When Chinese truck company Beiqi Foton Motor wanted to open a factory in India, its president looked at sites that had a mountain in back and a river in front — especially auspicious locations in the traditional practice of feng shui. The company found a seemingly ideal spot, and secured 250 acres of farmland in a western Indian village. Foton wants another 1,250 acres nearby to build an industrial park for suppliers. However, the mountain is sacred to many Hindus. For at least 2,000 years, the cliffside caves have been home to generations of monks. One of the most revered Hindu saints is said to have attained a pure vision of his god during the 17th century while meditating in the highest cave overlooking what is now Foton’s site. The culture clash was immediate.
Jan
23
