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A staff member of “Indian Moments” speaks to one’s heart...
I've read somewhere in James Cameron's book `An Indian Summer' that Rajasthan is more Indian than any other place in India.
Probably because it technically never remained under Imperial rule. Seeing the lifestyle and smiling faces of Rajasthanis, this argument carries conviction.
Hospitality
Protection from subjugation of external rule and imperial expansionism has preserved the natural combination of self-respect and happiness in the people of Rajasthan.
The men are robust and chivalrous, the women beautiful and generous. There is always a sort of curiosity in them and even the women seem inquisitive peeping through their veils, an expression of fascination towards the strange looking visitor.
But above everything it is the ready hospitality that a visitor comes across after this initial probe. All the hype of tourism activity in Rajasthan not withstanding, innocent gestures of hospitality is still a commonplace.
Free hitch on a camel cart or a free meal in someone's home or a free assistance is surprisingly extended everywhere.
The generous smiles on the faces just do not fade away. The people of Rajasthan even among other fellow Indians are reputed to be the friendliest and peace-loving ones.
The winning combination
Something may be attributed to the language we speak. Rajasthani dialect is a very sweet language in which terms indicating honor and courtesies constitute major part of conversation.
Words of dishonor and abuse are not permissible even for animals. Quarrels and tensions just do not exist here. Perhaps this cool temperament enabled certain communities succeed immensely in the field of business and trade.
Rajasthani businessmen popularly known as Marwaris are spread everywhere in the world and hold a major portion of India's business assets under their control!
We strongly believe in works of charity; all over Rajasthan temples, hospitals, rest houses, educational institutions, wells and asylums for public use can be seen.
Still for most, the image that lingers of Rajasthani people is that of proud Maharajas and princesses leading lives of style and opulence, that of lavish parties and polo matches; which of course is true to an extent.
The bigger picture, however, is that of brave and valiant kings who always zealously guarded their independence. The names of Maharana Pratap and Sawai Jai Singh II are legendary.
Unconventional women
But the images also surface of defiant and unconventional women.
The images of queens (Padmini) jumping in raging fires to save their honor, stories of loyalties and sacrifice like that of legendary Panna Dhai (As a caretaker of new born prince she kept her own son disguised as prince in front of the enemy, thus saved the Prince but lost her own son), legends of incredible devotion of Meera Bai (She was a queen but her devotion towards Lord Krishna made her a great saint and poetess) or that of revolutionary queens like Gayatri Devi of Jaipur (Considered among the most beautiful women in the world, she remains a social reformer helping the cause of common women)
Rajasthanis can be found excelling in any field- fine arts to sports to business. But the truth still is the desert for bringing all this difference.
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