These overhead wires in Old Delhi epitomize what I see in India: apparent chaos masking surprising order. One’s first impression — here and elsewhere —is of imminent collapse, of an overtaxed and underdeveloped ad-hoc arrangement that’s hopelessly inadequate for its designated task. Surely, one thinks, this is no way to run wires. Certainly a qualified electrician could teach the locals a thing or two.
A more open-minded look suggests that understanding India — comprised of nearly 1.5 billion people and built on nearly 7,000 years of history — demands more than a casual glance.
