Ok, the article might sound silly to those of you who already know about the Amish people, but I recently visited Topeka in North-East Indiana and was amazed at these people! We were going to Topeka to visit a manufactured houses factory and before starting were warned by our Professor not to take pictures of Amish people as they don't like it.. I said "whatever".
The journey was amazing, the rising sun through the beautiful countryside reminded me of India ! We reached the factory and Mr. Shawn Way received us there, showed around the place etc. I saw the Amish people working there, distinguished by there beard and no mustache and clothes almost as if they were all in uniforms. As reminded I did not click any pictures and moved on. The energy of these guys and the speed at which they were working was amazing. We then left the factory for lunch. On our way I saw a horse cart, i could not believe my eyes, "I am in America or what?" And then I saw another one.. Upon asking Shawn said, "Amish people don't use technology in any form.." And we all were like. "What are you talking about?"
Rest of the evening was more like a questionnaire to Mr. Shawn about these amazing people... From what he told us:
Amish people are highly conservative Christians. They came from Germany in early 1700 and settled in USA. They don't use technology, that means they don't use cars, instead they travel in horse carts. The wheels of these carts have a iron lining and no rubber tyres as rubber again is an artificially created material. But they are allowed to travel in vehicles if they are not driving it. They don't use electricity in their houses, no heating and lighting through electricity. In a place like North-Eastern Indiana where the winters are so harsh, these guys heat their houses by burning wood. They have oil lamps in their houses for lighting. Anyways they get up early, work only till 2 pm and go to bed early, so they don't have to expend much on lighting their house interiors. They have no televisions or radios in their houses, and bare minimum of furniture. Roads are simply of compacted soil, like the one in the photo on the left. They wear very decent clothes and looks almost like they are all in uniforms. Women were gowns and a small hat. As far as the food habit are concerned they don't have restrictions, I saw them in Subway where we were having our lunch.
They don not accept any grants or aid from the government. They don't take any kind of insurance for health, property etc. They do farming and also work in factories around the place which is permitted according to their church. On asking what do they do of the money they earn, Shawn said, they just buy more and more land... They gift these lands in marriages etc.
Everything that is not Amish, is 'English' according to them. So they will call me or Youjung from Korea or Mr. Shawn a local.. all as 'English'. With no radio or TV or newspapers they hardly know about the world beyond theirs, that USA is on war and where India is on the map. I guess they speak Dutch and they have their own schools. Now, every Amish boy and girl is allowed to go check out the 'English' world sometime in their teens. They can live the American way, wear whatever clothes, do whatever they want to. Then they are given the choice of being in the Amish clan or becoming an English. Usually that will mean that individual is an outcast.
There is also a branch of Amish called the New Amish which simply means they allow use of technology to some extent. So, they have a small telephone booth setup outside the house commonly shared by few houses for contacting in emergency. Or even using rubber tyres for their carts. I am shocked and amazed how they are still living and maintaining their life style and sustained after so many years, that too in America. Now there are surely many more people at least many in India that are forced to live life like that, but its unexplainable why someone will not use technology even when one has the choice. And they are genuinely peace loving people and happy the way they are!!
The picture above is a nice irony, the increasing rates of gas in USA on one hand and the unaffected carefree Amish cart on the other; both co-existing in the most prosperous country in the world! One thing is certain, if happiness is the pursuit of mankind, technology may not be the answer.
(Disclaimer: The information I have published here may not be completely correct. But it is seen and discussed first hand with a local person. Also, respecting their culture, I have not clicked any photos of Amish people and so can not have them on this blog)
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