David
From what I remember and from what I have photographed since 1972, I find that the Indian urban landscape particularly has changed. Even when I compare the years 1986 that you mention and the present year, I find that changes are dramatic. For instance in 1986 in the colleges of Chandigarh (which is considered to be one of the most advanced cities in India) there was hardly any student using bikes. They used to come to the colleges either by public transport or using bicycles. Today, use of the bicycle by a student, fortunately or unfortunately, is unthinkable and laughable. It may even be considered by the students as a social stigma, symbolizing lack of dignity and self-respect. This example is just one to point out the changes. There are innumerable others.
In country-side, though the changes are coming, the scenario you may find, particularly in those places which are far away from the city-centers, unchanged. It would appear that in the vast stretches of rural and remote-areas-landscape the things have not moved at all.
About cars and roads. The roads are good on many stretches of national highways. However, you just move a bit into the interior, the shift is dramatic. It would soon become a pit and hole story.
Cars are numerous. The new models burgeon. India is a huge market. People dispose off the cars quickly and they are taken up instantly by the second-hand buyers and hence a huge number of this stuff particularly in the cities and national highways.
Also thanks for liking my writing and comparing the Shilaru colors with the colors of the rocks in France.
I would soon post sheep images also
Greetings on the day of Gurpurab.
Arun Gaur
http://tripolia-indianlandscapeimages.com