Indian Wisdom

“I won't say there's disrespect for the Indian home cook, but I was never exposed to that. Even in a semi-urban Indian family, you will find a maid. And once you meet these people, you realise they cook purely out of passion or love for the family.”

“I am the child of Indian immigrants, both of whom have Ph.D.s and are college professors, and I'm an actor in Hollywood.”

“People all over the world know me as an Indian artist. I could have chosen any other country and wouldn't have had to go through problems claiming my citizenship. But it is India where my heart is and has always been.”

“Just like you have a fashion council in Delhi to organise fashion shows, promote Indian fashion, etc, there must be such a body for films as well, especially because Delhi is now becoming the hub for movie shoots.”

“Song, dance and cinema are so deeply within the Indian culture and with so many cultures incorporating their elements too, it has become a wonderful collage.”

“Over the last few decades, apart from other factors, direct or tacit prodding by the Centre has influenced Indian corporate groups' decisions on project sites... Politics cannot be separated from it.”

“Indian audience has a mindset that a movie which does well at film festivals will necessarily be slow and boring.”

“I was a good Indian girl, but naughty in that I would often sneak out of the back door and into the garden and go off with my friends when I should have been at home cooking or cleaning.”

“One good thing about Indian cricket is that we have options. Most of the international teams don't have bowling options left after retirement, but we have everything right now.”

“Major North has had for years complete power over these Indians and can do more with them than any man living.”

“To achieve important things, we have to sacrifice what's important to us. That's an idea that's very central to Indian thinking.”

“The most dangerous people in the world are not the tiny minority instigating evil acts, but those who do the acts for them. For example, when the British invaded India, many Indians accepted to work for the British to kill off Indians who resisted their occupation. So in other words, many Indians were hired to kill other Indians on behalf of the enemy for a paycheck. Today, we have mercenaries in Africa, corporate armies from the western world, and unemployed men throughout the Middle East killing their own people - and people of other nations - for a paycheck. To act without a conscience, but for a paycheck, makes anyone a dangerous animal. The devil would be powerless if he couldn't entice people to do his work. So as long as money continues to seduce the hungry, the hopeless, the broken, the greedy, and the needy, there will always be war between brothers.”

“Global fuel and consumption, however, is projected to increase by 100 to 150 percent over the next 20 years, driven largely by the rapidly growing Chinese and Indian economies; and this growth and this increase in demand will force prices even higher.”

“I have placed my faith in humanity, but faith in the universal becomes meaningless without faith in the individual. – Panchali Draupadi”

“And America, too, is a delusion, the grandest one of all. The white race believes--believes with all its heart--that it is their right to take the land. To kill Indians. Make war. Enslave their brothers. This nation shouldn't exist, if there is any justice in the world, for its foundations are murder, theft, and cruelty. Yet here we are.”

“My mom always knew I was going to be an actor because I was a ham from the very beginning, so she would push me toward it, which is really unconventional for Indian families to do.”

“Peace is one thing, revolution is another. You were either impatient or highly optimistic to think one would lead to the other. – Panchali Draupadi.”

“I'm happiest with Indian veg food, especially potatoes. I love anything to do with potatoes!”

“Historically Indians have been frugal in terms of living, using only as much is required. Now convenience has taken over our simple and sustainable ways of living. We used to wash clothes with our hands, we used buckets and a mug for bath, there was emphasis on ventilation - but all that is lost to the fast pace of living.”

“We must not try to force him to take civilization immediately in its complete form, but under just laws, guaranteeing to Indians equal civil laws, the Indian question, a source of such dishonor to our country and of shame to true patriots, will soon be a thing of the past.”