Today we met a delightful couple and we treated with very gracious hospitality. This was the "friend of a friend" that we were visiting about 2+ hours North of Delhi.
Gurdip Singh and his lovely wife Tani greeted us with the finest of Indian hospitality. We arrived at their gate as complete strangers with only a mutual friend in common. I think that we left many hours later as friends. We shared beer (unfortunately not Kingfisher) in their garden and talked. We learned of the travails of Gurdip's family, having to leave their home in what is now Pakistan to be re-located during the partition of that section of India. From Tani, we learned of the life and problems of the family of a high ranking British/Indian officer. After a while, there was a wonderful meal and much more conversation. Gurdip gave Joy and I a tour of the farm, and then, for us one of those rare opportunities to see the real country when Gurdip and Tani toured the local village with us. Gurdip had been the head of the village for many years and on council for 50, and so was very proud of the progress made there like paved roads, house numbers, and indoor plumbing. His family had built the school, room by room into the complex it is now. It was evident from the way people greeted him and Tani that they were held in high esteem and loved by the people. In the process of the tour we were privileged to have the opportunity to survey the dowry for an impending wedding. We left grateful for the kindness and generosity of these wonderful people.
Jim
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