I’m very fortunate. Beginning around 2010, Reinhardt University begins to sponsor a “Year of ….” program. Each year, the faculty and staff arrange activities focused on a particular part of the world or a particular people of the world. When I volunteer to lead the 2014-2015 “Year of India,” I ask to visit India for five weeks beginning in late-November through Christmas 2013. The President and Dean agree. Yeah!

If I’m to help students, faculty, and staff know and appreciate the history and culture of India, I have much to learn. Part of my trip is to re-familiarize myself with India. So, I revisit sites of my 1990 Fulbright seminar, Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Calcutta (Kolkata), Madras (Chennai), and Bombay (Mumbai). As much as I remember, I want to explore changes in those cities.

In addition, my travel agenda includes other parts of India. In the north, I traveled to Haridwar and Rishikesh, Dharamshala, and Bodh Gaya. In the south, I travel to Madurai, Tanjore, numerous South Indian temple towns, and Rameswaram on the southeastern coast of India facing Sri Lanka.

The sensitive reader will note the heavy emphasis upon sites associated with varied religious communities. What is to be expected from a religious studies professor?