PLATFORM2 - Your platform to change your world

Group3 Jenni Blog5 / India

Today was the day we got taken to see a Bollywood movie. To be honest, and this is only my opinion, the ride there was the best bit. I got to ride in an Indian taxi, one of those 3 wheeled things with open sides. It was great blitzing round the manic roads. The movie, however, wasn't my thing. I don't like a lot of films anyway due to their "beautiful women" syndrome which I think is designed to make me feel forever inadequate. It was interesting to see how they're being influenced by the Western world. Obviously there's a lot of work that needs to be done in the developing world, but I really believe that just copying the Western world is not a great idea. We have many follies, and problems of our own. I can only hope that people can learn from our mistakes, and take inspiration from our successes rather than following blindly.

On the way home we almost ran over a tiny puppy on a huge roundabout. I still wonder about that poor little creature now, and pray that it survived. Later in the journey we were stuck in traffic and to the left of me, about 2 metres away, sat along the roadside was a group of nomadic types. Immediately to my left was a young girl of about 15, she was filthy and the man to her left kept grabbing her arm and twisting it. They were arguing I guess. She was heavily pregnant.

My heart lurched, suddenly my little safety bubble had been broken temporarily and the reality of the life some people live hit me. India: country of contrasts – bland dusty roads with brightly dressed women, beautiful structures and rich landscapes with horribly poor people living in dire conditions. That is only a summary, and a sweeping one at that but in some cases, that's how it is.

I cried, and was thankful for what I have and for being given the chance to try and do something positive.