Loads of family have said in the past that India had changed over the last 14 or so years since i was here last but am not sure i saw much evidence of that. The 8 hour road trip from dehli to punjab along the Great Trunk Road is just as hellish as ever, praying every time the driver overtakes someone that it wont be your last moment. The streets are still filthy and dusty with cow dung and flies all over the shop. But thats India all over and what i love about it at the same time. I guess what has changed is that my uncle now has a loo and shower in his house (we had to go to the fields and use a bucket when i was there last) and he also has a telephone.
They call the Punjab the "bread of india" as its one of the wealthier states relying on its agriculture. Wheat and sugar cane were growing in the fields i noticed as we drove to my late fathers village called Jabbowal. Our own house had become derelict after my father, mother and siblings moved to the UK back in the 70's. My brother and mother are now building a new house on one of our fields which is almost complete but not quite habitable as the builder has taken over 4 years to complete a job which should not have taken more than a few months. My uncle made us all feel welcome. Now that my cousin (his son) has got married the household was quite lively. I felt very much at home in the pend listening to the peacocks "crying" at dawn and dusk and watching the sun set over the Punjabi fields.
However, 3 weeks was more than enough in the "pend" (village) as by the end of it i was getting a bit bored despite of course being elated that my bro and mum were with me. Every morning i would be woken up by about four temples starting their morning hymns on loud speaker and the other members of the household who usually wake up around fiive everyday. Everytime i offered to cook or help wash the dishes or clothes or help out around the house i was scolded and told to sit down as " i was a guest". So all there really was for me to do was to read all day or go on the odd day trip to visit some other relatives with my mum.
Hard life huh
