My Greek Sojourn

Centuries ago, a really wise elder from Grecian society made a statement that rings true even today. The statement read ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know that they never shall sit in’.

That declaration really hit home! And it felt better still when I saw it being put into action.

Greece has always been at the forefront of philosophy, logic, art, and culture. This is pretty apparent from the vast body of work that remains an integral part of their cultural heritage. But what is truly interesting is that they are not content to simply rest on their laurels. They seek to constantly improve and share their wonderful learnings with humanity at large. Their sole aim is to make our world a better place to live in.

My most recent trip to the Grecian Islands of Rhodes was a kaleidoscopic immersion that combined traditional hospitality, innate friendliness and the savoir-faire of an ancient civilization.

The Greeks are nationalistic to the core and to them, it is a matter of great pride that everything associated with their country remains protected. Locals will go to great lengths to protect their beaches, their waters, monuments, and even traditional shopping districts. They lead a simplistic life with limited material needs and a constant desire to socialize. For them, each day should bring with it a reason to celebrate life.

I had traveled to Greece to teach them the finer nuances of Indian cuisine. What amazed me was the reason for them wanting to learn about our food. It wasn’t a business decision or anything remotely as selfish as that. In fact, the primary purpose was far too altruistic!

They had noticed that the number of Indians visiting their islands had increased and they wanted to help them feel welcome.

They also believed that India, with its amazing array of vegetarian and vegan fare, was the perfect country to turn to if they wanted to change dietary habits and improve the fragile sustainability of their ecosystem.

They were planning on using traditional Indian techniques with Mediterranean flavors and local Greek ingredients to ensure that their islands and their waters would continue to maintain their pristine beauty for generations to come.

Lofty ideals? Not really!

You see, there can be nothing as majestic as an entire community coming together to leave the world a better place than the one that they inherited!