Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / March 30, 1972, edition 1 / Page 7
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March 30, 1972 THE TWIG Page Seven Dr. Gates Finds India Exciting, Suspicious of U. S. Dr. Rosalie P. Gates of the De partment of History and Political Science is on leave of absence this semester to pursue research in India. The following letter was sent by her from the India International Center in New Delhi. Dear Meredith Friends; I send personal and sincere . greetings to each person at Meredith and hope you will accept this letter ■ to all as a special one to each there. It is wonderful to be back in ' India again. It is a very different y India from 1963, when 1 first came. And 1 am different too in many y ways. India has a way of weaving [ a spell and claiming those who will allow themselves to be absorbed, claiming them, but keeping them compartmentalized. You must come 1^ and see for yourself. And if you cannot come now, you must read and study about India. When I arrived in mid-January it was quite cold. Most buildings ‘ are not centrally heated as the cold season is relatively short, so one _*.must appreciate the warmth of a single electric heater in a high ceilinged room or the warmth of extra blankets at night. Of course, in a better hotel one can always be comfortable. The National Archives building is old, and unheated, but ■ for the historian with a flame of inquiry burning it is bearable — especially when one can mine the . riches of historical treasure there. Delhi from January to March is •' a blaze of color, and the Lodi Gar- \ dens, just next to the India Interna- } tional Center where I stay, are j breathtakingly beautiful. It is like walking in a beautiful dream to i stroll there about twilight. And peo ple do stroll there and seem to know > how to enjoy relaxing. The general elections are taking place in India now. The election . commissioner spoke at the Center this week. He spoke of democracy and the rights of the people ^ with the enthusiasm of a revival V* preacher. In the process he would refer to Athens, America, John S. ; Mill, Rousseau, and an old Indian \ woman who valued her right to i vote. If an American tries to con- I gratulate an Indian on how well ^ democracy is thriving here, the , Indian is likely to be indignant. He 1 feels as a part of the world’s largest democracy that he knows what ' democracy is as much as anyone. He may well point out abuses in '. someone else’s system or practice ' of democracy. f And every day in New Delhi is i an adventure. When one is away ^ from one’s home, family, and i country, human kindnesses are especially appreciated, and every- where I turn 1 meet wonderful peo ple. I cannot wait to share some of the funny, pathetic, fascinating, and exciting things that have happened f to me. I think so often of my family, ■ students, and friends, and wish they jf were here. A 1 want to tell about breakfast with Madame Pandit, J. Nehru’s / sister and former Ambassador to I { the U. S. and the U. N. What a wonderful and gracious woman! She has invited me to visit her at Dehra Dun. And that same day I was in vited to lunch with Ambassador Keating at Roosevelt House. His ^ steel gray hair and personable smile f make him impressive, and he man aged to be the perfect host even with all the pressure building in New Delhi with the President’s ap proaching trip to Peking. It would be difficult to convey strongly enough the suspicion and hostility people feel toward President Nixon, especially with the release of the Anderson Papers. And I want to tell about the dinner party at which I found myself at the table with India’s famous Foreign Secretary, T. N. Kaul. We made a wager about the U. S. recognition of Bangla Desh — and I’m not ordinarily a betting woman! i But the ordinary things in India hold as much fascination as the glamorous — walking behind the groom on his horse on the way to the bride’s house for an Indian wedding feast, buying fresh fruit at Khan Market, watching women carrying cement or other building materials on their heads where con struction is going on, their children playing nearby. The spring festival of Holi occurred last week. This is a rowdy holiday that heralds the beginning of spring. People throw colored powder on each other. It is somewhat like Halloween, Easter, and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one. 1 am especially interested in young American men and women I mcetlis 1 want to find out how those with grants have managed so 1 can help students at Meredith explore more successfully their wishes for study abroad. One Colgate under graduate is here working as a re- (Continiied on page 8) ml DMQinOii IVinw Huts
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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March 30, 1972, edition 1
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