Aline Dobbie was born and spent her childhood in India where her father, Colonel Frank Rose, was an officer in the Indian Army. She returned to her ancestral home of Scotland at the age of sixteen but her affection for the land of her birth has not diminished. Since her departure Dobbie has lived and travelled in various parts of the world and has visited India on numerous occasions, writing prolifically on the country and its people. Dobbie is a speaker of Hindi, and this, along with her Indian heritage, affords her a rare level of insight into this fascinating and complex country. The author is married to Graham Dobbie. They have two grown-up sons and two grandchildren. They live in the Scottish Borders.
Whether you have been to India or not, this is a gem of a book about a vast and successful country, the third by this author. Vivid memories of her early years enliven the travel stories and give a picture of rapid modernisation. Aline Dobbie was born in India and still speaks Hindi; what makes her journeys authentic, and what shines through every page is her love of the subcontinent and its people. She is not blind to the country's shortcomings and she has strong words about failings like the neglect of the tiger, child brides, female foeticide or trafficking in children. A map of India showing the routes taken by her and husband Graham together with many photographs help the reader to follow from a report on the Tsunami in 2004 to her return to Scotland in 2006. The DVD set to evocative Indian music included with this book gives the reader a huge visual feast. Young backpackers will enjoy the picture of the Aurobindo Ashram, a peaceful retreat with open courtyards and lovely gardens. She gives a fascinating history of this poet and philosopher, his friendship with Gandhi and the work with Mirra Alfassa, 'The Mother', who founded an international centre of education. To quote about the character of the ashram: "The way of yoga followed here has a purpose different from others, for the aim is not only to rise out of the ordinary ignorant world-consciousness but to bring the supramental power of that divine consciousness down in to the ignorance of life, mind and body, to transform them, to manifest the Divine here and create a divine life in Matter." Music in India is played on instruments like the sitar and she praises young players, who keep traditions alive. Local craftsmen still begin their work with prayers, and the thousands of temples show beautiful carvings of gods like Vishnu and Shiva. We are given a glimpse of the ancient wax method still used for casting bronze sculpture. Aline Dobbie loves Libraries and Museums which she enters with reverence for India's cultural past. Equally lively is her concern for wildlife and we are given pictures of national parks, the wealth of birds and animals, specially the elephants who actually can give blessing with their trunks. The experience of Ayurvedic healing has not changed in hundreds of years but is now practised in modern centres. In some hotels a foot massage can be made available for tired travellers upon arrival. Some patients travel far distances from other parts of the world to have consultations and treatment for chronic ailments at renowned Ayurvedic centres in southern India (see page 116). Each reader will find different highlights; helpful for all travellers is the detailed assessment of hotels from delightful home-from-home comfort to shabby neglect. Some strong language is reserved for a party of Russian travellers because of their noise and vulgarity, but the patience and kindness of Indians is praised throughout. People who wish to follow the trail are advised to bring enough money as one needs adequate places to rest in this hot subcontinent.
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