I have many fantastic Australian friends who have never been to India. The ones who have been before have a clearer picture about the country and her complexities. The ones who have never been gain their impressions through the media. Unfortunately it is a very imbalanced perspective that is reported on. Poverty, infanticide, sexual abuse, rape and corruption are the most commonly reported subjects to the Western population.

I am certainly not going to say that these things don’t exist. They do and they are blight on India. They must be eradicated. But there is so much that is good and positive and light that needs to come to the forefront to balance this very skewed perspective. The ancient culture, spirituality and wisdom of the Vedas. Her mythology, music, dance and poetry. The splendour of her palaces and museums, forests and natural beauty. The depth of knowledge of yoga and her plant based indigenous system called Ayurveda.

Previously it used to bother me when my Australian friends would only comment on the poverty. But that is what they receive via their newsfeed on all forms of media. Last year I held some talks through the Australia India Institute highlighting some of the positive cultural aspects. We discussed meditation, martial arts and food and it was thoroughly well received. Australia is an open-hearted culture and they are ready to embrace all that is good. They enjoy a vindaloo and a kingfisher beer as much as a good tussle between their two respective cricket teams.

The two countries can work together to bring greater depth, skills and knowledge to the other.

In Health and Wellness