I recently read an article which quoted Rabindranath Tagore's observations during his visit to the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It said that he said that he could see India everywhere but he could not recognize her. Coming from an renowned internationalist like him, it would have been appreciated in the right sense. In today's nationalist times combined with the fact that I am no Tagore, I want to say that about Bangkok but I won't. In the rush to find common ground, we chose to overlook how differences need to exist too. That they put Lord Indra and the heavenly elephant Airavat on their city logo was completely out of Thai reasons. There was no equivalent Indian city example which I could think of which did the same. Despite being a tourist, the symbol was known to me. The thrill of familiarity felt in a connection need not be converted into ownership.
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| 05-Sep-2024 Indra in Bangkok |