בואו לפגוש את טינה סאוטה. נולדה וגדלה בברמינגהם, בת להורים פונג'אבים,
חוזרת למקורות ומתאהבת בהודו מחדש...
I was born in a city called Birmingham which is in the middle of England, UK. I am what people in the UK call a ‘third generation British Asian’. My parents are from Punjab in north India, my father moved to the UK when his marriage was arranged with my mother, who was only 18 years of age at the time. Growing up in a semi traditional punjabi household meant that we attended the temple on Sundays and we took part in cultural and religious events.
Our parents also took us on holiday to visit my grandparents house in a small village in Punjab. As children we enjoyed the freedom we had in India, I remember hanging out with my cousins who would take me to the bazaars. It was the only time where we didn’t have a TV or modern toys to play with and we didn’t miss them. So, having had a taste of life in India, I was always intrigued with India’s mystical landscapes, its history and rich heritage. In 2007 while on a family trip to punjab I talked my mother and brother into going to Shimla and Dharamsala. They both needed some convincing as with the rest of my family, they were quite happy to just visit the family home in Punjab and then return to the UK.
It was here that I first clapped eyes on the beauty of the Himalayas, it was a perfect clear April morning and the views were simply breath-taking. from that point on, I was hooked on coming to India, every year since then my annual holiday took place in India, I have been from South to North India, travelled by train, bus and plane. My annual holiday was usually a couple of weeks and every year at the end of my holiday, I would take a deep sigh and say ‘oh well, that’s a shame, I wish I had more time’. With this in mind, I decided in 2012 that I would give up my job as HR Manager and take 6 months to travel around. I am now living my dream. I quit my job in March 2013, then completed the CELTA teacher training course with Cambridge University so that if ran out of money, I could pick up some teaching work. In May, I arrived in Goa, and went on to visit Punjab, Nepal, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Dharamsala, Manali, Pushkar, Gwalior and presently I’m in Vrindavan which is famed for the birthplace of Lord Krishna
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Traveling around India is quite a different experience for me compared to other travelers, most days, I am stopped in the street by the locals and I am asked where I’m from. The common phrase is ‘you look Indian?’ To which I normally reply in hindi, ‘yes, I am Indian, I just was born in another country. They instantly become even more intrigued and that is how many of my conversations and some dear friendships are born. The funny thing is that I’m just as fascinated with Indians as they are with me.
Speaking the language really helps, I often spend time talking to the rickshaw driver, the man serving chai on the sidewalk or the shopkeeper, these people interest me, their devotion to god, their relentless pursuit to just survive, make a living and be happy. In the UK, I am seen as an Indian not British first and in India although i may look Indian, I am referred to as British. I keep coming back to India because I find peace in here, for me it’s the people of India that make this land beautiful. We have taken birth in different countries but we have many things in common. I love my country the UK but my connection with India is deep, her beauty amazes me, and for now my love affair with India continues
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