Shiv, I studied at RECW that had 50% students from outside Andhra Pradesh and thus came into contact with lot of people. It helped that I was in student politics and had to know two batches before and after me in order to be relevant. Also we had five different messes - Andhra veg, Andhra NV, South India(veg & NV), North India (veg & NV) and a composite PG mess. The students from each region would register for their respective messes and the wardens would also push them to that decision. Taking advantage of a hostel near bankruptcy situation, I helped push the idea that students could register for the mess of their choice and not the warden's choice. This way those messes that had good food would survive as they atttracted more students. And not to mention National Integration which was a good ideal being regional college. So familiarity with regional food also helps.
Later on life I have travelled the length and breadth of India except Gujarat and NE. It breaks a lot of sterotypes and you realize the unity of India. The differences are superficial but are drummed up by chauvinists to gain control.
Also w.r.t. <!--emo&n^3--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/n3.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='n3.gif' /><!--endemo--> post #121 about the origin of world folklore etc., Joseph Jacobs did pioneering research in this area in the late 1800s and wrote numerous books. His conclusions are that the majority of folklore in the West comes from India. he traces the many iterations of the various tales.
Based on his book I once wrote an article on how the Brer Rabbit tale of the tar baby is related to the tale of the Buddha. It was in soc. culture. india in the mid 90s when I came across JJ. Will see if I can find it.
Here is an link to his book about the various tales:
http://www.authorama.com/indian-fairy-tales-1.html
Here are his notes and references:
http://www.authorama.com/indian-fairy-tales-31.html
At a minimum people should read the Notes and Refs.
ramana
Later on life I have travelled the length and breadth of India except Gujarat and NE. It breaks a lot of sterotypes and you realize the unity of India. The differences are superficial but are drummed up by chauvinists to gain control.
Also w.r.t. <!--emo&n^3--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/n3.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='n3.gif' /><!--endemo--> post #121 about the origin of world folklore etc., Joseph Jacobs did pioneering research in this area in the late 1800s and wrote numerous books. His conclusions are that the majority of folklore in the West comes from India. he traces the many iterations of the various tales.
Based on his book I once wrote an article on how the Brer Rabbit tale of the tar baby is related to the tale of the Buddha. It was in soc. culture. india in the mid 90s when I came across JJ. Will see if I can find it.
Here is an link to his book about the various tales:
http://www.authorama.com/indian-fairy-tales-1.html
Here are his notes and references:
http://www.authorama.com/indian-fairy-tales-31.html
At a minimum people should read the Notes and Refs.
ramana