India at work—in pictures
One of the great things about travelling around India by road is the chance to see people going about their everyday work lives.
Green grocers hawking fruit and veg, women doing laundry (remember I hate laundry), beggars with a hand out asking for a handout, shopkeepers touting their goods, gardeners raking and planting, cashiers ringing up sales, cooks creating feasts, conductors inspecting tickets. I could go on and on.
Unfortunately, too many people in India don’t have jobs. We asked Anand and Deepti about the news we hear in Australia that so many of their country’s university graduates don’t have jobs.
Anand has a theory. He reckons it’s because so many young people don’t study what they love. They succumb to their parents’ wishes (or demands) that they study law, medicine, engineering or some other high profile subject.
Anand is passionate about wildlife and nature. He gives his parents tons of credit for supporting his desire to go to South Africa as a teenager and pursue the three-year course to become a certified game ranger. They thought he was crazy, but they supported him anyway.
Deepti feels the same about her parents’ support, which allowed her to study marketing and move on to become a naturalist, with an immense knowledge of birds.
These two like-minded young people then had the vision and help from their families to start Prayaan India Overland. We were so impressed by their planning, forward thinking, knowledge of their country and its wildlife, willingness to work hard and invest in their venture, and so much more.
But this is beginning to sound like an advertisement for their company. And that’s not what this is supposed to be.
I get side-tracked in real life and, so it seems, in cyberspace, too.
What I really wanted to show was India at work. Most of the pics here are self-explanatory so most have no or only a short caption. I wanted to share glimpses of what we saw during our five weeks in India.
P.S. I noticed that one pic (or maybe more) posted twice. Can’t figure out how to delete, so enjoy them both. 🙂
P.P.S. Click on any image to see a larger version.
Where to next? 
We loved showing you India as well and are glad that you all enjoyed!! we all wish to see you back here soon.
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We had such a wonderful time and hope to do it again. Thanks to you both.
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Dear Peggy,
As they say “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!” And you came through with flying colors! India is so colorful, people do not mind having their pictures taken (for the most part) and everywhere you turn, there is a photo opportunity. I especially like the last one, interior court and people swiping… Talking about no jobs for young people. When I was in Ceylon/Sri Lanka in 1971 there was student unrest and violence because college students had no jobs when they graduated.
Peggy, even if this blog post has no photos of animals, temples it is one of your best ones showing India like it is, photographing people working and everyday lifestyle. I raise a glass of not to sweet “Chai” and a toast to you.
SS
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Thanks Sy. I used to work as a reporter/photographer on newspapers, so I’ve always appreciated watching and capturing what goes on around me.
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I think you are right about the studies business. Pity the person who has no choice (or little choice) in the matter of the work for the rest of his or her life. The emphasis is on what brings in the most loot more than what matters to the student. In time, many people ditch high-paying careers in high profile jobs to pursue those more satisfying dreams, and are usually glad for it.
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If a person wants to work, the only thing worse than not having a job is having job you hate.
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G’day! Am very much enjoying seeing India through you eyes Peggy!
The Indian people don’t mind their photos taken or don’t look for money when you do?
Thank you! Cheers! Joanne Best to Poor John and you!
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Most everyone likes having their pictures taken. Some of the women are a bit shy and cover their face instead of saying no. And only one person asked for a tip.
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Hi Peggy,
We were driving to Narooma over the Christmas break and I thought I should get in touch with you. I remembered your Rosedale house that we stayed in. So I looked you up.
You seem to be having a great time travelling around the world. I would love to be able to do it one day with Shashi.
And looked up your timeline and I see that you are now in India. Enjoy! Will read about your experiences. Are you going to the south as well?
Cheers,
Raji
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Oh my goodness, Raji. We think of you so often. We are back in Australia at the moment—heading to Rosedale in a couple of hours. You are most welcome. Your ‘Rosedale memories etched in stone’ stone is always in the lounge room there. Thinking about heading back to India in March or October. We must catch up. We’re in the book and I will email my mobile number to you. Cheers, Peggy
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