| Terrence Arthur Oak 2005-07-30, 8:54 am |
| I was reading a non-fiction book, Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald an
Australian reporter who writes about her exploration of modern India a
few years ago, when I came on the paragraph below, which is found in
chapter 6, Sikhing The Holy Hair.
The chapter in question is mostly is about Westerners who have made a
pilgrimage to the Golden Temple in India and become Sikhs.
At the same time she is writing about a personal thing of hers that is
going on dealing with her hair, which for some reason has started to
fall out heavily, and her trying various cures to stop it.
At one point at the recommendation of a friend she goes to a legendary
Ayurvedic healer by the name of P.K. Jain...
QUOTE
It's standing room only in the packed waiting room and everyone is
scrunched close and staring. I smile weakly, until a man wearing a tight
white T-shirt tucked into ball crunching black jeans walks straight up
to me, stops inches from my face and with a completely serious
expression on his, whip a comb from his back pocket and does a
slow-motion Fonzie-like flick though his well-oiled mullit. I'm ridged
in shock. Is this a come-on or a pose-off? I'll never know, because at
that moment my name is called.
"Misssssss Seeeeeraaaaaah, please be coming."
In a tin-walled cubical I tell Mr. P. K. Jain my hair woes. he shrinks
back from me, nervously runs a hand though his thick locks and then
yells, "Eureka! I see what is happening, you are shedding your Western
Identity and becoming Indian. Take this, it will help you become one of
us."
He hands me a huge envelope of cocaine-like powder and ushers me out of
the door. I snort every morning but my hair falls faster.
END QUOTE
While her hair does eventually start to grown again, she does not find
herself becoming an Indian.
What I wonder just what was this powder that he already had on hand that
he felt would fasilitate this women turning into an Indian?
I have read about ayurvedic healing.... but I must admit I don't get
most of it.
Anyway.... the book is a fascinating and entertaining read, and you can
find a review of the book at the link below, as well as links to other
reviews and MacDonald's web page,
Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sara
MacDonald - review
http://mostlyfiction.com/adventure/macdonald.htm
T.A.O.
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