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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and therefore a link to the publication is not available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1026

By

Senator Hank Sanders

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I was half way around the world. The country has held a mysterious fascination for me since childhood. Now I am here.

India is something. It has the second largest population in the world at 1.1 billion. China is the first with 1.3 billion. It is the second fastest growing economy in the world. China is the first. It has one of the largest geographical areas in the world. It is so large it is referred to as a sub-continent. It is the largest Democracy in the world. India is something.

I was in India mainly because of the economy. In fact, I was part of the delegation with Ron Sparks, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. He opened an Alabama Trade Mission in New Delhi on Friday, January 26, 2007, our second day in the country.

India is a land of contrast. The first and second hotels we stayed were two of the finest that I have ever inhabited. Each was extremely beautiful the Taj Mahal, built in the 1500’s is one of the Eight Wonders of the Old World. It is still magnificent after 500 years.

On the other hand, the streets of Delhi were narrow and dirty, with the hurrying poor on foot or furiously peddling large tricycles desperately trying to make a living. Every motor trip was an experience of blasting horns and near misses. I kept drawing up and putting on non-existent brakes from the passenger side. I wanted to cover my face just to make it through this transportation ordeal.

Delhi is a contrast between the very old and the very new. Some landmarks are thousands of years old. Yet, some of the most modern technology draws work from all over the world. We call it sourcing.

Delhi is a large city of 16 million inhabitants and growing by the day. Yet it is just the third largest city in India. Mumbai has 18 million, and Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, has a whopping 35 million. It is hard for me to imagine a city larger than New York City. Now imagine one with nearly four times the population.

In a meeting with the Mayor of Delhi concerning trade with Alabama, he was developing a plan to divide the city into three cities so it would be more manageable. Its 160,000 employees are just too much. What will they do with Kolkata?

India has a constitutional provision which prohibits one from calling another derogatory, racial or ethnic names. It is a crime! Still, India’s rigid caste system is extremely difficult to break out of or into. One is virtually stuck for life.

On our way to and from the Humayum Tomb, we learned that India, with its long history of deeply rooted culture and large size, has been ruled by a series of much smaller countries for nearly two thousand years. One of the countries is known today as Afghanistan. Another is Great Britain, which ruled India for some 200 years, ending in 1947.

India achieved its independence after a bloodless Revolution led by Mahatma Ghandi, a great prophet of non-violence. Yet, Ghandi was brutally killed by a deranged man shortly after the Revolution. The day after we arrived, we attended the huge Republic Day Parade celebrating India’s independence.

India has both the largest population of Hindu and the second largest Muslim population in the world. Yet each seems to supplement rather than conflict with the other.

India produces the second largest number of motion pictures in the world after the United States. Some refer to it as “Bollywood,” some kind of cross between Hollywood and Bombay (now named Mumbai).

India remains alluring after thousands of years. The Moguls that came thousands of years ago were drawn by that allure. Columbus tried to reach India by sailing due west from Spain six hundred years ago. He, however, sailed into the Americas, mistakenly calling its inhabitants “Indians,” a name still used to this day. People still come from far and near to visit. Each year some 2 ½ million foreign tourists visit the Taj Mahal alone.

India was a sleeping giant for 2,000 years. It awakened in 1947 but did not get on the move until 1991 when it ditched one economic system and adopted another. The mystery is still strong. The allure is still powerful. Will the awakened and on the move giant crush or lift? We will see in the coming years.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday – I traveled to Montgomery and discussed Senate related maters. I returned to Selma for lunch with Dr. James Mitchell, President of Wallace Community College. I worked into the night on various matters.

Sunday – I did Radio Sunday School, Radio Education and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School before meeting with Dr. Fannie McKenzie, Bobby McKenzie and Faya Rose Toure’ for an early lunch. I worked into the night as I watched two pro football games.

Monday – I handled many matters and talked to various persons before traveling to Lowndes County where I talked with several county leaders. I returned to Selma and worked into the night on several matters including a letter to the Mayor of Selma.

Tuesday – I finished Sketches as well as the letter to the Mayor of Selma before traveling to Perry County where I talked with several leaders. I returned to Selma to work on various matters including my campaign disclosure filing.

Wednesday and Thursday – I left Selma early, drove to Atlanta, flew to Newark, NJ and traveled on to New Delhi, India with Ron Sparks, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and a delegation of eighteen. We arrived on Thursday night.

Friday – We officially opened a Trade Mission Office for Alabama, participated in a reception and visited the 500 year-old Humayum Tomb. I talked with various leaders from Alabama and India as we observed India up close.

EPILOGUE – My mother used to say, “Son, there is no substitute for seeing for yourself.” She was right. I came, I saw, I understand India. I also better understand myself and the world.

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