Malayalee Israeli finds India dirty

New Delhi, June 13 : Her counterparts from across the world call India incredible and amazing, she finds her grandparents' country downright dirty and blames its people for spoiling their beautiful land.

Racheli Haligoa, a Malayalee from Israel who was part of the group of 25 diaspora youths to participate in the internship programme of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, minces no words when she says Indians do not appreciate their country's natural beauty.

''They don't keep their environment clean. They eat chips and just throw the packets on the road and into rivers,'' Racheli recalls of her experiences in Himachal Pradesh where she went as part of the month-long 'Know India Programme', organised in coordination with the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and the state government.

''When we pointed this out to some officials of a local institute, they said the monkeys attack the dustbins in search of food and litter the garbage on the road and into rivers.

''But I think it's the people who do it, not the monkeys,'' says the incredulous Racheli laughing. ''The rivers smell because of the garbage.... It's disgusting''.

The 20-year-old Israeli, who once used to sling a gun during her two years of compulsory Army training, met lot of Israelis in Kullu and Manali who make it their abode of peace after their conscription.

Racheli knows no Hindi, but she says she does understand Malayalam as she hears her grandmother sing back in Israeli. And that is why she is staying beyond her programme to visit Kerala to see the land of her grandparents.

She is going to the South for a month with her cousin, who was also part of the programme which ended yesterday, and stay with acquaintances there.

Sudisha Naidu from South Africa had lots of stereotypes broken during her visit that enabled her and others to stay with families in villages of Himachal Pradesh and enjoy the warm hospitality.

''We thought people lived in jungles and had only one meal a day.... But that stereotype is broken.... I was not prepared for the trip. It was incredible.'' Krishna Maroo, a 20-year-old journalism student from the UK, says the trip made her more grounded. ''India was always the country my parents came from. But after staying with the families in the villages, I think we have a bond with India now,'' says Krishna who was here the last time when she was only five years old.

Others like Dipti Manglani, an interior designer from Dubai, Aazamina Rangwala from the US, Krishneel Mali and Srishti Rai Narayan from New Zealand, Kala Nanthini from Malaysia, Rahul Parmar from Canada and Herve Narsapa from Reunion Island have also found India breathtaking.

Though all were awestruck by the rich cultural diversity of India, where they also saw the Taj, they were emotionally moved by the warmth and hospitality of the people they stayed with.

They say they have been receiving SMSs from many of them even days after they parted company.

''Now we will have no problems looking for accommodation or visiting places here.... We know we will call up a Lalji or a Gopalji,''says Dipti.

UNI