In Conversation with the Brazilian Ambassador to India - HE André Aranha Corrêa do Lago

Excerpts from an interview with Seema Dhawan 

- Seema Dhawan

How long have you been in India? 

It’s been almost three and a half years.

What illusion did you have of India before you moved here?

I came to India fairly often in the past 15 to 20 years because I used to work on climate change and sustainable development issues as a result of which I had quite a few meetings in Delhi and Hyderabad. I have always been infinitely interested in India not only because of the friendship between the two countries but also because of Indian art and architecture.

What is your opinion on Delhi?

I had a pretty clear idea about Delhi and its people because I used to visit quite often.I knew that the people were very interesting, but it was onlyonce we started living in Delhi that we realized that they are ten times more interesting and intellectual than what we expected. So many friends, so many productive people, so many intellectual people wherever you go!

Have you been to other cities in India?

I have been to many cities in India but there is one city Orchha (a town in the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh) which I had never heard of before but now I’m in love with. Orchha is a city with forts, palaces and temples and quite close to Jhansi, Gwalior and Khajuraho.

I also loved Ranthambore National Park. It’s so beautiful – It has a mountain with a fort and then you have the tigers… I saw so many tigers, in two hours we saw five tigers!

What cultural similarities have you found between the two countries? And what differences have you found?