Impressions of India

We have now been in India for 11 days and so far it has been a memorable experience.  I have seen and done so much since we first touched down in Chennai that it is difficult to remember everything, so I will do my best to recall some of the things uppermost in my memory.

I am a newspaper journalist and, as such, one of my vocational visits here was to visit The Hindu, one of India's best selling daily national newspapers.  As well as getting to meet the Editor and a number of his staff, I was also able to learn that the paper's circulation is actually increasing by an average 4 per cent year on year - in sharp contrast to the pattern shown by newspapers in Britain where circulation has consistently dropped over the last decade.

I am a big cricket fan and so the chance to visit the Madras Cricket Club, an international Test venue for India, was an opportunity not to be missed. Staying on the cricket theme,  I was also able to endear myself to members of the Rotary Club of Madras Pallava by proposing a round of applause for Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar who just days earlier scored his 45th Test century against Bangladesh.

I have visited Hindu temples, watched street performances and visited Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world.  I have also played street cricket (sadly scoring 0 and 1 in my two innings), toured Fort St Georged, the former seat of British colonial power in the city, and eaten an unbelievable amount of Indian cuisine. 

It truly is quite unlike anything you will taste in the UK and has changed my view of Indian restaurants in Britain forever.

I have also found the Indians to be most hospitable and genuinely friendly people.  My experience here to date has been amazing and long may it continue.

By Chris Richards