So what is so distinct about the women here? Why do I perceive such a marked difference? Well, having always assigned great cultural awareness and education to women who have studied classical Indian dance (completely out of blind awe, I might add), the fact that Chennai is brimming with classically trained dancers probably contributes to my impression. While I certainly believe this stereotype to be true, I have learned that the women in this region have an ancient relationship with Indian arts, culture and education. I recently read about a kingdom I knew very little about called Vijayanagar in Karnataka. Women in this kingdom were involved with commerce, government, and the arts. This was around the 15th century. Cultural epicenters were built within the kingdom where women practiced art and dance, wrote and performed plays, and penned some of India’s cherished poetry. The women here seem to be aware of their pedigree, and seek to uphold the standards of their lineage.

Understanding their contributions and overwhelming value, it is easy for me to think of their lives idyllically. Wrong. Statistics on crimes against women, particularly violent crimes, in India are appalling. According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, of the ten fastest rising crimes in India, seven of them were crimes against women. Dowry deaths up 15%, kidnapping and abduction up 13%, human trafficking of women (mostly young girls) up 12%, sexual harassment up 11%, rape and molestation up 7%…remember that these are only the reported cases. While the rates in South India may be different from the whole of India, any rate is abhorrent. To make the argument that crimes in Chennai aren’t as bad as other cities in India, or that crimes in India aren’t as bad as other countries is crass and an exercise in ignorance.

It is difficult for me to comprehend the struggles these women face personally when, on the surface, they represent something so completely different to me. What is the solution? I have no idea. More stringent penalties and a rigid period of time between reporting and investigation might be a start. Indian Law is weak when it comes to both of these deterrents. Education seems to be a root answer when it comes to most social ills. Programs that focus on economic independence for women? Whatever the solutions, it is clear that more needs to be done for the plight of women here. In the States, I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself a fervent participant in the struggle for women’s rights. I believe in equality across the board, but I’m certainly not out there protesting anything. Seeing the state of equal rights and how little press it gets here is what has moved me to write something about it.

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Since arriving in India, I’ve heard several individuals tell me their pursuit will take a lifetime. Still others will say that reaching their goal will take several lifetimes. Swallowing this horizon and ruminating upon it forces one to digest the weight of the task at hand. There’s a degree of humility and submission that seems to be inherent in the approach here. While perfection may be the destination, nobody would be so audacious to think that they had arrived.

Plenty of people are deeply devoted the world-over. What I think is interesting about this with respect to India is that this approach seems to be ingrained in people through religion. From childhood, one is inculcated with the concept of achievement taking lifetimes. The timelines laid out in Indian theology seem to always trend toward the intangible. To grapple with such a cumbersome span, one is taught to concentrate. Repetition; ritual; routine; discipline; humility – these are all things that are impressed upon the people here as the ingredients of concentration. Naturally, these lessons are employed in pursuits outside of the religious realm.

Though I have grown up with this religion and this background, I find that I will anoint myself an expert with relatively little time devoted to concentration and study. Learning in any field should never cease, because there is far too much to ascertain. Knowing that mastery is intangible, however, should be encouraging rather than discouraging. Intangibility, from what I have observed, is what sharpens one’s concentration and vivifies one’s devotion.

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I keep referring to work, but I don’t think many people know why I’m actually going to Chennai. My company has hired a team of eight people in our Chennai office, and I’ve come here to train them. I’ve been training them over the phones for a week, so exposure to the challenges of working within a truly globalized environment has been limited. I’m sure that the coming months will teach me a lot about business culture in India, and allow me to view globalization from the Indian perspective more lucidly. More on that later, though.

From the little that I have seen so far, one thing is immediately noticeable: the jarring volume of people. The social polarity, the punishing struggles, the unbridled happiness…all of it assaults you within a five minute rickshaw ride. India has no mercy, she immediately smacks you in the face and forces you to submit. My goal outside of work is to delve into the struggles, specifically in underserved populations, to understand the threads that are woven into the fabric of India.

No pictures for today, just exploration and words. That will change tomorrow. Another change tomorrow: no more “let me tell you about my day” posts. In all honestly, today was uneventful, and I’m trying to get back onto the US schedule (this post, a pot of coffee, and the Premier League are getting me there).

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I have owned the domain Syncretized.com for at least three years. In that time, it has merely been a one-page placeholder citing a December 2007 launch date. On December 19, 2009, I’ve finally done something with this space. I had originally gotten this domain after I learned the word syncretize. To syncretize is to attempt to combine or harmonize differing philosophies, values, cultures, etc. What better word to describe the merging of two cultures (Indian and American) that I’ve been attempting to do for my entire life? I imagine that my time in India will either confuse me more, or solidify the amalgam that is already present. Either way, I need to chronicle the journey, so I finally put in the effort to set up a blog.

You can expect to read some of my thoughts on life in India, business, and a slew of funny stories along the way. I’ll be taking my baby with me on the trip (and by baby I mean my Canon EOS 7D). You’ll be able to see some of my pictures in my blog posts, but you can view them all at my gallery.

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