Glory Box

I have a question -- where are the violent problems of India? Yes, in 2002 there were religious riots in Gujarat (which I will talk about another time) but there are so many that are not well-off and still so few security problems.

In the United States, poverty leads to alternative sources of income, some of those being illegitimate. Drug dealing, stealing, and gambling are huge problems in the states. In fact gambling is the fastest-rising addiction in the US, and in many ways (similar to the lottery, a form of gambling) is reverse taxation; the less fortunate are more likely to risk their strained assets than that of the upper-middle or middle class.

Drug dealing, too, is a huge problem, especially among the urban poor. While studies have shown that drug use is equal across economic and racial barriers, those who turn to drug dealing as a living tend to be of lower status. I don't understand; is it an American cultural attribute that leads to high drug use? Drugs are used in India for religious and recreational purposes. In Rajastan, food and drink enhanced with cannabis, Bhang, is widely available and used. And I have seen a large share of clothing adorned with the cannabis sativa leaf, alluding to its use among the youth (and for once, refreshingly, these symbols are not connected to bob marley in any way).

And the third avenue of wrongdoing I have mentioned, stealing. Some American poor resort to crime as a fix to dire financial problems. The United States has a population of under 350 million, and yet it has the largest per person incarceration rate. Now India has over 1 billion people living on its subcontinent. Given, India could be split up into multiple countries (it has over 22 official languages and 12oo dialects), but the population living under one dollar per day (general world standards for poverty) exceeds 260 million as of 2006. And yet these individuals that compose a fifth of the population cause little stir. Sure they are groveling on the street, or working as shoeshiners, bicycle rickshaw wallahs, or nut vendors. But they aren't resorting to these vices (although alcoholism is on the rise in India, despite limited accessability) or criminal behavior.

Is it cultural differences? Has the 4000 year history of the Indian civilization led to a self respect and humility that has not developed in North America in the last 300 years? Or do the basic tenets of capitalism (a much larger force in American history than Indian history) lead to an unstoppable greed or necessity that overcomes morality? Or perhaps the social welfare state is much more present in India (I don't think it is)? I don't have the answers, but these are just thoughts that have been spinning lately.

On another note, Shimla feels more like a european city than resembling the other indian cities I've experienced. Being the capital of Himanchal Pradesh, I'm sure this accounts for some of the organization and street cleanliness. However, the state gov't certainly isn't well off - the gov't buildings and state library are pathetic.
Everyone spends the last third of the day strolling in the town ambience, enjoying the communal atmosphere. Marble and brick and pavement cover all that isn't hilly green; there is a complete absence of dirt and dust. And everyone is dressed in button downs, sweater vests, or stylish t-shirts. Perhaps its too cold up here for the poor to grovel and live without shelter. But this is a whole different side of India I have yet to see.