Very bum deal.<p>I've always been fascinated with India and Indians, and I consider them my favorite exotic land (and I'm sure the British did too...) but my actions tend to enrich the locals (purchasing dinner like tonight: Panjabi yums!)<p>I became an Indophile in earnest about 20 years ago, when I came across a title in the library, "Teach Yourself Sanskrit" and I was sort of blown away. This was a thicker volume than the other "Teach Yourself"s and I dug into it. I learned how to read and write Devanagari, and I learned some vocabulary, though I never got much further than all that. I have about the same surface-level knowledge of Hinduism, which of course is broad and deep, very sectarian and diverse, and very personal to native-born Indians. Though, I did hang out with a few Hare Krishnas.<p>I feel a kinship to Indians, as we were similarly colonized and exploited, though our Independence put the kibosh on that more quickly than India could throw off the Empire. (Then we Americans set off on our own brand of exploitation!)<p>I love studying Indian Catholicism, which is also diverse and rich in tradition. Roman Catholics derive tradition from St. Thomas the Apostle himself, and more recently, the Goan Portuguese conquests, whereas there are indigeneous strains of Indian Christianity more akin to the Oriental Orthodox and the Church of the East. There is an endogamous community of Knanaya, nearly a religion unto themselves. I find it cool.<p>For all its rich culture and attractiveness to me, I would never travel to India. Due to its impoverishment, it's a stinky unpleasant place, from what I've heard. The Ganges is clogged with rotting human remains and refuse. The cities are rife with crime and slums. I don't know, prove me wrong? I just can think of many more pleasant and bearable places to visit that I would enjoy.<p>Also interesting to watch is the arch-conservative Hindutva movements clashing with Islam and Christianity and other sorts of minorities. India is definitely on a path of self-determination at this point, at the expense of its famous diversity, perhaps.