India is a diverse country in which the culture and language in every state are startlingly different from those in other states. I have travelled across, 18 states in India and have learnt a lot about various cultures. My keenness to adapt to the culture has not only helped me in knowing about different cultures and religions but has also helped me understand different languages.
A new team mate, Sunil Mehandiratta, joined our team in first week of October in 2008. It was the time everyone was busy with Dusshera - a Hindu festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil, it marks the victory of Hindu God Ram over the demon Ravan.
Sunil seemed introvert and didn't want to participate in the Dussherra celebrations. Trying to make him comfortable with the team and sensing that involving him in the celebration would be a good move to do so, I urged him to be a part of the preparation, but Sunil didn't show enthusiasm in it. On my constant urging, he threw rage, something which hurt most of the team member's sentiments.
Trying to understand his reason for such behavior, I had a conversation with him and the conversation yielded that he belongs to a village in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, where Ravan is worshipped as God and they believe Ravan to be the most intellectual person in the history of mankind. According to the local myth of the village, burning an effigy of Ravan or even celebrating the victory of Lord Ram over Ravan could spell a curse on the family.
