Wow, just came back to my hotel from the start of our EO Regional Integration Event (RIE) which began casually in Delhi's F-Bar. I am almost speechless as what I saw there was almost a Western place: Cool, affluent and liberal.
I must explain: In spite of all the buzz about the "rise of India", this country is still hails very conservative values. Just look at Bangalore's night-life which has been relegated to non-existence with everything shutting down at 11.30. And if it wasn't for the Viren Partys which are "ok", it would be a complete disaster.
But what I saw in Delhi tonight was totally different: Women dressed up really-really sexy, being quite liberal to have their boy friends around and even – I can't remember that seeing ever in India – kissing (tongue included, to be precise) with them openly publicly on the dance-floor. Not worth mentioning in a club in London, Berlin or Bangkok, but a sensation for India. And altogether a really cool crowd "in da club".
Looking out from the cab at India's capital at night, it does exhale charm and dignity with its monuments, governmental buildings and colonial remnants. After 26/11 (the attacks on Mumbai), security has been beefed up also here, with police, military and para-military all over the place. 5 star hotels have armed guards and run tight controls on cars and guests who intend to enter. The residence of the Prime Minister of India looks like a fortress.
No doubt, after what has happened, necessary measures. In spite of all that, India's capital possesses a progressive charm unlike any other city on this vast subcontinent.
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You mention that you were speechless at what you saw .There was almost a Western place: cool, affluent and liberal. A really cool crowd “in da club”.
Maybe it is my ignorance about India ( I have never been there).But I wonder if the fact that it looked western add any charm to it, or just made you feel more at ease.
I read you on a regular basis and respect your opinion; that´s why I question you.
Hi Elia,
Thanks for that. I agree that Western culture is by no means a measure for anything. Or to put it as Mahatma Gandhi put it when asked what he thought about Western Civilization. “I think it would be a good idea”. That says it all ;-)
So bear with me when I wrote what I wrote that I am certainly coming from a Western civilization and can’t escape my own patterns and values either. In that context it was quite surprising to see a place which is liberal and cool. Usually, going into an Indian club (Bangalore is in particular bad), is a rather having an environment where everyone is pretending how prim & proper they are, yet beneath the surface even worse things happen. But it’s of the essence to keep that façade up. And in Delhi’s F-Bar I felt people were doing away with that.