Brewing Knowledge : Highway To Swades

Brewing Knowledge Friday

Author Bhairavi Jani discusses her book “Highway to Swades” and her 18,000 km journey across India.

The Journey: Jani’s 18,181 km, 51-day drive across India was a quest for a firsthand understanding of the country, inspired by the ancient Indian principle of pratyaksha (witnessing).
The 12 Superpowers: The book identifies 12 core strengths of India, with “Power of Assimilation” highlighted as uniquely Indian—the ability to adopt external influences while retaining its own identity.
The Raft Analogy: India’s Republic is a raft on the eternal river of its civilisation. Citizens must pick up the oars and actively participate in its progress, as the country is run by its people, not just politicians.
The “Chappan Bhog” Philosophy: Jani advocates for a life of diverse experiences—a “chappan bhog” (56-dish feast)—by challenging comfort zones and saying “yes” to life, avoiding the mental walls that create stress.

Inspiration: A lifelong practice of pratyaksha (witnessing) for learning, seeded by childhood travel with her parents and school.
Catalyst: A question about policymakers’ understanding of India’s people and their choices.
Scope: 18,181 km over 51 days, from Nagaland to Kutch and Kashmir to the Deccan.
Method: An organic, anticlockwise parikrama (circumambulation) averaging 360-370 km/day, with 15-20 interviews daily.
Key Discoveries:
- Undakoti, Tripura: A hidden 6th-century rock-cut sculpture site, a major historical gem that was largely unknown.
- Nalanda, Bihar: A watchman’s reverence for the ruins as a “temple of knowledge” revealed a deep cultural value for learning.
- Safety: The journey proved that India is safe to travel in, with people across the country offering help and hospitality.

Core Insight: A common thread of strengths binds India’s diverse people.
Key Superpowers:
- Enterprise: Entrepreneurship is a pervasive trait, seen from tribal women in Eastern Ghats markets to tech CEOs.
- Nature: A reverential partnership with nature, contrasting with the anthropocentric view common elsewhere.
- Knowledge: A deep cultural reverence for learning, not just education.
- Creativity: An inherent aesthetic drive, from truck art to rangolis.
- Assimilation: The unique ability to adopt external influences while retaining identity (e.g., Gobi Manchurian).
- Inclusion: A natural acceptance of diversity, reflected in holidays for all major faiths.
Internal Contradictions: Jani also questioned why a country that values beauty struggles with cleanliness and why, despite vast arable land, malnutrition persists.

India at 100: An India where 1.4 billion people are individually empowered (Swaraj) to realise their full potential, creating a gift to the world.
The Raft Analogy: India’s Republic is a raft on the eternal river of its civilisation. Citizens are the sailors who must pick up the oars and actively participate in the progress.
The “Chappan Bhog” Philosophy: Life should be a “Chappan Bhog” (56-dish feast) of diverse experiences. This is achieved by challenging comfort zones and saying “yes” to life, which eliminates the stress of “juggling.”
Love Defined: Love is about receiving with an open heart and no expectations. This openness allows for a floodgate of love and warmth, leading to gratitude.

FATHOM AI-generated content, read with care.