Gujarat – Before the Trip

30. November 2024

 

 

I’ve been to Gujarat only once so far. That was in 2016 – for 3 days in Ahmedabad, the state capital. I can’t remember whether I really just wanted to have a quick look or whether a plan for a longer stay didn’t work out. In any case, I’ve been meaning to go back for a longer visit ever since. And then I always travelled somewhere else. But now! Now is the time!

 

Gujarat – home to Prime Minister Modi – was considered a small economic marvel with a higher standard of living. This was thanks to Modi, who was President from 2001-2014. In the meantime, it is no longer quite so outstanding and is ‘only’ in 6th place within India in terms of the economy. However, Modi is also blamed for not protecting Muslims early enough and sufficiently in 2002 when there were riots (the USA did not allow him to enter the country for years because of this). And Gujarat is the state with the highest number of girl child killings and selective abortions.

 

 

At the time, I was particularly curious about what a great economy would look like. In other words, whether I would perceive Ahmedabad as different from other cities I know in India. I found it striking that there were some areas that were virtually empty.

 

 

I had never seen anything like it anywhere else, close to the city centre and not at strange times. The number of chic shops also seemed larger than elsewhere. But there were also, like everywhere else, small manufactories etc.

 

 

 

But at least these people were better dressed than those with similar trades elsewhere. Speaking of clothes: I find it funny when you can buy T-shirts with Berlin on them in India. Which I could have done once, but then didn’t. What was I supposed to do with a Berlin T-shirt?

 

 

In my pictures from back then, there are quite a few with men in them. I like the pictures. That’s why you can see them here now.

 

 

 

 

I travelled away on the sleeper bus. And didn’t come back.

 

 

Until now!

 

This will be a meeting and exploration trip – also for Diamir. We have 2 agencies that serve the destination – and both now want to organise a trip for me. In view of the short time available and the fact that it is also a ‘work trip’, this is probably a good idea. I have started researching where I would like to go myself. As expected, the list has become longer than it has days. I’ve already excluded one part: I’ll have a look at the south-east in combination with South Rajasthan and/or South Madhya Pradesh.

 

 

There are now 2 tour plans for the rest, the first half with one agency, the second with the other. So everything is completely timetabled and planned. On the one hand, it feels really strange, although not that I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve also had a few other trips organised, but they were mostly just parts of a longer time in India. Now it’s all the time. On the other hand, it’s also very convenient not to have to worry about where to go and when, especially in such a short time. Like my travellers!

 

In any case, I’m really excited and looking forward to it! As even if the places and accommodations are fixed, one never knows what happens in between. Especially not in India.