India, the name of a vast, expansive country that owes its name to the Indus River, which actually means ‘stream’ or ‘river’.

It is a country stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the deepest tropical south. It is the land of many temples and a collection of philosophies, traditions, rituals, and spiritual movements that constitute Hinduism.

India has experienced many dark times and has often fallen victim to foreign rulers, such as the Indo-Greek and Central Asian tribes in antiquity, the Huns in the 5th and 6th centuries, and the Mughal Empire (1526–1857).

Subsequently, Europeans, including the Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Great Britain, and France, came to dominate India through the slave trade. They introduced the idea of ​​racial segregation: if you had dark skin, you were often enslaved, shipped, and sold. This slavery and racial segregation were even enshrined in law, meaning people could no longer ignore it.

Although slavery has been abolished and we live in a somewhat more damaged (or: more modern) world, this oppression is still palpable in India, and blackness is still considered inferior and ugly. Consequently, most Bollywood stars have white skin. While this Indian society has been slowly changing since the new Indian constitution of January 26, 1950, the traces are clearly felt.

India is a rich country due to its raw materials and spices; additionally, it is a very colorful country with a diverse, rich cuisine and culture. The country offers an overwhelming sensory experience with spicy aromas and vibrant colors.

In India, you know many treasures, and you see gold jewelry worn by people everywhere. But those are not the treasures I am referring to. The real treasures are the people themselves. The many different cultures and languages ​​per region make each person unique and beautiful. The different shades of skin color are also beautiful, because black is also very beautiful. The dark hair, the mostly black eyes: beautiful.