Unfortunate airport delays and sleepiness made me put Swashpawan Singh's inspiring presentation on hold--until now. Singh, the former ambassador of India, graced us with his strong presence at the end of our stay in Delhi. Uplifting was the only word that encompasses that small hour with him. He eloquently summed up India in its entirety, from government and culture to youth as a confident motivator of change and even a bit on bottled water, we walked away grasping onto any and all things Indian.
Opening the presentation with, "India, a huge assault on all your senses," focused all of our crazy pieces of Indian adventures into one solid piece. In every respect, India has given charge to taste, touch, sound, smell and physical feelings. These senses may not stay forever in my mind, as memories seem to escape over time; however I will never forget how it felt to have a little girl, around 7, maybe 8, fiercely grab my arm while crossing the street begging and begging for food. Tapping on her mouth with innocent, tiny hands immediately signals her need, her every-lasting search for food in a scary world. Singh assured us that as India is changing, it will continue to find its own rhythm in this forgiving world. Through our slow understanding of fragments of the culture here whether it be religion, god worship, customs and family, India has also peacefully assaulted our minds, hearts and perspective in hopes of inspiring others to view it, trust it and take part of its ever-growing, ever-changing future.
"The greatest gift of our generation is mobility."
-Swashpawan Singh
