of it?

Thanks for sharing what you’re seeing, hearing and feeling while living in that amazing country. Perhaps one day you’ll write a book of your own about your travels there, in Japan and in Afghanistan. I can’t wait to read it.

Also — I loved the photos. More! More!

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