for those of you who are unsure where India is....
It is a secular democracy sandwiched in between Communist China to the north east and the Islamic countries to the north west. It is in a political hot bed, which is why it has so many refugees and one of the reasons for the poverty stricken slums in the big cities. Kolkata, in West Bengal, has uncounted refugees from Bangladesh, which was East Bengal before partition.

Even the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, the Dali Lama, is taking asylum in India now, along with many of his followers and countrymen.

It seems I will be spending most of my time in Kolkata, which was Calcutta. Here is a map and a picture of the city. If you all were expecting an old world view, or dirt and poverty, I am sorry, but Indian cities, although they do have those elements as all cities in the world do, are modern , have public transportation, malls, taxis, and people in suits and jeans. You have movie theaters, ice cream shops, bars, clubs....
anyways, that is a little background of the country and city I am visiting.