|
印度聖工小組
Introduction
印度位於亞洲中部，版圖包括印度半島及亞洲中部的南方部份土地。面積3,287,263平方公里。由北到南長3,214公里，而東至西則2,933公里。
Located in the central of Asia, it consists of the India Peninsular and portions of the south central Asian mainland. It has a total area of 3,287,263 sq. km. It extends 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west.
印度有著許多不同的風土人情。從北到南或東至西都充斥著不同的種族、語言及風俗習慣。印度的交通系統差強人意。繁忙的交通及不衛生的食物使人煩亂。貧窮使你傷心，官僚作風則考驗你的忍耐程度。雖然如此，這個國家裏有許多值得探險及引人入勝的景點，使酷愛旅行者再次回來遊玩。
India is a country with much differences. From north to south, and east to west, the people are different, the language is different, and the custom is different. Traveling in India is difficult. The exhilarating transport and the unhygienic of food will get to your nerves.
The poverty will get you down, and the bureaucracy tries your patience. Yet this is a country of great experience and amazing variety that draws the return of the most ardent traveler.
The Society In India
印度是這個世界上擁有第二多人口的國度，僅次於中國。估計約有十億人數。人口增長率大約是一年2％。近30％的人口住在都市。這個國家共有20個城市是擁有超過一百萬人口的。孟買是一個人口最稠密的城市──大約1,450萬人。
India has the second-largest population in the world, exceeded only by that of China. It had an estimation of nearly a billion people. The growth rate of the population is around 2% per-annum. Nearly 30% of Indias people live in urban areas.
The country has more than 20 cities with populations of more than 1 million. Bombay is a city with the highest density of population - about 14.5 million people.
印度的種族並非清一色相同的。依照體型、膚色就可輕易的辨別出他們的家鄉──來自西邊的孟加利人比較矮；中部及北部的印度人較高較白。東部的Kashmiris人有顯著的中亞洲人臉孔。而南方的則是皮膚黝黑的淡米爾人。
The Indian people are not a homogeneous group. It is easy to tell the difference between the shorter Bengalis of the east, the taller and fairer people of the central and north, the distinct central Asian features of the Kashmiris in the west and the dark-skinned Tamils in the south.
印度社會由許多不同文化風俗信仰及語言的人組成（印度有超過800種語言或鄉土語言。在書寫及言談方面都不同。有15種語言是受官方承認。國語是Hindi但只在北印度被使用。在印度的其他地方則使用各州的語言。
但是英語在印度卻普遍的被使用）。根據調查，印度有4,636種族群，組成不同的部落及階級（這就造成了社會上的一些敵對現象及北印度的種族及宗教衝突）。因為印度有各式的種族，因此指定某一種文化是屬於「印度」是不恰當的。
Indias society represents a dazzling array of different kinds of people along with their different cultures, religions, languages (India has more than 800 languages and dialects, which are different in its written and spoken form.
It has 15 officially recognized languages. Its national language is Hindi but it is mainly used in north India. In other parts of India, they will use the language of their state. However, English is widely used in all parts of India) and customs.
According to a survey, there are 4,636 ethnic groups existing in India, representing a variety of tribes and castes (This brought about the differences in the society and the much reported ethnic and religious unrest in northern India).
Because of the diversity of the people in India, it is inappropriate to identify any one culture as the "Indian Culture."
雖然階級制度已經式微，但還是普遍的存在社會上，尤其是少受教育的族群。低階級的人很難和高階級的人溝通。出生在低階級的人很少有機會長進。
The caste system although weakened is still prevalent in the society especially among the less educated. It is difficult for the lower caste to mingle with those of the higher caste. Those born into the lower caste have little opportunity to progress.
給小費已經融入印度的行事模式內。外國人如果不想隨從此制度的話，很可能會以不愉快的爭執收場。雖然很多人把Baksheesh當著是給小費，它也代表著濟貧。您只需付幾個盧比，就能把事情辦妥。
Baksheesh or tipping is an integral part of the system. Foreigners trying to fight this system may end up with unpleasant argument.
Although most people think of baksheesh in terms of tipping, it also refers to giving alms. Baksheesh will open closed doors, and get things done. You only need to tip a few rupees.
印度人是保守的民族。女人的穿著不會太過暴露。她們穿「Saris」及以布或帕子遮蓋頭。在公車中，男女不得同坐。
Indians are conservative people. The ladies do not over expose themselves, wearing saris and wear a cloth/veil over their head. In public transport men and women are not allowed to sit together.
印度民族受教育的比率是全國人口的53％。男人比女人多受教育的比數是64％及39％。
The literacy rate is 53% nationally. Men are generally more literate than women - 64% to 39% respectively.
印度主要是農業國家。農產品的出口佔了國家收入的20％及僱用全人口的50％；40％的人民活在貧窮水平線之下。11％的通貨膨脹率快要失去政府的控制。雖然有一大群中產階級的人民，但是國家的個人收入一年只有12,000盧比（美金286）或一天等於35盧比（美金0.80）。因為就業機會少，很多人都移居城市。但是來到城市後，他們往往變成各處找吃的「市民」。
India is a predominantly agricultural country. Agriculture sector accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs over 50% of the population. 40% of the population lives on or below the poverty. The inflation rate of 11% is threatening to get out of control.
Despite the existence of a large middle class, the national GNP per capita income is only INR 12,000 (US 286) per annum or around INR 35 (US 80 cents) per day.
Due to the lack of job opportunities, more people are migrating to the cities, only to find themselves as the "street people" scavenging for food.
印度擁有各種不同的宗教。不單有世界上各種普遍的宗教，它也是興都教及佛教的發源地。雖然宗教種類多，但是興都教卻是最普遍的（興都教62.4％，回教12.6％，基督教7.3％，錫克教2.8％，Jainism2.2％，佛教2％，其他9.1％.）
India has a variety of religions. Apart from having nearly all the worlds popular religion, it is also the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Despite having a vast variety of religions, Hinduism is by far the most popular (Hinduism - 62.4%, Muslim - 12.6%, Christianity - 7.3%, Sikhism - 2.8%, Jainism - 2.2%, Buddhism - 2%, Others - 9.1%).
The Life Of Our Believers In India
我們在印度有800位信徒，分散在六處教會，兩處祈禱所及五處聚會所。（大多數在TamilNadu省，一小部份在Karnataka省）
In India we have about 800 believers from 6 Churches, 2 Prayer Houses and 5 Places of Worship (mostly in Tamil Nadu state; a small minority in Karnataka state).
大多數的教會是在市鎮──小城及鄉村（Pammal, Chengalput, Tirunilai, Paduvancherry, Bangalore, Veppur, Ariyalur, Neyveli, Kuppanapuram, Karimanagar）。兩間在郊外（Otteri及Tiruvothiyur）及一間在工業區外圍（Ambatur）.
Most of the churches are located in the urban areas - town and villages (Pammal, Chengalput, Tirunilai, Paduvancherry, Bangalore, Veppur, Ariyalur, Neyveli, Kuppanapuram and Karimanagar), two are located at the outskirt of the city (Otteri and Tiruvothiyur) and one at the outskirt of an industrial estate (Ambatur).
Pammal及Otteri在過去被稱為「收容區」（英殖民時，人民分散，有一些人變成社會的「渣滓」，也就是賊或小偷，危害社會。因此，英國統治者就把他們限制在「收容區」）。
Pammal and Otteri are also previously called "Settlement" (during the time of the British, most of the people are scattered and they are the social outcast and are robbers and thieves, endangering the society; as such the British confine them in the Settlement).
我們在印度的信徒幾乎都是淡米爾人。因為階級制度，大部份信徒都是來自相同的階級及家庭成員或親戚同住一個地方。因此，結婚對象也是限制在同一階級或來自同一個家庭（一定是親戚）。
Almost all of our members in India are Tamilians. Due to the caste system, most of the believers are integrated to a certain locality where people of the same caste dwells and most are from the same family - relatives. At such, marriages are confine to the same caste, from the same family (should be relatives).
大部份居住在小鎮或郊外的信徒都有工作而且是中等的收入者。那些住在鄉村的可以說生活水準是在貧窮以上（有一些在小城市工作）。但是有一些則是貧窮的。
Most of the believers who dwells in towns and outskirt of city are working people and are average income earners. Those who live in villages are considered above poverty (there are some who works in the city), but there are some who are poor.
失業也是我們的一部份信徒所面對的困擾。
Unemployment is also a set back for some of our members.
基本上，本會信徒過著簡單及純樸的生活。吃的方面也是一樣（天天吃蔬菜及一個星期吃一次肉）。生活單調（幾乎沒有娛樂），不過擁有一個單純的信仰。
Basically the lives of our members are simple; they eat simple food (daily vegetarians and once a week they take meat); they live simple life (almost no entertainment), and a simple faith.
|
|
 |
|
作者: 印度聖工小組
出版社: 棕樹文教基金會聖靈月刊雜誌社
出版日期: 02/01/2004
| |
 列印本頁 |
|
 分享好友 |
|
 意見反應 |
|