Blink issue 14 april26 2014

HUMANS WITH SUPERPOWERS Comic books aren’t for children alone. Decoding a grown-up love for creating and collecting vintage titles p6 saturday, april 26, 2014

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A weekend in Varanasi reveals the faces and passions of CAG volunteers — the Twitter trolls, Facebook fans and backroom groupies p9

The many men of Modi

MASTER OF SHADOWS VK Murthy, the hand of light behind Guru Dutt’s magical movies p14

NEVER JUST AN ANIMAL Books that feature birds and beasts tell us about ourselves p18

play know

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Hold Place your to callbreath… home Coming soon to a stadium near you is the new kabaddi league, promising to draw global The court verdict might give the third gender an identity, but finding shelter is still a struggle attention for one of India’s most underrated sports

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henever Balwan Singh, the 54- last three decades. Competing against 11 counyear-old head coach of the In- tries, the national team has retained the kadian kabaddi team, intones baddi gold ever since the sport was “kabaddi… kabaddi… kabad- introduced at the Asian Games in 1990. di”, his diaphragm moves in a time-tested Singh has coached and managed the unbearhythm not unlike that of a trained vocalist ex- ten team since 2003. I meet the Dronacharya ecuting an intricate raga. The awardee outside the gates of the stomach movement is so proNew Willingdon Camp on Delhi’s nounced that it is visible through Race Course Road; by the time we his t-shirt. As Singh says, “Uttering reach an eatery nearby for a chat Kabaddi has the word while playing is good evolved into a slick, over coffee and pakoras, Singh, not only for concentration but alsophisticated sport clearly a genial man, has already so for the internal body organs. To invited at least three of the over the years my knowledge, there is no other guards to join us and greeted sport that can help maintain overpretty much every passerby. all fitness like kabaddi does.”

“I know it’s not as popular as I’m meeting Singh to talk about cricket, but one shouldn’t forget the soon-to-be-launched Pro Kabaddi League that kabaddi is our country’s oldest sport. It is (PKL). The brainchild of veteran sports com- said to have been around since the time of the mentator Charu Sharma, backed by his broth- Mahabharat, and that’s a remarkably long er-in-law and industrialist Anand Mahindra, time for a sport to survive,” Singh says, in what PKL is slated to take off in July-August with is now a familiar refrain among those in the eight city franchises graced by stars from 24 world of kabaddi or the PKL. kabaddi-playing nations, including India.

And like in the case of cricket’s IPL or foot- Pulling in the crowds and money ball’s ISL, the owners are a mixed bag of who’s “I see this venture as a means of reconnecting who — from actor Abhishek Bachchan (Jaipur) with our country’s past,” says Charu Sharma. and Future Group’s Kishore Biyani (Kolkata) to “I fell in love with the sport at the Asian Games I wear foundation.

Yes, I live at Uday Kotak ofes,Kotak Mahindra Bank (Pune) Jamaaths. the State, theyAnand are a Super Doha in Spread 2006. I across came back and told remains to find a safe just coach like everybocoach Balwan Singhhaven, is the head of the withScrewvala a man. Yes, I’m a middle- (Mahindra); and UTV’s Ronnie (Mumbai). kind of matriarchal we havesociety been defined meaningbytohierartake unbeaten dy else.Indian Deepika (name changed SHARMAupon rekabaddi team RAMESH aged fag. But I know who I am, this chiesup likefor that of a guru a chela (disciple). a long timeand now...

Kabaddi has quest), a 23-year-old Master in Social Work Val. It took me 20 years to get evolved Homegrown strength The Jamaaths a whole have been instrumeninto aasslick, sophisticated sport over While he agrees and who comes from aprofessional low-income leagues background here, and I’mofnot some idiot senator While many usgonna mightlet know that the Span- the tal in the and public representation and mobilisyears, forming a pro-league seems the the involved cansupported bring theirbyown of livesmoney in a ladies hostel the set NGO. destroy that.team **** the don’t give ish football Realsenator, Madrid Ihas won thea best ing of support forThe theleague community.

Butacross there troubles, thing to do.” will travel he’s thatof“severe checks She says, “I amconfident the youngest four brothers damn whatLeague he thinks.”

The impact Champions nine times and theofLathese Liga the havecountry been instances wherefrom individual with support the Alloutfits India and punishments” tackle in my family. I was can forced outthem. of my home by lines, spoken

by Armand Goldman, played

by Kabaddi 32 times, it’s unlikely that we know India is unhave convinced their With members into believing Federation. multi-city venues Forparents national-team players Rakesh my last week, whensuch theyascame to Robin Williams in Thehaving Birdcage, stays long after defeated in kabaddi, won the gold at and thattop-class trafficking and Charu begging were the only players, is certain it will be Kumar and my Navneet Gautam, the They PKL told has know about effeminate identity. the scene ends. It’s achampionship poignant moment in the the ameans every international held in to a livelihood in the Jamaath.” great crowd-puller. come as would a surprise, albeit a welcome one.

AsI me they rather not have a son like me. film that has real world resonance. It’s about a The Jamaath aside, there are few places Kumar, captain started playing came tothe this hostelsays, and“Iwas taken underserithe gay parent, Armand, reasoning with his son where such individuals can seek a safe haven. ously I wasa13.

In my village wing when of Vasuki, counsellor.

She Nizampur, intends to Val, why he wouldn’t appear to be anything AJ Hariharan, the founder secretary of Indian outside kabaddi has aand richadvise tradition and meet myDelhi, parents this week them to other than who he truly is, so that Val’s soon- Community Welfare Organisation, a Chennai- I’m to carry on thisintradition.” helpproud me assimilate back my home.” to-be father-in-law, the senator, can be con- based NGO that works towards improving the He excited by south the fresh newthose prospects Theisefforts down mirror set invinced that theirs is just a normal American living conditions of sexual minorthrown up by league.

“While weyears can live to the motion more than 14 ago family. (Armand’s partner is Albert, a cross- ities tells us, “Broadly speaking, quite comfortably as international kabaddi

by Anindya Hajra, a transgender dressing homosexual who has taken on the there aren’t dedicated facilities to players, the PKL willactivist definitely a boon for us. rights andbefounder memrole of the woman in their relationship). Cut serve the needs of sexual minoriNot only willber it of bring more attention the Pratyay Gender Trust to in Kolto 2014 and you have 16 states in the US that ties. During adolescence, when Transgenders game, but we’ll also get to play withthe star trust, playkata.

Speaking about often have legalised same sex unions. the realisation of their sexual ers from countries learn from Hajra says, and “Around two them. years have to make do other Back home in India, it took the Supreme identity dawns on these young- with desolate This will be especially for the upcoming back, weuseful inaugurated our Purareas, Court more than 67 years to grant recognition sters, they tend to run away from Asian games Basha in Korea thisShelter September.”

Night and Daytime which leaves them to the third gender, a community that was rel- or leave their homes, usually beDrop-in Centre. It was created for vulnerable egated to the fringes of Indian society. Looked cause their families don’t accept Go native trans-women in Kolkata who are down upon as an anomaly, even by educated them. They would never find acKabaddi players such Chipart from of thecountries street-based sexasworkpeople, those belonging to the third gender commodation in a regular lodge nese Taipei, Italy, Iran, Pakistan, Korea er’s community.

TheSouth impetus bemade ends meet through begging, prostitu- or a hotel as they are harassed and and England,hind to name a few, will the its creation wasplay thatinthese tion and occasionally ‘blessing’ weddings and accused of conducting their business on the league.

Navneet Gautam, a defender the nasex workers, who travelled from farinflung archildbirth ceremonies. The passing of this premises. Needless to say, these people have to tional team, agrees with histocaptain.

“See,their it’s eas of the city, had no place retire after landmark verdict hopes to change conditions resort to perilous alternatives.” good that we get to play and at such a long working hours.

Theymore had no proper food for them, granting them, most crucially, a But baby steps towards the betterment of high level.were I’ve been in the to topthe level for over a and they exhausted point of colsense of identity, dignity and acceptance. their existence are being taken. Hariharan decade (but) there are have manynowhere for whom lapsing.now…

Most of these ladies to But before those bigger ideals are achieved, says, “We have now tied up with the Chennai it’s harder, and setups as the PKLday. willAnd endress before they get such on with their the community needs to fulfil something Corporation to set up a shelter exclusively for courage more to take the game.” they used to people make do withupdesolate areas, more basic — the need for shelter. While State- runaway transgendered people. The Corpora- street There is optimism in the run-up to thehighfirst corners and taxis, which left them run shelters do serve the needs of runaway tion is providing the physical infrastructure, edition of thetoleague this Our year.facility Sharma ly vulnerable sexuallater assaults. ofboys, girls and the homeless, those of the third such as the buildings that will house these points to the larger picture: is India’s infers them a respite of sorts“This where they can gender usually have no place to call home, as people. We have volunteered to provide resi- digenous sport; in the they don’tand care thata recuperate, freshen upUS with a bath have their families often ostracise them when they dents with free counselling and career guid- no onenight’s else follows of football, good sleep their beforeversion they proceed for learn of their identities. ance so as to channel their faculties into but they go crazy over it.

WeOur should take pride their work the next day. shelter offers Sankari, a transgender activist in Chennai, developmental and productive activities.” in kabaddi too,aand PKLof should some way in these women space theirgo own that they says, “For members of the transgendered comEven though the beneficiaries of these pro- encouraging that.” can call home.” munity in Tamil Nadu (referred to as Arava- grammes find temporary relief in such maarasu bijoy bharathan nis), the closest thing to a second home are the keshift arrangements, their end objective sibi

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One small step Transgenders celebrate the recent Supreme Court verdict pti / shahbaz khan

Hop, skip and jump Indian players look forward to honing their game by playing alongside international stars in the Pro Kabaddi League

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A free country, again India’s first celebrity hijra Lakshmi on her journey from being a ‘homo’ to an activist and the long road to independence for the third gender

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akshmi Narayan Tripathi had been dancing for a while, hamming it up for the cameras at times. It is only when she finally ascends the makeshift stage at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, dressed in a black-white-and-gold sari, that she stops dancing, takes the mike and pauses mid-sentence to give advocate Anand Grover a tight hug. “I call him my boyfriend,” she shouts into the mike and cackles along with her audience, before sharing with them how crucial Grover’s role had been in giving herself and others like her their “independence”. Earlier in the week, in a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court allowed transgender people to be recognised as a third gender. For Lakshmi, this was the successful end of a long campaign.

Vivacious and outspoken, Lakshmi is the first celebrity hijra. Born and raised in Mumbai as a boy, she is one of the rare transgenders who found support within her family. Early on, she knew her sexual preference was different. “Yet I never thought of myself as different.

People would laugh at me and call me names, and they made me different. I am who I am,” she recalls. She thought she was gay and everyone called her “homo” anyway. So when she was in Class 5 or so, she got in touch with the only publicly gay person she knew — Ashok Row Kavi. Lakshmi was already interested in

Lady liberty Lakshmi celebrates the Supreme Court verdict at Jantar Mantar last week meeta ahlawat

the arts then and training in Bharatanatyam. her father was asked how he accepted his son’s Kavi asked her to continue with her education sexuality, he said, “if my child was hand— both academics and dance. icapped would you even ask me whether I’d When she finished school, she joined Mum- have asked him to leave home? And just bebai’s Mithibai College. Around this time, Ken cause his sexual orientation is different?”

Ghosh was making music videos and she audiIt was when Lakshmi met Shabira, Indian’s tioned for a dancer’s role and bagged it. Laksh- first transgenders PhD student that she first mi went on to dance in several videos and heard about the hijra culture. In Mumbai, they became a choreographer. Slowly, she began are split into seven families and each family dressing up in drag when she was out. When has its own guru and disciples, called chelas.

Kavi started working towards reShe decided to join with Shabira, pealing Section 377, the law that but just before the move, Shabira makes homosexual activity a went missing. Lakshmi went nevcriminal offence, Lakshmi beertheless and was fascinated by It was the first time came part of his team. She turned the community. She decided to that Indian TV up for the first press conference stay on. Soon after her initiation, audiences saw dressed like a woman, her face Lakshmi joined a night club and a hijra with her fully made up. That caught the atbecame a bar dancer. She was relabiological parents tention of the media and Zee TV tively famous already, and admirasked Kavi whether Lakshmi ers from across the city came to would provide them with a watch her dance and shower cursound byte. She did. It was aired. rency notes on her. When the then And that’s when her parents found out she home minster of Maharashtra, RR Patil decidwas aligning with the hijra community. Much ed to shut down the city’s dance bars, she orgaemotional drama ensued, with her father nised a protest. The dancers lost but Lakshmi’s even lining up marriage proposals for her. “Fi- zeal for activism soared. In a video for Project nally, I said if you do this, I’ll run away.” Caught Bolo for the Hamsafar Foundation, she articubetween a judgemental society and parental lates in detail her life from being a ‘homo’ to affection, her parents eventually came an activist hijra and guru of her hijra family. around. In a BBC interview, years later, when Lakshmi is opinionated and outspoken.

That has won her both friends and enemies. In the mid-noughties, Mumbai newspapers frequently carried reports of fights and brawls involving Lakshmi and others in the community. “Mostly the community leaders were of the opinion that while I was high-profile and getting a lot of publicity, I never discredited the community. The fights were caused by people who were jealous of me,” she says.

In 2002, she became one of the founding board members of the Dai Welfare Society, which sought to work for the well-being of hijras. In a few years though, she left it to start her own organisation, Astitva. In 2008, she became the first transgender person to represent Asia Pacific in the United Nations. At the assembly, she spoke of the plight of sexual minorities. “People should be more humane.

They should respect us as human beings and consider our rights as transgenders,” she said.

Back in India, she straddled her celebrity lifestyle and her outspoken activism. She appeared in several TV shows. In one, Sach ka Saamna, where contestants who are rigged up to a lie detector and asked embarrassing questions, Lakshmi brought her parents along. “It was the first time that Indian audiences saw a hijra with her biological parents, I did it as a part of my activism,” she said. Lakshmi’s appearances in mainstream media went a long way in dispelling myths about hijras.

The SC verdict is an enormous success for Lakshmi and others like her. This means that the two million transgenders in India — who often live in dire poverty and whose occupations are usually begging or prostitution — have access to medical care and reservations for educational institutions and government jobs. It isn’t just typical Lakshmi hyperbole then when she says, “India got its independence on August 15, we got ours on April 15”.

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Hello Morimoto Celebrity chef Masahuru Morimoto celebrates success and competition in India

Super-heroic ventures

usually pay off. One such was his arrival in India eight years ago with Wasabi by Morimoto at The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Venturing out of his comfort zones, Japan and the US, for the first time, it was a move seen, at the time, as a professional hara-kiri by his contemporaries in the West and by his own guru Nobu Matsuhisa, who turned down the offer before him.

Back in India after five years to mark the fifth anniversary of the Wasabi at Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel (better known as Taj Mansingh), Morimoto says, “When I opened in Philadelphia, they said, why Philadelphia? When I opened in Mumbai, they said, why Mumbai?

But it wasn’t really a leap of faith — Wasabi wasn’t a standalone; it had local muscle.”

Much sake has flown since in the capital, and Morimoto’s success as the first international celebrity chef here, is largely responsible for it. Megu laid its tables at The Leela Palace two years ago; more recently, Akira Back welcomed diners at the JW Marriott Hotel Aerocity. Is Morimoto worried about competition, especially from Back, who claims to be his acolyte (a claim he rubbishes outright)? “Not at all. If Indian customers have more high-end Japanese options, they can understand what we do better. In an equilateral triangle, the wider the base, the higher the apex will be, right?”

He should know. With 10 restaurants to his name (and three more in the pipeline this year

The comics industry in India is animated by passionate creators, readers and collectors ready to shell out big bucks

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rishi piparaiya

WINDOW OR AISLE

n the mid-1980s, when Phantom, Mandrake and Flash Gordon — the dashing e looks every bit like a top chef.

Besupermen from Indrajal Comics — ruled coming, in a black double-breastthe hearts and bookshelves of children in ed brothers jacket, hisinname India, three Delhiembroidered were busy cursively in of red, an invisible Midreaming up an army all-Indian superhechelin startheir pinned to hiswestern chest. And yet, rising roes. Like famous counterparts, from the table to greet,too he steps these behind homegrown superheroes wouldforefward in a pair offalling white dress and sneakfortlessly catch cars, shorts send villains and ers, At 58,into Masahuru Morimoto, a theirbeaming! cronies flying outer space, kill the Nobu alumnus, and surbaddies and healcontinues the victimstoofshock injustice. prise in person on the that plate.had All been of it with a Coming fromasa family in the practised that comes success and publishingease business for twowith generations, sibwith habit of taking risks that lings the Sanjay, Manish andintelligent Manoj Gupta didn’t need to think twice before entering the comic book industry in 1986. Research, brainstorming and meetings with designers and artists followed, at the end of which was born Nagraj — the longest-running Indian comic superhero. Despite the competing attractions of television and the internet, each new issue of Raj Comics’ Nagraj sells at least 50,000 copies even today.

Cut to Bangalore; circa 2014. Arun Prasad zealously collects comics — old and new. He has over 15,000 rare comics, including the first prints of Amar Chitra Katha, Indrajal and Tinkle. These early editions are a prized possession today. In Mumbai, for instance, you can come across roadside vendors selling vintage comics for anything from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 each, depending on the publication date, the buyer’s passion and the seller’s business acumen. For the costliest ones, the buyer is asked to deposit the money in the vendor’s account before the comic can change hands.

Out-of-sight offsite

Stay unseen but top of mind at the next conference

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e have crossed March 31 and another aged financial year has breathed its last. And a newborn FY 2014-15 peeks out from under the Roman calendar with a cherubic grin. For those who have a life, April means chirping birds and the advent of spring. For the rest of us who plod through 9-to-5 jobs, it only signifies one thing: Strategy Conferences. Yay — we’re going on an offsite!

We’ll have meetings. We’ll work on business plans. We’ll create water-cooler gossip! Here are pointers you’ll thank me for: Seating My college thesis was on “Interpersonal dynamics of seating arrangements in conference rooms”, which makes me su-

premely qualified to opine that U-shaped seating is the worst — you’re forced to make eye contact with everyone in the room. Round tables are marginally better — you only have six odd douchebags to deal with. Theater-style seating is ideal — sit at the back and play Candy Crush.

Temperature Conference room thermostats are permanently set to 16oC. That coupled with the free bottled water means frequent restroom breaks (never factored into the schedule). Dress in layers — there will always be that colleague who is ‘feeling sick’ and needs your jacket.

Goodies An awesome conference will have bowls

in Chicago, Miami and Las Vegas) his success in the restaurant business is only matched, exceeded even, by his popularity on the cult-hit Iron Chef, a Japanese cook-off first telecast in Japan in 1993 and later in the US. Known both in reel and real life for his unorthodox use of ingredients and techniques in a cuisine famously unforgiving and rigid, has earned him mixed reviews and an equal share of critics and patrons, including the Obamas.

But he continues to do what he does best and allows his travels to feed his food (French, Italian, Spanish and “Indian too”). “I make my own épicé or garam masala for my signature dish lobster masala and marinate angry chicken Morimoto in tandoori and Peruvian spices.

And have you tried the rock corn tempura, a variant of my rock shrimp tempura? Or the carpaccio fish substitute made of tofu and tomato? All inspired by vegetarian diners in India.” (Aside: crucial in a country where, of the 10 richest people seven are vegetarian.)

Does he cook any of this for his wife though? “No. In my personal time, I don’t chop, I don’t slice, I don’t watch Food Network either. Not even Iron Chef.” “Besides,” he says of his partner of 34 years and his finest unofficial protégé, Keiko Morimoto, “she’s the betterlooking and better-cooking Morimoto.” soity banerjee

Modern mythmaking Despite a fading market, Mumbai-based Karan Vir Arora launched Vimanika Comics in 2008, banking on innovative formats and merchandising to attract new readers shashi ashiwal

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This, then, is the world of comics — dom- vintage set of 128 comics in Bengali starts at inated by passionate readers, collectors, sell- $1,038.70 (around ₹63,000). ers and creators. Yet, the one thing that stands “Collecting vintage comics is a global pheout today is the age group of the readers. nomenon, which is now visible in India too,” These are not children, rather they used to be says Manas Mohan, chief operating officer at the kids and teenagers in love with comics in ACK Media, which owns Amar Chitra Katha the 1980s and 1990s, who are now trying to re- and Tinkle publications. kindle the magic.

The titles from Indrajal Comics, which beby losers who envy those1964 who and brought of high-quality confectionary — mints, year latergan publishing in March sweets and candies — placed within arm’s have since left That Splurging on nostalgia out itsfor lastgreener issue inpastures.

April 1990, are most in dereach. cheapskate conference will have to be in the front row are where At AComic Con India, the annual comicssaid, con-try not mand.

Next in popularity the vintage comnincompoops upChitra kneeling. sugar and saunf.

Some give you2011, vention held in the hotels country since the ics of end Amar Katha, including the first freemedian writing age padsofand pens.isThank visitors 21 andthem children are title, Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Nala-Damayanandhardly stock up — kids at home willconappre- ‘Higher authorities’ ti, besides the early editions of seen here.

“People ciatesuming it. The tightwads only today give free will be in attendcomic books arepen- The leadership teamTinkle. cils.above Pencils?18.Who (other than architects) ance, strutting around in jeans and ill-fitSome readers spend uses₹50,000 pencils in this dayto and age? ting t-shirts, pattingFuzzy you vintages on the back, a month buy comics.

Some readers making small talk, giving rah-rah speechThis is no longer the domain of While publishers look askance at spend ₹50,000 es and handing out awards.

Be uber-cool Drinks kids,” says Comic Con organiser those trading in comics at arbia month to buy a bottle tequiPost-conference session equals free, un- and memorable. Down Jatin Varma. “Nostalgia is a major trary prices,ofthey are also happy comics limited booze.

It may be domestic, IMFL la. Jump fully clothedto into the pool. factor,” he adds. know that Score collectors are not or premium.

It doesn’t matter. Drink ca- renewed inYesterday’s comic-loving childas if a century at beach cricket. willingCorporate to sell. “This no one is watching. reers are made, or shredded, at offsite is today’s high-earning profesterest in comics impacts us posistrategy conferences.tively by creating a higher decibel sional who thinks nothing of Group Photograph splurging on a cherished part of childhood. value for the brand,” says Mohan. ACK is growrishi piparaiya is the author Aisle annually be ThisSample piece ofthis: chromatic memorabilia has Gordon a vintage lot of 47 Flash ing at over 30 perofcent in the ₹600no historic pulledfor outauction a Damned Indrajal value; comicsit’sisonly available on rishi@aislebedamned.com crore Indian comics industry. eBay at a base price of $648.70 (₹39,000), But in this mad rush for vintage comics, along with shipping charges of $80 (around buyers can often be mistaken about a comic’s ₹5,000). And bidding for a Phantom Indrajal value. “The valuation process (of vintage com-

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Comic timing Yearning for an all-Indian superhero, the Gupta siblings Manish (CEO), Manoj (president) and Sanjay (studio head) launched Raj Comics in 1986 kamal narang

ics) is still to be settled in the country. How do houses. Ditto at the retailers. “Getting to the you make sure that a copy is from the first consumer is a challenge now. Margins are print-run of a particular comic? It is a compli- high for distributors and small stores don’t cated process,” says Mohan. even want to stock comics. And even if they Varma points out that in the US, the Com- agree, the payments are invariably delayed by mercial Valuation Consultants (CVC) rates a up to six months, making it tough for publishcomic book based on its preserved condition ers,” says Varma. and its uniqueness — whether completely unDespite the many challenges, Mumbaiavailable or signed by the creators and so on. based comic aficionado Karan Vir Arora went On arriving at a valuation, it gives a stamp of ahead and launched Vimanika in 2008. “Comapproval specifying that the comic is of value panies were not innovating. I thought it was and should be safeguarded. time to do something different to regenerate “In India, some people sell comics dirt interest,” he says. cheap and some sell them at very high preHis new-age comics brand derives its name miums. I wish we had the wherewithal to from the Vimanika Shastra, an early 20th cenregulate, so that people do not overpay,” tury Sanskrit text on airborne vehicles. Vimanika’s superheroes are based on Hindu says Varma.

Currently there is no information on mythology — Lord Shiva, Kalki, Hanuman, Gathe number of copies published for nesha and the Dashavatars among others.

Unlike in Japan and Europe, comics in India various titles decades ago, be it Indrahave not mirrored the growth of jal, ACK or Tinkle. So asthe media and entertainment certaining the real value sector. “Comics here were not of a comic book remains present in any other format. So tricky in India.

How do you make we took them beyond books,” Mohan believes sure that a copy is says Arora. buyers are largely The comics can be read online punting right now, but from the first printrun of a comic? through a subscription. Moreadds that this “is a fairly India doesn’t have over, Vimanika’s characters apshort phenomenon and a commercial pear on t-shirts, posters, and should be over soon”. evaluator other knick-knacks, besides beBut that is precisely ing available as sculptures and where the problem paintings. Today, 50 per cent of lies. If and when the Arora’s revenues come from the buzz around local sale of such merchandise. He has comics dies out, the publishers will be left at a loose tied up with apparel firm Kapsons for the sale end. Today’s networked children of Vimanika t-shirts in northern India. “We are prefer live-action heroes to the 32- also looking at a franchise model for selling page-long battles that Nagraj typi- merchandise and comics,” he says. cally wages.

Old stories in new avatars Like Arora, ACK, Diamond Comics and Raj Competing with TV Observing that the demand for Comics are trying different approaches to comics is not as robust as it used make their presence felt. The changes are visito be in the 1980s, Manish Gupta, ble at Landmark, Crossword and other orgaCEO of Raj Comics, blames it on the nised bookstores that now have a few racks for declining interest in reading, as TV Indian publishers, says Mohan.

Comics companies are also tapping the inand the Internet emerge as the popternet not just for selling their titles but also ular medium of entertainment.

The falling demand, in turn, leads to re- to attract young readers through apps for moduced space for comics at distributors’ ware- bile phones and tablets. While some of the

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Old favourite Manas Mohan, COO of ACK Media, which owns vintage comic brand Amar Chitra Katha

comics are available free with the app, others come for a fee.

Besides coming out with newer titles, publishers are advertising their titles, holding campaigns in schools and marketing them at public events. When ACK brought out a comic on the Carnatic musician MS Subbulakshmi, it tied up with the Chennai-based music association Narada Gana Sabha to launch the title at the association’s annual festival. “That brought us support from lovers of comics as well as music,” says Mohan.

Raj Comics, meanwhile, is making a feature film starring its superhero Doga. “It should be ready early next year,” says Gupta.

A hard copy of a comic book that was available for ₹5 in the mid-1980s is now priced at ₹50. Adjusted for inflation, there is hardly any price increase. But publishers are anxious to keep prices low to retain customers. Waging a crucial battle for readership, comics publishers will likely wish for some of the superpowers their comic heroes are so generously endowed with. rashmi pratap

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CUB READS

Wanderlust in Africa A terrifying yet haunting wilderness on the page

anita roy

G What do geese think?

PMO DONATES REMOTE T CONTROL TO NATIONAL MUSEUM! T iving Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay’s novels a graphic makeover is an unnecessary act.

Yet, when Satyajit Ray adapted Bandopadhyay’s evocative Apu novels for the screen, it resulted in sheer magic. In Moon Mountain’s case however, the graphic namesake pales in comparison with one of the best-known, much-loved adventure novels in Bengali literature but it does fare better than the film adaptation released last year; the most expensive Bengali film ever made.

When Shankar returns to his tiny hamlet from Calcutta after his exams, a humdrum life beckons. Haunted by his thirst for adventure, he jumps at his neighbour’s offer to work in Mombasa, Kenya.

For Shankar, life in Africa promises so much — exhilaration, wonder, adventure and danger. He starts work with a company laying rail tracks from Mombasa to Kisumu. He realises the perils of Africa when the workers begin to disappear week after week, only to discover that the “most fearsome” of predators, the he remote control is mounted on African lionwall. hasIt is old. a bracket on the been is onscarred the prowl.

The plastic and pitted.

Shankar is then The buttons have been worn posteduse. as the smooth by constant Onlystathe mute tionmaster at Ki- that it button is clean and shiny, indicating sumu frequently. railway The elmust have been replaced station.

MomenMoonderly Mountain bearer flaps at it with his duster, his tarily relieved, heis doing Bibhutibhushan efforts listless, weeping softly. He Bandopadhyay quickly realises this out of sheer force of habit, knowing it Puffin that far from be₹399 serves no purpose. He brushes away his ingof out danger, tears with the back hisofhand.

His turban he is now is slightly askew, but he does closer not care. than ever“Once to predators.

One day, fishthis house was on fulla of love and ing trip, he finds ahetraveller named Diego laughter,” says sadly, “There was a time Alvarez lying exhausted. As he nurses Alvarez back to health, the traveller tells Shankar of his extraordinary tale of adventure in the heart of Africa. Weeks later, Alvarez embarks on his unfinished journey to the densest jungles in Richtersveld to look for diamonds. With Shankar in tow. Together, they walk through deserts, climb treacherous mountains, battle beasts and finally, come face-to-face with the deadliest of all beasts, the Bunyip.

At its core, Chander Pahar is an adventure tale. Bandopadhyay had never been to Africa and he wrote it almost entirely from his imagination. While Saurav Mohapatra’s writing match that abadoesn’t Ramdevtry has to announced Bandopadhyay’sthe sense of adventure or his in his microphone involved literary virtuosity, Sayan Mukherjee’s ilrecent mishap was a Pakistani ISI lustrations sometimes capture the spirit agent. The mishap occurred at of the stirring tale.meeting For instance, the first an election in Alwar, where the time anson African lion attacks Shankar,isthe of the former Maharaja crossing visuals swords in the panel are blurred with the Baba with former murder accused impactChand of a lion pouncing on Shankar’s Nath, head of Asthal Bohar Monasstartledtery, horse, dislodging him.

Or the full local who has been demolishing page panel of a cheetah watching Shankar monuments to create better ones. through the in thePolls jungle, whichaisserious Thenight Lok Sabha represent masterful.

All things considered, however, challenge to the seer, as his opponent is stick toKumar Chander Pahar, the original.

Jitendra Singh, a close associate of

ON THE SHELF

We might never understand animals, but they are profoundly similar to us

here’s nothing like a period of enforced bed rest to stoke the fires of wanderlust. Grounded by a bad back and an even more painfully low bank balance, the only travelling I’ve been able to do recently is of the armchair variety. Thankfully, I SHOVON CHOWDHURY is had a book on hand that proved the perchief Truthdigger and author fect vehicle for this static flight of fancy. of The Competent Authority The long, slow convalescence from an illness, which had confined him to his childhood room for several months, reget stuck, but otherwise it never gave any sulted in William Fiennes’ decision, as trouble. Now, look at it, lying in a corner, soon as he was up and about, to set off on gathering dust.” He shakes his head sadly a migration of his own, following flocks and caresses it with a trembling hand. of lesser snow geese from the Texas prai“They’ve “Where are those fingers that held it so ofwhen I was constantly running ries northward on their breeding around looking for the remote. been using it for ten?” he says. “She was so quick with it, and grounds off the coast of Siberia. The book over a decade. Did it so graceful. She could pick up, point, and ‘Look behind the sofa,’ they that resulted shares its title with the would shout, and, ‘did you ever cause problems?” press in one fluid motion, sometimes in book that inspired it, but whereas Paul check in mummy’s hand“Not at all,” says the old the middle of dinner.”

Gallico’s The Snow Goose is an unabashed “Since it holds so many memories for bag?’ Sometimes they would man, “It has always been tear-jerker, oozing with anthropomorbeat me if I was late. Are you a quiet and reliable. Sometimes it you, why don’t you keep it as a souvenir?” I phic sentimentality, The Snow Geese is a was treated very badly, but it never ask. “After all, no one else wants it.” fool, they would say, the nation is remarkable piece of nature writing — complained. It has given years of loyal “I asked, but they refused me,” he says, waiting. Often I was thrashed to withcool, clear, as graceful as a swift and pepin an inch of my life. It was all in good service. No one ever thought it would hanging it back on the wall. “The PMO is pered with delicious terminology. spirit. Later on, at night, the babalog would last this long. All the other remotes of that donating it to the National Museum. For 10 I particularly loved learning that the come and apply ointment. They were very time have ceased to function, although years, this humble piece of plastic ruled restlessness exhibited by migratory birds nice people, very traditional. Now nobody some of them still emit toxic fumes. This the nation. We will display it prominently, at certain times of the year is called zuof fancy We all experience the restlessness of migratory birds lingaraj panda uses this remote any more. Like me, it has Flight one turned out to be unexpectedly dura- they told me, so that future generations gunruhe (from zug — to move, and Unoutlived its utility.” ble. Occasionally the mute button would never forget it.” ruhe meaning anxiety or restlessness). seizes us at certain times of the day or the feathered soulmates, echoing and shapThe term was coined by German natural- year is, perhaps, only partially explained ing his own quest for the wide open ist Johann Andreas Naumann at the be- by our quotidian exigencies of life. spaces of the sky, for freedom. ginning of the 19th century although it As I lay there, immobilised by pinched But can we ever really know what anwas only in the 1960s that this was estab- sciatic nerves, I felt the pull of my own other creature is thinking? The philosolished to be an innate behaviour. Scien- seasonal zugunruhe, my thoughts listing pher Wittgenstein summed up the tists observed that caged garden westwards but, caged by circumstance, conundrum neatly: “If a lion could talk, warblers, for example, became restless unable to join the flocks of departing fi- we could not understand him” — simulnot just at the same time as rangs as they fled the im- taneously suggesting that animals are their wild counterparts, but pending Delhi summer for profoundly different from us (we cannot in the same direction: hopcooler northern climes… understand them) and rather similar to ping towards the south-west, According to his friend us (they say stuff). Reading William Put an animal in a as their fellows headed down story and it is never and fellow-writer Mark Had- Fiennes’ marvellous book, you cannot the Straits of Gibraltar, turndon, Fiennes often kick- help wonder what the geese are thinking just an animal ing south and south-east as starts creative writing class- as they line up in that undulating V in the the free birds wheeled to- is further es by asking students weword couldille’, see‘abuse the world from up Kumar Rahul Gandhi.

His task of bharatnatyam’, n a move hailed in Chennai andtoAm- sky.ofIfthe wards Morocco. about an author animal — or there — a genuineofbirds’-eye — what in complicated by paucity of funds, due to ritsar,write best-selling Chetan ‘devaluation Punjabi view community Who what the turn- Sadly, he bird that they’ve it look like, how and would it feel? Per- of which he knows approached Ramdev.

Bhagat was—arrested earlyencounthis morn- would marriage market’ ‘exploitation the seasons, the in fluctuations of the tered. Invariably, bird) rep- haps the students best we can is to simply bear diding soofsitting on stage, front of thouing from the his animal palatial(or Juhu residence IIM-A for do musical numbers.’ daylight and night-time the subtle resents some unspoken of re- witness, as closely andofasthe accurately we ausands of people and a livehours, microphone.

Is this the end road forasthe by officers of the Stereotypeaspect Police. “We pull of the waxing in and waning moon, themselves.

We can’t,complaints says Haddon, look canthor to our of thisThe “I’m facing problems giving-taking of of non-human One Night @co-habitees the Call Center? ceived repeated regarding does to innersaid. tides?

A whole sub- at animals “Put anby animal in a extraordinary, fragile andcall changing money,” heour allegedly Ramdev’s assothe film objectively.

Two States, written the suspect, charges against him for theplanstrictest branch of science — chronobiology — is story and is neverand justTamilian an animal.

The et. And write down, with a full heart a be ciates clarified that the ISI-trained mike from theitPunjabi communiof punishments.

If convicted, heand could devoted to Voice the mysterious dog awho waits for Odysseus’s re-is a clear head, what is that we see. used Islamic Distortion workings to convertof faithful ties,” said spokesperson.

“The author sentenced to itthree years of listening to the circadian and circannual clock,has the turn.

The dove that He brings olive ‘blessings’ to ‘money’.

The suspect Santa-Banta jokes, intravenous injection law-abiding citizen. camethe quietly.” daily and annual rhythms of life: sleep- branch back Noah...

Moby-Dick, Warthe anita been apprehended.

“We charged it with of roy rasam, and and compulsory repeat viewWhile histolegal team is optimistic, is a writer director of Young ing andsaid waking, feeding and migrating.

Horse.”

One might snow geese toagainst the Zubaan sedition,” the police.

“We would have situation looks add bleak.

Charges ings ofanita@anitaroy.

Mithun Chakraborty’s act as a Tanet Theit to longing to be else that list:him forinclude in them Fiennes seems to‘overuse see sent Pakistan, butsomewhere all flights are full.” ‘misuse of laddoos’, mil person in the movie Agneepath.

MICROPHONE WAS PAKISTANI AGENT, SAYS RAMDEV!

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CHETAN BHAGAT ARRESTED BY STEREOTYPE QPOLICE!

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Square politics Through the revolutions at Tahrir, Egypt hopes to become a new country ap / amr nabil

THE CRITICAL ISSUE

After the revolution The uprisings in Tahrir Square allowed women to make political action and space their own

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URVASHI BUTALIA is an editor, publisher and the director of Zubaan

’m standing at the edge of Tahrir Square in Cairo. There’s nothing here to give you an inkling of the history that unfolded at this very spot not three years ago — no signpost, no poster, no marker. Unless you count the line-up of tanks nearby at the National Museum — I’m told they are protecting the museum from possible looters after some looting took place during the revolution.

Everyone you speak to refers to the revolution — as if it has already happened. And in some ways it has — the 18 days in early 2011 when Tahrir was occupied by millions of Egyptians, were the revolution. They brought down a dictator, created new solidarities, marginalised the right wing, humanised the army, and created the conditions for an election. And yet, there isn’t the kind of euphoria you would expect. Instead, there’s still some confusion, some concern.

In the offices of Mada Masr, an independent online news agency (perhaps the only independent one today, they tell me) a group of young people discuss the options before Egyptians today. We have to be hopeful, they tell me, but also cautious: can the army actually turn civilian? Is this possible at all? And even if the leadership changes, what about the bureaucracy, those who hold power even today — they are still from the old regime. How will this change?

There’s also concern about the many young people who were arrested and charged after the revolution. Why were they arrested? Why did the army, which claimed to side with the people, pick them up? They need to be exonerated, returned to their lives. What about those who were killed? Their families?

Later, in a meeting with some friends, I ask about women — what role did they play? I’ve noticed — I’m visiting Cairo after 18 years — many more women in headscarves than previ-

ously. And yet, there’s no dearth of women in like solar energy, sanitation and so on. public life — you see them everywhere, in Everyone agrees that, in a way, when thoushops, at immigration counters, in big busi- sands of women stepped out into the public nesses. Have you noticed, a friend says gently, space during the 18 days they made Tahrir that there are also many more men in tradi- their own, they transformed that space. The tional clothes? I look around me and I do in- most important thing, a writer friend tells me, deed see that. This is an assertion of our is that we felt safe in Tahrir, we were with our identity, she tells me, it’s not a regressive own people, we were all there for a cause we thing. This is a way of saying we’re Egyptian. held dear. Tahrir had space for children, for At an evening seminar organised as part of music, song, dance, and when we moved out an Indian festival — India by the Nile — which of our houses, even during curfew, we, the is what takes me to Cairo, we talk about wom- women, were not stopped, we carried supplies en. Saher el-Mougy, a writer and teacher, in, we took news out… speaks of the change that cannot I’m reminded of the early days be measured. The revolution, the of the post December 16 protests: occupation of public space, the no matter what time of day or making of that space their own as night, women felt safe. And yet, never before, all this changed The most important like Tahrir, this did not last. I ask thing, a writer something for women. her about this: Tahrir was full of friend tells me, is It’s difficult to say exactly what stories of sexual violence. that we felt safe in this is, changes to the psyche are Yes, she says, and that was deTahrir, we were difficult to map, even more diffiliberately used to try and break with our own cult to quantify, but somewhere, our spirit: it followed a pattern, people, we were women have made political acthe men who perpetrated it were there for a cause we not from among us, it was very tion their own. held dear Earlier in the day, in a discusclear that they had been sent in to sion with members of the Nationbreak the movement, to divide us. al Council of Women I’ve heard I think back to the reports: the vithe same thing. They recall the olence did indeed follow a frightmoment in 1923 when Egyptian eningly similar pattern, it isn’t feminist Huda Shaarawi boldly flung her veil outside the realm of possibility that the perpeinto the sea — it’s from women like her that trators were outsiders. they take their inspiration. We will continue What’s important in all this, she tells me, is the fight for women’s rights, they tell me, and that we now know what to watch out for, and mention that India and the recent protests fol- we know too that once having jumped into polowing the December 16 gang rape incident litical action, we will not be pushed back, have been inspirational. The revolution has we’re working to create a new Egypt, a respongiven us the same kind of hope, they say, and sible, independent country that will be as while we’re focusing on our country, we are al- much for its women as its men. so looking elsewhere. India has so much to What more could one ask of a revolution? teach us, we need to empower our women, but we also need sustainable solutions in things blink@thehindu.co.in

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April is Autism Month, a mother shares her story of helping her son embrace his uniqueness “Dear Shilpa The egg curry was very good and it was very tasty that egg curry was nice and thank you for the lunch with egg curry and I love you Shilpa from dear Sonu.” (sic)

Joe D’Cruz’s endorsement of Narendra Modi cost him a translation and spurred a debate on freedom of expression

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Choppy waters Author Joe D’Cruz, who has written about coastal communities, now finds himself in the eye of a storm m prabhu

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nspired by the movie The Lunchbox, Sonu (orbetween Shubham) wrote letter to his n the war fascism andthis liberalism, ta reacted to “unreflective leftists’ authoritarmother, Dr Shilpa Rao. She saves a photo Joe D’Cruz, 51, Sahitya Academy award-winianism” and said that by that logic, “We will offor it on phone. letter itselftois elsener (2013) hisher epic novel The Korkai, seems have to stop reading TS Eliot, Ezra Pound, Carl n an interview, Joe D’Cruz seems where, as iscasualty.

Sonu, who isn’t at home be the latest Cruz is currently a vocal supSchmitt, Yukio Mishima because they supportunfazed about the controversy, or that it their apartment block that facesTamil a forest ed in Fascism, and Pablo Neruda because he was porter ofinthe coastal people of southern has cost him the English translation of Aazhi east Bangalore.

Nadu and takes pride in being a part of its vi- an apologist for a mass murderer like Stalin”.

Soozh Ulagu.

He islandscape. the one who keeps their home ex-Critics pointed out that Navayana has a hisbrant subaltern tremelynovel tidy, his shoes and mother’s His maiden published in his 2005, Aazhi sliptory of publishing writers like Slavoj Zizek, pers (Ocean are all neatly lined up. Sonu is away whose at Soozh Ulagu Rimmed World) escalated “politics is quite loathsome”, as SenYour books, for which you have won ‘Empower’ somewhere in the hills near him to star status incamp, contemporary Tamil literagupta puts it, or Namdeo Dhasal, who has recognition, are about the history and Mumbai, learning life skills, publishing amongst people ture. Navayana, an Ambedkarite been vocal in his support for the Shiv Sena. culture of fishing communities in he has never met before.a He won’t beof able toFollowing such criticism Navayana’s publishhouse, committed to publishing translation southern Tamil Nadu. Your political toBut his mother the9,next 10 days.

Another er, S Anand, has, in a statement, said that the D’Cruz’s talk work. then onfor April D’Cruz posted support for Modi seems to be at odds milestone both ofsupporting them. Theirs seems like publication of D’Cruz’s work is in “abeyance”. a status update on for Facebook, Narenwith that. a partnership, each holding on to the other, However, the prickly question of withdrawing a dra Modi.

Steeped in liberal and left-of-centre I am a humanist; I do not support Hindutva. eachreeling lettingunder the other fly andcontroversy soar. legal contract in the face of personal, but differpolitics and the recent My heart and support are for the Sonu was diagnosed with Autism of withdrawing Wendy Doniger’s works as aSpectrum re- ing opinion remains unresolved. dispossessed and the coastal communities for whenthe he publishing was 18 months sult of a Disorder Hindutva(ASD) campaign, co- old.Legally, the publisher cannot use the perthe hardships they have endured through sonal views of the author as a reason to reat 25Navayana weeks, weighing 900 grams, munity Born balked. made aunder statement centuries.

In solidarity Shivaji terminus illuminated in blue to mark World Autism Awareness Day vivek bendre the contract. Chhatrapati “The agreement between it took many books. monthsAnd before to withdrawing D’Cruz’s evenhe as began the scind and author has clauses that relate by comments himself. When did not begin publisher to freedombreathe of speech werehebeing typed Your declaration of support for Modi on particularly to the manuscript. While the final respond his name or recognise family, docon Facebook and to Twitter, the translator V Geetha has cost you of He authority to go aheadthat and Sonu publish a manu- “If aFacebook torsout pegged onproject. delayedShe milestones.

But Rao, also pulled from it the found it difers understand is different. he no longer covers histhe earstranslation before the TV. your first novel Aazhi Soozh Ulagu. scriptchild is with thea publishing au- syn- isn’t an autistic savant, but is great with Ena paediatrician herself, knew from it wasn’t ficult, she said, to separate “the work the just is in wheelchair house, or has the Down’s a citizen of a sovereign and thor’sdrome, opinion on any is matter that.

“I got on to Google and searched man” and couldn’t accept D’Cruz’s support for some the problem visible.or Butperson the inabilityI amglish and spellings, though hedemocratic takes longer to and something it’s my personal view that Modi —He is cannot a reason for us withdraw publicasymptoms. when theGujarat word po‘autism’ Modi, “the principal That’s architect of the tobe communicate, toto have social interactions, isIndia learn compared to others. hasworking emergedtowards from the lower friends rungs of tion,” also saysaRachna Pratap, senior ex- likewhonow came up,”not shebring says, herself adding to that herher journey grom” and could have problem.

Autism has contract to be treated making and rec— willthe understand the needs of the ecutive, began in that moment. A journey that would translation published. anyPenguin. other physical disability and those livingsociety ognising idea of community. rural and urban poorThe andlack canofusher in among now itthe matter stays wobbly and unreprove tobrought be, and remains, a hard — albeitForwith The issue has to fore the legalone right shouldn’t be denied regawareness economic prosperity.

If Geetha staysshe firmsays. in her decision to wrought with laughter andand inspiration. versus the moral right to condemn censure, solved. ular education,” people, glaringly so among the book,and Navayana remained in denial for support a while — not “I translate and raisedRao questions whether one can Rao’s intrepidity, the way too can doctors, is a daily battle Rao Economic prosperity is not the throwshe its hands up.Sonu spring from want to readthat anything a condipolitical didn’t or cultural views are at about variance is raising and Sonu face.

“Itonly was very hard Therejection. real issueHe though is about for the lack of that has no cure” — but,several soon, perhaps, from thetion personal.

For literature offers exwas shunned to convince schools benchmark of a leader’s worth.

Hetoistake him In a regular school, he tolerance on either side ofnot thethe political themen doctor in herwhose came to the fore.

It was four amples of of letters political colournot being ‘normal’, sort divide. in. Eveninwhen accused of the killings 2002I volunteered in Gujarat. to has to talk, protect “Whather kind of precedent this set, if we all years he spoketheir his first word, and six-and-aings have notbefore outweighed artistic ex-husband andwill his parents hold him a free awareness The enriching courts have given a clean chit. session himself, that become trapped in our auhalf before he formed a sentence. literary merits.

Gunter Grass, for example,Now was 13, he thought could be arigidities?” grandson asksenvironment for teachers at a top school, Manmohan Singh ushered in economic is needed critic Nilanjana Roy.degrees Nobody has the goes Classinto VI atthe anWaffen open school, drafted in histo teens SS, thatequivalent did thor and befitting their medical they weren’t Most liberalisation, but today he’s dueinterested. to retire, and to that.

Class a typical school. not club to him withVIII the in Nazis or diminish theAcceptance pow- answer and the fancy nursing home people not during sensitive perhaps, Modi must be givenarea chance teachers er of his from literary output. and classmates hasn’t come they owned. “Being doctors enough to want to help,” she these days of global economic hardships. sudhathey g tilak a Delhi-based journalist she is sceptical about special schools, Writereasy, andbut filmmaker Shuddhabrata Sengupdid is not have the sensibility says. Rao has been giving him where “children are in a place where they to accept his condition. That rejection wasHow thedospecial education following you respond to he theneeds, retraction by a aren’t interested in each other. In a regular what propelled me to work with him. Sonuyour prescribed format.

He hasand never done art thertranslator V Geetha the school, he has to talk, he has to protect him- has made me stronger,” she says. apy, yoga therapy or suchlike. withdrawal

by Navayana? self, that enriching environment is required,” He understands that his family unit is dif-I’m not Rao says she succeeded in making himthe what a stranger to resistance.

Following she believes. ferent, as is his life; he even tells Rao to remar-publication he is because of early intervention and thanks of Aazhi Soozh Ulagu, I could not Her main challenge has been to make oth- ry. Electric switches are still an obsession, but to the wholehearted support of her parents visit my village, Uvari, because I was receiving and sisters. “Losing my mother to cancer two threats from those who accused me of using years ago was a huge setback for both of us, foul language in my book. A court case that I she was my tonic. But then, nothing lasts fordenigrated the Christian community is up for ever, life moves on,” she says with a smile. Movhearing thisinmonth.

It’s now a sadworks turn ofwith events ing on life, she autistic withchildren this publisher, but there are other fish from in at her clinic. Sonu comes back the school, sea. lets himself in and doesn’t open the door for anyone except his mother, who reWhat’s opinion turnsyour at 7.30 pm. about the condemnation you havebyreceived for plans your to As life moves along, age 21, Sonu political drive aleanings?

Jaguar XF, go to a big office where he is Thisthe is about the where freedom of expression.

If docuboss and people bring him there’s place for their political orwould ideological ments to sign.

An aeroplane drop Rao stand, I respect, there’s placehave for my off which to her clinic.

Later, he would a beautipersonal liberty and views. (“where My hopedid forthat Modi ful wife called Natasha come from?”coexists wonderswith Rao)myand children to deliver respect for whom he would sit down and withcommitment. and teach, like Rao does V Geetha’s passion with him. She smiles at his imagination, and What next? must mentally be counting it as another of SoJust a boy nu’s milestones.

Another long day at work; and a longer night Sonu seen with his of writing, for sure. mother, Shilpa Rao, at their home in Bangalore deepa bhasthi is a Bangalore-based freelance writer

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Camp Varanasi The diary of a political dilettante who joins as a volunteer of the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) in Varanasi, a city seized by poll fever

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Course correction Predictably, the Ganga, Varanasi’s lifeline, still finds itself on every party’s manifesto akhilesh kumar

t the busy junction opposite the Varanasi Cantt railway station, a dusty pink signboard, crowded out by lassi- and chaat-shop signage, proclaims ‘Krishna Dharamshala’. On April 18, in room number 56 of the dharamshala, a group of youth gathered around. Watching Narendra Modi’s ‘Idea of India’ speech, which he had delivered in January at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, they cheered loudly, fervently repeating his slogans. Later that day, the same group would slap on an AAP topi on one of the members, foist a broomstick on him and jeer at the ‘Kejriwal’ in their midst — an act they would regularly indulge in for their amusement.

A few doors down, room number 59, the Varanasi office of the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), was hosting a steady stream of volunteers arriving from across the country — Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, Seemandhra, the rest of UP, Punjab, Delhi, and even an itinerant Kashmiri Pandit. Since April 12, nearly 120 volunteers had registered and set up camp at Madhav Kunj, a wing of the dharamshala, and at the nearby Swastik Hotel.

For the next month, till Varanasi goes to polls on May 12, these volunteers, along with thousands of BJP and RSS workers, will build and propagate the ‘Modi wave’ in the city, expected to become a tsunami as BJP’s UP in-charge Amit Shah will have you know.

In their online avatars, NaMo (an acronym for Modi that has gained wider currency in the election season) fans have acquired unsavoury, troll-esque reputations, for their singleminded bullying of Modi critics. Even their love for Modi has been overbearing — matched only by their hatred for Kejriwal — so

has been his fan ever since. “He is nice yaar in person. He can make jokes,” she says, looking up from her Facebook profile where she has been posting hourly updates of her volunteer stint for her 10,000-odd followers. Her man Friday, Madan, “my husband’s best friend and my business partner”, immediately plays a clipping from the Charcha session. Once apprised of the campaigning schedule for the day, she quickly clarifies, however, “Main city me nahin jaaongi, I want to go to the rural areas. We have adopted 124 villages in Ghaziabad, where f the 120-odd volunteers, my NGO works.” To me, she says, mostly under-30 and entireHe (Modi) is nice in “security ka problem ho jaata hai ly upper caste, only four are wom- person, yaar. He can na, these guys have no arrangeen, self included. I had registered ments here, not for celebrities.” make jokes earlier that morning. Renu, a lecHer diva demands notwithturer from Kanpur, and Aditi, who standing, she and her man Friday has come down from Bangalore, intend to stay the entire month at have been there since operations the dharamshala, not the hotel began at Madhav Kunj. Aditi and her husband, where arrangements are slightly better. She Nandan, run a software company in Banga- has left behind her husband and two children lore. But they have shut down operations till at home because she “believes in Modi yaar”.

May 12; Aditi will man the CAG office desk for fter a four-day-long survey of Varanasi’s the month and Nandan will handle their IT rerural and urban segments — all the city arquirements. The fourth is a former Mrs India, whose costume changes are making more eas and 16 villages — for the volunteers, work news at the dharamshala than the electoral has come to a halt for now. Meanwhile, some battle outside in Varanasi. “Pata nahin kyun members have peeked at my text messages aayi hai (I don’t know why she’s come),” says and the management has carried out a social Renu, bristling visibly at the attention the for- profile check. Finding no evidence of any onmer beauty queen was attracting. “She’s not line Modi love, they suspect that I have been here for Modiji, she has her own agenda, for planted by the Aam Aadmi Party to leak information. After all, they have done the same to her 50,000 followers,” she adds, still fuming.

Dr Manisha ‘maine PhD kiya hai’ Tyagi, a re- the AAP camp. Back at room number 56, Arcently crowned Mrs India, was one of Modi’s vind Kejriwal’s politics is being hotly dischief guests at a Chai pe Charcha session. She cussed. My defence of the new, if flawed, much so, that it has, in some cases, become the basis for selecting or rejecting marriage proposals. But who are the faces behind the Modi masks, Twitter trolls and Facebook fan clubs? What drives them to go on month-long sabbaticals, quit plum jobs, abandon young families, shut down their businesses, only to sweat it out in the heat and dust of Varanasi, often with little hope of meeting the man himself? Why is it that you either love the NaMo fan club-turned-volunteer army or hate them?

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political movement that is AAP is seen as support for them, and the CAG management is called in. If there’s anything that NaMo fans like more than Modi, it’s Kejriwal- and AAP-hating.

“We have received complaints,” says Ayush, an IIT-Kanpur alumnus and CAG’s Varanasi incharge. “We’re not sure you’re a NaMo fan. Can we see the official text invitation from CAG?” he asks politely. When I ask whether every new volunteer is subjected to a similar interrogation and search routine, he is uncertain.

“There is a cursory search.” But by then, other volunteers had found each other on Facebook, made a group on WhatsApp and clicked pictures, holding NaMo banners, sporting BJP caps; a shining example of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ in keeping with Modi’s idea of India.

What began as a coffee pe charcha session on making governments accountable in June last year, CAG is now a steadily growing army of Narendra Modi fans, providing Modi’s campaign with formidable muscle, online and offline. By early 2014, CAG had organised the Statue of Unity movement, the ‘Run for Unity’, launched Moditva, the book on Modi, and three Chai pe Charcha sessions, and acquired more than 45,000 volunteers, all in the name of BJP’s poster boy. However, the much-touted iron collection drive for Sardar Patel’s statue has gone nowhere, and numbers have rapidly slumped for the chai sessions.

“We are a socio-political outfit,” says Ayush, one of the 85 founder-members of CAG. “When we started out, we wrote to everyone including the PM, Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi (about our initiative). Only Modi responded enthusiastically,” he says. Perhaps, that’s one reason why hat the do we love when we love since October 2013 “socio-political outfit” Dutt?

Most people simhas campaignedGuru overtly and exclusively for ply love the films — Mr and Mrs the BJP’s PM candidate.

55 and Pyaasa and Kagaz Ke Phool.

Some direct their affection more specifiost-lunch, a 10-member group heads out cally; Alvi’s writing, perhaps, or city the toat theAbrar Chandua-Chittupur area in the idea of Dutt as campaigning. a self-defeatingClutching romantic.a for door-to-door When I say love Guru Dutt, is sheaf of BJPI pamphlets, I tag what along.I mean Prakash that love VK Murthy. fromI Allahabad is the team’s best campaigner. saw Murthy, recently atamong the agethe of In Ifact, he is thewho bestdied campaigner 90, when travelled toatDelhi in 2010 acwhole lot he of volunteers Varanasi, andtothat cept the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. is the includes several BJP karyakartas andThis RSS prachhighest in the country, and araks. Hecinematic writes hishonour own slogans (“Some have till then it had only gone to actors, directors, producers and musicians. Not only was Murthy the first cinematographer to be given this honour, he was also the first awardee from any technical department. It is fitting that he broke this glass ceiling, for he was the only Indian cameraman whose name transcended the narrow boundaries of cinephilia. Put another way, a regular cinemagoer who’s never heard of Subrata Mitra may just have heard of VK Murthy.

His early years were spent learning the violin, watching movies for free, courtesy a cousin who worked as an accompanist for silent films, briefly taking part in the Quit India Movement and learning cinematography at SJ Polytechnic in Bangalore. In 1947, he got a job assisting the great Fali Mistry, first at Laxmi, then at Famous Studios. It was there, on Baazi (1951), that he got his big break. V Ratra, cousin of the film’s star Dev Anand, was the lead cinematographer, but Murthy — as he recalled in an interview with Raqs Media Collective — was doing “lighting, camera placement, operation — everything”. One day, the director, a moonfaced former roommate of Anand’s, was pondering over a camera angle for Suno gajar kya gaaye. Murthy offered an elegant solution, the shot was successful, and the director — unknown but utterly ambitious — told Murthy that they’d work together on his next film.

And so it was that a 16-second shot in a little-remembered song in a minor film launched the

Topis from the top AAP candidate Arvind Kejriwal on his way to file his nomination papers rv moorthy

been accepted by the Election Commission, rived at a caste-wise breakup of the city’s 16 you know”) that others repeat. At times, his lakh voters — majority of whom are Vaishyas campaigning is more about the EC, and less (3.5 lakh), Muslims (3 lakh) and Brahmins (2 about Modi. He doesn’t even leave kids out, ex- lakh). While political parties woo Mukhtar Anhorting them to “get their mummy and papa sari of the Quami Ekta Dal, the bunkars (weavout on voting day”. And while others merely ers), Brahmins and Chaurasias, Ayush tells the push pamphlets and shout slogans, Prakash volunteers to focus on the 60,000-odd new has long conversations, notes down numbers voters, who have no loyalties at the moment.

Despite his vocal fandom for and promises voters information.

Modi, Prakash admits that Modi is “We have done a very good survey, not Vajpayee. “Zameen asmaan ka Modi will get 50 per cent of the vote share. Ajay Rai will come in farak hai, Atal aur Modi main,” he Two issues have says. When I mention Modi’s sisecond and Kejriwal will only get shaped their lence then on 2002 Muzaffarna8 per cent.

We haveand found local islegends of Murthy Guru Dutt. the beam.

Murthy bindsand them in a brief, support — the gar, Maya Kodnani, his virtual sues of to Varanasi thatDutt no other True his word, hiredparMurthy Gujarat as lead model heart-rending 180-degree pan, before reality of two-man Cabinet, he nods, nonty has,” he says. on Jaal (1952). As withdevelopment cameraperson Baazi, rudely and they walk away from each andintrudes The sample a six-page committal.

“What you ask for is a there’s a strongsurvey, noir feel to this film, with other.

It is one of the greatest cinematic whatthe aftermath of the just society.

But, at least, Modi can questionnaire, large portions ofwas theadministered screen shrouded December in dark- ifs ever filmed.

16 gang give otherKabir’s things like to more than 1,000 ness.

Aar-Paar (1953) wasresidents both a continuation In Nasreen Munni 1989governance documenrape in Delhi across rural and urban increasing tary In Searchand development.

Nirbhaya haand anVaranasi’s improvement: Murthy’s of Guru Dutt, Murthy relates how tyakand baad josohua, whenthat pobelt. Ganga, hunger, poverty, inmastery of light and shade transforms a basic their signature look ke became popular frastructure, education and herilice lathicharged chase sequence into a mini-masterpiece. other directors asked him toprotesters, shoot in ‘Gu-I knew Change laanathe hai.” tage are the most pressing issues Murthy’s other glory was the song ru Duttthen. style’.

But was style Broadly, two issues shaped the that were The identified. no self-resequence. camera (Although, literally Dutt’s have or Murthy’s?

Thesupport answer specting Banarasi will admit to being hungry of these volunteers the Gujarat model of desighs in Yeh raat yeh chandni, to—such questions is usually aftermath of the Decemor poor, says Prakash.)

The team has also ar- velopment and thefound and the dramatic tracking in the director’s ber 16 gang rape films in Delhi.

Santosh, shots at the beginning of with other cinema-a Delhi-based entrepreneur who hailsbut fromDutt MuBabuji dheere chalna are tographers, zaffarnagar, says, “I didnever my research the a precursor to the mujmadeabout a film Gujarat model. I spoke to my friends in Muzafra sequence in Sahib Biwithout Murthy (if one farnagar and I found that Hindus were wi Aur Ghulam. counts Baazi as lodged a Murin jails, thanks to Samajwadi appeaseWhile rushing thy filmParty’s that Ratra got ment of the Muslims.”credit Adds Renu, “I canMurtell through the Jaal shoot, for). And people about the model I’veother seendiit Guru Dutt told Murthy thy’sbecause work with myself.” Interestingly, Modi choose to that he’d soon do a film rectors is afans mixed bag. His look only at the Gujarat model, those for the two of them, which colour filmsignoring for journeyof Tamil Nadu,man Delhi or even the BJP-run Murthy could take his time Pramod Chakravorty are Chhattisgarh.understandably uninspired. On over. That film turned out to be Pyaasa (1957), which established Dutt the other hand, Raj Khosla’s CID (1956) ook atbeautiful Modiji’s family, theyphotography, have not takas the world-weariest hero of all time and Mur- has some outdoor advantage his current at thy as Gregg Toland to his Orson Welles. There while en Tamas, a 1987 of mini-series bysituation his former all,” says Govind Raahil, aNihalani, Delhi-based entrepreneur, are sequences to admire in Pyaasa, and there student utilises his penoriginally fromhues the and region of Kutch.

“And see are sequences to fall in love with: the barely-lit chant for dark filming movement. is on aneeded pilgrimage, scene by the railway tracks, the haunting im- Jashodaben, Ultimately,she Murthy Dutt’sfasting visionfor as Modijiastothe become the primehis minister,” ages of Duniya agar mil bhi jaye toh kya hai, the much director needed eye. In hissays dethe manyears, whoseinterviewers wife and family still live in Gujdramatic resurrection of Dutt at the end. It clining would often ply arat and see him only how five days month.

To could have been a career high for both men, him for details about Dutt a‘really was’, him,he Modi’s is aoffer life of “tyaag dedication to but there was more to come. and would the sameand answers he had the nation.”

Get any two Murthy fans talking and chanc- always given. Perhaps he understood that When I askwould Raahilalways what attracted him tolike the es are the conversation will veer towards a their stories be intertwined, leader, he says, “You was a part of the breathless discussion of ‘that shot’. This is the Ingmar Bergman andknow, Sven INykvist, or Alfred India Against movement.

Kejriwal Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam sequence from Hitchcock andCorruption Robert Burks.

As he admitted in ruined itfilm, and one that’s I joined CAG. I upon think Kagaz ke Phool (1959), when Dutt’s director Kabir’s ofwhen his first thoughts this (CAG) is mydeath freedom struggle.”

In techfact, meets his unrequited love Waheeda Rehman hearing of Dutt’s at age 39 was “My many is ofalso the gone CAG volunteers were former IAC in an empty studio. The song starts out in nique with him.” Luckily, it hadn’t. affiliates and much of the hatred towards Kejnear-darkness, but then a strange beam of Every time someone thanks Guru Dutt, they’re riwalthanking dates back that time. Clearly, what Arlight shines down and falls between the two, also VKto Murthy. emphasising their separation. In a moment of vind Kejriwal lost in support, Modi has gained bhatia is film editor at Time Out Delhi as followers. wishful fantasy, their shadows walk towards uday

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VK Murthy, the eye behind some of the greatest cinematic what-ifs ever filmed

Victory run?

A BJP supporter outside the party’s recently opened election campaign office in Varanasi ap/manish swarup

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Noir master Cinematographer VK Murthy is known for his mastery of light and ‘that shot’ in Kagaz ke Phool k bhagya prakash

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says Ayush. Besides two rounds of door-todoor campaigning, the last two days have been quite uneventful. How could I have possibly offended Modi fans? Was my sloganeering not loud enough? Did I not participate in the impromptu nukkad sabha (which was nipped in the bud on the streets when the word ‘talwar’ crept into the song)?

After much debate, I am let off to keep my date with the pracharak. On our way, Sruthjith offers some helpful advice. “When you are in a group, try not to raise objections. They won’t like you.” When I ask him why he chooses to Up in arms campaign for CAG when he could have camPrachi he Trivedi, paigned as a BJP or RSS volunteer, says,a “I Durga Vahini want to campaign for Modiji.” Many of the volactivist, in The unteers, like him, have taken the CAGBefore route for World the same reason: to campaignHer for Modi, not the BJP. “We need to have an ideal to look up to, we need a decisive leader, a model to follow,” he says. If PM Manmohan Singh seems ‘weak’, Rahul Gandhi irrelevant and Kejriwal, a ‘bhagoda’, Narendra Modi has stepped in as a fierce leader who can “look China in the eye and stop the beheading of soldiers”, items that have made it to the BJP and RSS pamphlets as well.

PICTURE THIS

Different tyrannies trisha gupta

Nisha Pahuja’s new documentary The World Before Her tracks young women through two Indias: a beauty pageant and a Hindutva camp

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Poll postures BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi interacts with women from across the country during the second round of Chai pe Charcha in Delhi pti/shahbaz khan; and a poster proclaiming Arvind Kejriwal a bhagoda in Varanasi pti

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isha Pahuja’s documentary The World Before Her, slotted for a 25 April release by PVR, will now hit cinemas only in June. The delay is a pity, because the film helps lay out the choices before Indian women, in ways that no party has articulated, but that form our everyday political matrix. Some would say, correctly, that Pahuja maps two extremes, and that most women stand somewhere in the middle. But Arvind Kejriwal claimed lastreal, month, “In TWBH presents thehad poles through believa48 have been characters, to 26 districts of Gujarat. ble,hours, oftenIconflicted making their Iworlds have seen noalive. development.” Raahil dismisses come hisOn statement did24, he cover 26 one sideoutright. is Prachi“How Trivedi, a sturdy districts in 48activist hours?whom The conditions the Durga Vahini we first seeoftwirroads have been excellent. airports ling amust baton.

Prachi’s opening The voiceover is must been good both have a warning and too.” a plea: “Egyptians, RoOutside, Varanasi, airIt’s is rife with mans, theyin are history the now. going tonews hapaisesave ho’. of a 64-page booklet on Kejriwal, ‘Aap to pen with us.

So we are trying His campaign has allegedly been disrupted by ourselves...

Our country is becoming modern.

BJP workers, at his rallies But our past isshouting our roots.slogans We cannot forget our and circulating posters scream ‘bhagoda’ roots.”

The other side isthat represented

by Ruhi (truant).

Madhav Manoj, like a Singh, 19,At a Jaipur girlKunj, with her heartwho set on the few left “A hislot jobofatpeople TCS, rushes holMissothers India has crown. thinkin, that if Kejriwal rally main Modi lering, you let“Ek women getkemodern andgaye, educated, went to a“But Kejri-I Modi ke aa gaye.” (We you’ll cheekh lose your culture...” says Ruhi. wal rally andAsyelled Modi at respect the topmy of don’t agree. muchModi as I love and our voices.) culture ... I want freedom.”

The Durga Vahini (DV) is the women’s youth ater, calls for a meeting.

Things have wing of Ayush the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Pahuja a tad too disorganised.

Doorsaysbeen she isgetting the first filmmaker to be allowed into-door has been patchy. The Vato a DVcampaigning camp. We watch as Malaben Rawal, dodara chapterpresident, of CAG volunteers has been a DV’s national ties Aishwarya Rai, non-starter.

The survey is done, but sabun the analyMiss World, skimpy clothes and Lux into sis, which will be used by the BJP and RSS, and has a scathing narrative about Westernisation not been prepared yet. videshi corporations.

We The see chargesheets young girls against are yet tolimits be printed. the pushed Congress to their physical by theAnd camp’s clamour, from thewe volunteers, forfrom a meeting shaaririk module; see them go giggly with Modi is only louder. to exhilarated bygetting learning to fire a gun; we “Youthem will beshout divided into 10-member watch slogans in defensegroups of the and your teamagainst leadersimaginary will be announced,” Hindu rashtra, Muslim and says Ayush.

“All the Earlier, material is getting ready, Christian enemies.

Prachi’s father Heplease read it carefully.

You will alsothese be trained mant Trivedi literally demonises comin presenting the material. to give munities, inserting them We intoneed a tweaked

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t the AAP headquarters in the Mahmoorganj area of Varanasi, Manish Sisodia is taking stock of the campaign thus far. Arvind Kejriwal is in Amethi, canvassing for Kumar Vishwas. “I think we have got a good response to our door-to-door campaigning,” says Sisodia. “We have made inroads into the rural areas, and especially, the lower-income groups Modi a historic winning margin. Our cam- in the city.” The residents of Ramnagar were paign will be a failure if we don’t win by a mar- visited by volunteers of BJP and AAP on the gin of 3 lakh votes. We are going to give you same day and yet, both parties claim to have forms. You will ask every potential voter for received support. The issues AAP has identitheir EPIC number. You will identify influen- fied are similar to those in the CAG survey. cers among them, who can bring you many “Ganga, infrastructure, heritage and educasaysshe Sisodia.

“But the best thing about votes one society.“Muslims Every volunteer will tion,” Hindufrom iconography: with their ideology wishes to make a career of dewas that itshould was notnot a mere desget fiveand forms welook need 125rakshasas, EPIC numbers beard capsand even like don’t Varanasi clares that women havetourist careers. it had something else. It was the spirfrom day.” they come with their tination, they?you Andevery Christians, The rhetoric throws up constant contradicof the theenforced country. thrusting-out Foreigners still While the groundwork is done by the volunhands folded, like Pootana (a demoness).

But itual tions.capital Amid all of hereboobs, in search oftoo that spirituality, adteers, the collation of they campaigning material, come like Pootana, the milk offer is poisoned.” butts and it isn’t persuasive to hear WePooja wantMalhotra to restore thatthat status, strategising and analysis are covered the hyatmikata.

Meanwhile, at the Miss India pageantby prepaex-Miss India insist the that spirit to Varanasi.” core teams of CAGkind in Delhi, Luck- is in full pageant isn’t rations, another of remaking only about “external beauty”.

Underisrepeated attacks by the now and Gandhinagar.

Some young of swing.

A female trainer teaches women The DV atmosphere one of near-machismo: has AAP’s the BJP-CAG“Chin strategy meetings to catwalk: parallel, elbows front, back when a girl BJP, fumbles over campaign a gun, thesuffered teacher from Kejriwal’s resignation? have even been chaired Amit straight.

It hurts?

It looks by fab.”

A cosmetic phy- jeers: “Are you planning to chop onions all has stepped in Yet “Maybe.

Butis our supporters or Shah the past.

Ona chin the day of Modi sicianin blandly urges extension surgery your life?” marriage a woman’s only fuasto a fierce leader votersmale-female are willing equalto lispolling, 1,562 polling in need because the “three partsbooths of the face” be ture: one DVnon-BJP leader mocks “look ten proclaims to our reasons,” saysmust Sisodia. the constituency be manned “equal”.

The men will are even more brazen who aboutcan ity even as she that girls be China inathemarried eye and by Among the 2,000 by suchthey’re volunteers, ticking themany fact that making and packaging 18, because by 25 AAP theyvolunteers would be Varanasi, many are locals, inoff the voters beforeproduct.

One approached Bombay Times photo-opstop has the beheading “too mature in to control”. of soldiers” cluding of the party’s hand by them the ones aspirants line upagainst in uniform: tight blue jeans Pahuja’s talent formembers juxtaposition gives the city chapter.

The saffron brigade, that turn up.

As Ayush barand finally a thin white t-shirt, which a film great texture.

The DV girls on the other brought in rels man on, rips“Wherever and re-tiestheto polling reveal giggling overhand, theirhas saffron sashes about 30,000 of them from BJP percentage goes up, thesetime, are maximum bosom.

Another as being Miss-India-like; the uniand the of Sangh Parivar,pageant including votes for the with BJP. That they parade facesmeans veiledour so formity the beauty eeBoth these worlds for Modi’s campaign. voters are choosing to stay atrate home, we need the CAG volunteers, that the pageant director can rily echoing DV’s drills; both Ruhi are responses to Both Modiand and Kejriwal are seenthemselves as outsideto getlegs them out”, individual members slip out their without distraction.

Prachi calling modernity unlike Kejriwal, Modifulfil is yet to of the meeting forseems the aarti the Krishna tem- rs, although‘products’ At first, Prachi toat speak that must their in Varanasi. Despite the ple in the Noticing for the old courtyard. world, where womenthe thinning make an appearance parents’ expectations.

Gandhis the city, localreach Concrowd, takes aand break, andfor soon, have noheagency, Ruhi the the meeting absence of theThe film’sin juxtapositions gress don Ajay Rai acme continues enjoy the backtoo anare end. new,comes whereto we ostensibly free. their withtofemale foeticide of the On billboards, But it quickly becomes clear that both these ing — and it isBhumihar also here Brahmins. that any equivalence ben much the BJP’stocampaign rhetoric, re- his campaign cleverly rai, worlds are of responses modernity.

The battle, tween the film’s two claims, worlds “Varanasi must be ki abanmeetings with baar Rai.” asflected always,inisthe being fought onthe thevolunteers, bodies of Abki doned.

WeAjay learn that Pooja Malhotra’s mother it appears that our the city is on is trial, not Modi.

To walked Back at Kunj, in Krishna Dharamwomen — and freedom as elusive on eioutMadhav of her marriage to keep her baby achieve that historic margin he seeks, even the shala, volunteers areafter, fighting over theusday’s ther side. daughter alive. Soon Prachi tells that RSS, after a gap almost fourwhere decades, has menu.

“There are be tooangry manywith aloos,” Each side feelsof like a factory, women she cannot really hercomplains father for woken up its shakhas in Varanasi the the Andhraher brigade, whilebecause Renu fumes at the are sought to 300 be shaped into pre-givenfor forms curtailing ambitions, after all, he elections. joined religious the RSS when he watery dal. Malhotra’s A few volunteers come — forms ofSruthjith use to militant nationallet her live. love ofwho her had mother is was thethemselves Sangh for from Delhi already left, disappointed ism,10. orHaving forms lost thatcontact might with enter stronger for have knowing the battles she fought, the last few years, has come back to work thedoes campaign.

A locals versus outsiders smoothly into the he capitalist commodity ma- with but she not carry around the burden of with As the volunteersinterviews get ready reto battle is also brewing.

Vijay Kumar, BJP chine.the ButCAG. Pahuja’s painstaking perpetual gratitude.

ButAs if Prachi’s worldawere campaign in Ramnagar reach out to out 25,000 putsall it,women “Varanasi mainbe BJPforever ke liye veal that the factories dotonot only spit the party to be worker our future, would voters, Sruthjith we visit theAnkita Kashi winning chuki hai. Ab to bas in well-oiled clonessuggests they might want. beholdencondition to mento—aafor their very lives.

Vishwanath laterinthat Meanko kaise bhi busy rakhna Shorey wins Temple third place the evening.

Miss India pag- volunteers Crushed under such a weight, whathai.” other batwhile, I am she wanted at thethat office again. ApparNames thepossibly volunteers have eant, but knows “achieving her tles couldofwe hope to been fight?changed to ently, a fresh round complaints has been protect identities. dreams” comes at theofcost of objectification. registered.

“Okay, we are still notto convinced Prachi remains terrifyingly loyal the Hin- trisha gupta is a writer and critic based in Delhi kotamraju that you are here forasModi and I need that clarity,” t@chhotahazri dutva vision — even she recognises the priyanka

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Walk the line En route Mumbai’s gay pride march in 2012

The night shift Kamal plies her trade at the Thane station. Once she ďŹ nds a customer, she takes him to a hotel that charges by the hour

On home ground A group of hijras who live in Thane relax and fool around at home, their safe place

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Love and longing in Mumbai Recognised as the third gender by the country’s highest court, the hijra community dreams of a better life

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ndia has an estimated one million transgender women or hijras. While the hijra communities here have a recorded history that goes back more than 4,000 years, harassment and discrimination are part and parcel of their everyday lives. The Supreme Court ruling last week is no minor victory, thus.

The Apex court in its verdict sanctioned the third gender as a category, and asked the Centre to treat them as socially and economically backward. This judgment, if implemented properly could open up a range of opportunities for the community.

I met many hijras during my stint in Mumbai in 2012. Talking to them made me aware of just how emotionally and physically difficult and dangerous their lives can be. The hijras I spoke to explained how complicated it is for them to apply for official papers or jobs because their gender wasn’t recognised then. I spoke at length to Puja, who is an energetic and talkative hijra guru involved in the sex trade, and she told me that on an average she is raped at least 10 times every month. The graceful, Urmi, a transgender representative with The Humsafar Trust, a non-profit organisation that works with the LGBT communities in Mumbai, says, “Recognition of transgender as a third gender is not just a social or medical issue, it is a human rights issue.”

Whether it is implemented well or not, whether it changes a nation’s worldview or not, this directive is certainly a good start. alison mccauley is a Geneva-based documentary photographer Another day in paradise Urmi, a transgender representative with The Humsafar Trust, gets ready to visit the hijra communities that she helps to train and advise

Best foot forward Joining in the celebrations at the local gay pride march

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political movement that is AAP is seen as support for them, and the CAG management is called in. If there’s anything that NaMo fans like more than Modi, it’s Kejriwal- and AAP-hating.

“We have received complaints,” says Ayush, an IIT-Kanpur alumnus and CAG’s Varanasi incharge. “We’re not sure you’re a NaMo fan. Can we see the official text invitation from CAG?” he asks politely. When I ask whether every new volunteer is subjected to a similar interrogation and search routine, he is uncertain.

“There is a cursory search.” But by then, other volunteers had found each other on Facebook, made a group on WhatsApp and clicked pictures, holding NaMo banners, sporting BJP caps; a shining example of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ in keeping with Modi’s idea of India.

What began as a coffee pe charcha session on making governments accountable in June last year, CAG is now a steadily growing army of Narendra Modi fans, providing Modi’s campaign with formidable muscle, online and offline. By early 2014, CAG had organised the Statue of Unity movement, the ‘Run for Unity’, launched Moditva, the book on Modi, and three Chai pe Charcha sessions, and acquired more than 45,000 volunteers, all in the name of BJP’s poster boy. However, the much-touted iron collection drive for Sardar Patel’s statue has gone nowhere, and numbers have rapidly slumped for the chai sessions.

“We are a socio-political outfit,” says Ayush, one of the 85 founder-members of CAG. “When we started out, we wrote to everyone including the PM, Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi (about our initiative). Only Modi responded enthusiastically,” he says. Perhaps, that’s one reason why hat the do we love when we love since October 2013 “socio-political outfit” Dutt?

Most people simhas campaignedGuru overtly and exclusively for ply love the films — Mr and Mrs the BJP’s PM candidate.

55 and Pyaasa and Kagaz Ke Phool.

Some direct their affection more specifiost-lunch, a 10-member group heads out cally; Alvi’s writing, perhaps, or city the to at theAbrar Chandua-Chittupur area in the ideadoor-to-door of Dutt as campaigning. a self-defeatingClutching romantic.a for When of I say love Guru Dutt, is sheaf BJPI pamphlets, I tag what along.I mean Prakash that I Allahabad love VK Murthy. from is the team’s best campaigner. saw Murthy, recently at the agethe of In Ifact, he is thewho bestdied campaigner among 90, when travelled toatDelhi in 2010 acwhole lot he of volunteers Varanasi, andtothat cept the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. is the includes several BJP karyakartas andThis RSS prachhighest in the country, and araks.

Hecinematic writes hishonour own slogans (“Some have till then it had only gone to actors, directors, producers and musicians. Not only was Murthy the first cinematographer to be given this honour, he was also the first awardee from any technical department. It is fitting that he broke this glass ceiling, for he was the only Indian cameraman whose name transcended the narrow boundaries of cinephilia. Put another way, a regular cinemagoer who’s never heard of Subrata Mitra may just have heard of VK Murthy.

His early years were spent learning the violin, watching movies for free, courtesy a cousin who worked as an accompanist for silent films, briefly taking part in the Quit India Movement and learning cinematography at SJ Polytechnic in Bangalore. In 1947, he got a job assisting the great Fali Mistry, first at Laxmi, then at Famous Studios. It was there, on Baazi (1951), that he got his big break. V Ratra, cousin of the film’s star Dev Anand, was the lead cinematographer, but Murthy — as he recalled in an interview with Raqs Media Collective — was doing “lighting, camera placement, operation — everything”. One day, the director, a moonfaced former roommate of Anand’s, was pondering over a camera angle for Suno gajar kya gaaye. Murthy offered an elegant solution, the shot was successful, and the director — unknown but utterly ambitious — told Murthy that they’d work together on his next film.

And so it was that a 16-second shot in a little-remembered song in a minor film launched the

Topis from the top AAP candidate Arvind Kejriwal on his way to file his nomination papers rv moorthy

been accepted by the Election Commission, rived at a caste-wise breakup of the city’s 16 you know”) that others repeat. At times, his lakh voters — majority of whom are Vaishyas campaigning is more about the EC, and less (3.5 lakh), Muslims (3 lakh) and Brahmins (2 about Modi. He doesn’t even leave kids out, ex- lakh). While political parties woo Mukhtar Anhorting them to “get their mummy and papa sari of the Quami Ekta Dal, the bunkars (weavout on voting day”. And while others merely ers), Brahmins and Chaurasias, Ayush tells the push pamphlets and shout slogans, Prakash volunteers to focus on the 60,000-odd new has long conversations, notes down numbers voters, who have no loyalties at the moment.

Despite his vocal fandom for and promises voters information.

Modi, Prakash admits that Modi is “We have done a very good survey, not Vajpayee. “Zameen asmaan ka Modi will get 50 per cent of the vote share. Ajay Rai will come in farak hai, Atal aur Modi main,” he Two issues have says. When I mention Modi’s sisecond and Kejriwal will only get shaped their lence then on 2002 Muzaffarna8 per cent. haveand found local islegends of We Murthy Guru Dutt. the beam.

Murthy bindsand them in a brief, support — the gar, Maya Kodnani, his virtual sues of Varanasi thatDutt no other True to his word, hiredparMurthy Gujarat as lead model heart-rending 180-degree pan, before reality of two-man Cabinet, he nods, nonty has,” he says. on Jaal (1952). As withdevelopment cameraperson Baazi, rudely and they walk away from each andintrudes The sample survey, a six-page committal.

“What you ask for is a there’s a strong noir feel to this film, with other.

It is one of the greatest cinematic whatthe aftermath of the just society.

But, at least, Modi can questionnaire, was large portions of theadministered screen shroudedDecember in dark- ifs ever filmed.

16 gang give otherKabir’s things like to than(1953) 1,000 ness.more Aar-Paar wasresidents both a continuation In Nasreen Munni 1989governance documenrape in Delhi across rural and urban increasing tary In Searchand development.

Nirbhaya haand anVaranasi’s improvement: Murthy’s of Guru Dutt, Murthy relates how tyakand baad josohua, whenthat pobelt.

Ganga, hunger, poverty, inmastery of light and shade transforms a basic their signature look ke became popular frastructure, education and herilice lathicharged chase sequence into a mini-masterpiece. other directors asked him toprotesters, shoot in ‘Gu-I knew then.

Change laanathe hai.” tage are the most pressing issues Murthy’s other glory was the song ru Dutt style’.

But was style Broadly, two issues shaped the that were The identified. no self-resequence. camera (Although, literally Dutt’s have or Murthy’s?

Thesupport answer specting Banarasi will admit to being hungry of these volunteers the Gujarat model of desighs in Yeh raat yeh chandni, to—such questions is usually aftermath of the Decemor says Prakash.)

The team has also ar- velopment and thefound andpoor, the dramatic tracking in the director’s ber 16 gang rape films in Delhi.

Santosh, shots at the beginning of with other cinema-a Delhi-based entrepreneur who hailsbut fromDutt MuBabuji dheere chalna are tographers, zaffarnagar, says, “I didnever my research the a precursor to the mujmadeabout a film Gujarat model. I spoke to my friends in Muzafra sequence in Sahib Biwithout Murthy (if one farnagar and I found that Hindus were wi Aur Ghulam. counts Baazi as lodged a Murin jails, thanks to Samajwadi appeaseWhile rushing thy filmParty’s that Ratra got ment of the Muslims.”credit Adds Renu, “I canMurtell through the Jaal shoot, for). And people about the model I’veother seendiit Guru Dutt told Murthy thy’sbecause work with myself.” Interestingly, Modiis afans choose to that he’d soon do a film rectors mixed bag. His look only at the Gujarat model, those for the two of them, which colour filmsignoring for journeyof Tamil Nadu,man Delhi or even the BJP-run Murthy could take his time Pramod Chakravorty are Chhattisgarh.understandably uninspired. On over. That film turned out to be Pyaasa (1957), which established Dutt the other hand, Raj Khosla’s CID (1956) ook atbeautiful Modiji’s family, theyphotography, have not takas the world-weariest hero of all time and Mur- has some outdoor advantage his current at thy as Gregg Toland to his Orson Welles. There while en Tamas, a 1987 of mini-series bysituation his former says Govind Raahil, aNihalani, Delhi-based entrepreneur, are sequences to admire in Pyaasa, and there all,” student utilises his penfromhues the region of Kutch.

“And see are sequences to fall in love with: the barely-lit originally chant for dark and filming movement. is on aneeded pilgrimage, scene by the railway tracks, the haunting im- Jashodaben, Ultimately,she Murthy Dutt’sfasting visionfor as become the primehis minister,” ages of Duniya agar mil bhi jaye toh kya hai, the Modiji much astothe director needed eye. In hissays demanyears, whoseinterviewers wife and family still live in Gujdramatic resurrection of Dutt at the end. It the clining would often ply see himabout only how five days month.

To could have been a career high for both men, arat him and for details Dutt a‘really was’, him, Modi’s is aoffer life ofthe “tyaag dedication to but there was more to come. and he would sameand answers he had nation.”

Get any two Murthy fans talking and chanc- the always given. Perhaps he understood that When I askwould Raahilalways what attracted him tolike the es are the conversation will veer towards a their stories be intertwined, says, “You was a part of the breathless discussion of ‘that shot’. This is the leader, Ingmarhe Bergman andknow, SvenINykvist, or Alfred Against movement.

Kejriwal Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam sequence from India Hitchcock andCorruption Robert Burks.

As he admitted in and one that’sofwhen I joined CAG. I think Kagaz ke Phool (1959), when Dutt’s director ruined Kabir’s itfilm, his first thoughts upon (CAG) is mydeath freedom struggle.”

In techfact, meets his unrequited love Waheeda Rehman this hearing of Dutt’s at age 39 was “My ofalso the gone CAG volunteers were former IAC in an empty studio. The song starts out in many nique is with him.” Luckily, it hadn’t. and much of the hatred towards Kejnear-darkness, but then a strange beam of affiliates Every time someone thanks Guru Dutt, they’re dates back that time. Clearly, what Arlight shines down and falls between the two, riwal also thanking VKto Murthy. emphasising their separation. In a moment of vind Kejriwal lost in support, Modi has gained bhatia is film editor at Time Out Delhi as followers. wishful fantasy, their shadows walk towards uday

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VK Murthy, the eye behind some of the greatest cinematic what-ifs ever filmed

Victory run?

A BJP supporter outside the party’s recently opened election campaign office in Varanasi ap/manish swarup

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Noir master Cinematographer VK Murthy is known for his mastery of light and ‘that shot’ in Kagaz ke Phool k bhagya prakash

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Different tyrannies trisha gupta

says Ayush. Besides two rounds of door-todoor campaigning, the last two days have been quite uneventful. How could I have possibly offended Modi fans? Was my sloganeering not loud enough? Did I not participate in the impromptu nukkad sabha (which was nipped in the bud on the streets when the word ‘talwar’ crept into the song)?

After much debate, I am let off to keep my date with the pracharak. On our way, Sruthjith offers some helpful advice. “When you are in a group, try not to raise objections. They won’t like you.” When I ask him why he chooses to Up in arms campaign for CAG when he could have camPrachi he Trivedi, paigned as a BJP or RSS volunteer, says,a “I want to campaign for Modiji.” Durga ManyVahini of the volactivist, in The unteers, like him, have taken the CAGBefore route for World the same reason: to campaign for Modi, not Her the BJP. “We need to have an ideal to look up to, we need a decisive leader, a model to follow,” he says. If PM Manmohan Singh seems ‘weak’, Rahul Gandhi irrelevant and Kejriwal, a ‘bhagoda’, Narendra Modi has stepped in as a fierce leader who can “look China in the eye and stop the beheading of soldiers”, items that have made it to the BJP and RSS pamphlets as well.

Nisha Pahuja’s new documentary The World Before Her tracks young women through two Indias: a beauty pageant and a Hindutva camp

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Poll postures BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi interacts with women from across the country during the second round of Chai pe Charcha in Delhi pti/shahbaz khan; and a poster proclaiming Arvind Kejriwal a bhagoda in Varanasi pti

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isha Pahuja’s documentary The World Before Her, slotted for a 25 April release by PVR, will now hit cinemas only in June. The delay is a pity, because the film helps lay out the choices before Indian women, in ways that no party has articulated, but that form our everyday political matrix. Some would say, correctly, that Pahuja maps two extremes, and that most women stand somewhere in the middle. But Arvind Kejriwal claimed lastreal, month, “In TWBH presents thehad poles through believa48 have beencharacters, to 26 districts of Gujarat. ble,hours, often Iconflicted making their Iworlds have seen noalive. development.” Raahil dismisses come hisOn statement did24, he acover 26 one sideoutright. is Prachi“How Trivedi, sturdy districts in 48activist hours?whom The conditions the Durga Vahini we first seeoftwirroads have been excellent. airports ling amust baton.

Prachi’s opening The voiceover is must been good both have a warning and too.” a plea: “Egyptians, RoOutside, Varanasi, airIt’s is rife with mans, theyin are history the now. going tonews hapaisesave ho’. of a 64-page booklet on Kejriwal, ‘Aap to pen with us.

So we are trying His campaign allegedly been disrupted by ourselves...

Ourhas country is becoming modern.

BJP workers, at his rallies But our past isshouting our roots.slogans We cannot forget our and circulating posters scream ‘bhagoda’ roots.”

The other side isthat represented

by Ruhi (truant).

Madhav Manoj, like Singh, 19, At a Jaipur girlKunj, with her heartwho set on thea few has left “A hislot jobofatpeople TCS, rushes holMissothers India crown. thinkin, that if Kejriwal rally main Modi lering, you let“Ek women getkemodern andgaye, educated, went to a“But Kejri-I Modi cheekh ke aa gaye.” (We you’ll lose your culture...” says Ruhi. wal andAsyelled Modi atrespect the topmy of don’trally agree. muchModi as I love and our voices.) culture ... I want freedom.”

The Durga Vahini (DV) is the women’s youth ater, calls for a meeting.

Things have wing of Ayush the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Pahuja tad too disorganised.

Doorsaysbeen she isgetting the firsta filmmaker to be allowed into-door has been patchy. The Vato a DV campaigning camp. We watch as Malaben Rawal, dodara chapterpresident, of CAG volunteers has been DV’s national ties Aishwarya Rai,a non-starter.

The survey is done, butsabun the analyMiss World, skimpy clothes and Lux into sis, which will be used by the BJP and RSS, and has a scathing narrative about Westernisation not been prepared yet. videshi corporations.

We The see chargesheets young girls against are yet tolimits be printed. the pushed Congress to their physical by theAnd camp’s clamour, from thewevolunteers, forfrom a meeting shaaririk module; see them go giggly with Modi is only louder. to exhilarated bygetting learning to fire a gun; we “Youthem will beshout divided into 10-member watch slogans in defensegroups of the and your teamagainst leadersimaginary will be announced,” Hindu rashtra, Muslim and says Ayush.

“All theEarlier, material is getting ready, Christian enemies.

Prachi’s father Heplease read it carefully.

You will alsothese be trained mant Trivedi literally demonises comin presenting the material.

We need to give munities, inserting them into a tweaked

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t the AAP headquarters in the Mahmoorganj area of Varanasi, Manish Sisodia is taking stock of the campaign thus far. Arvind Kejriwal is in Amethi, canvassing for Kumar Vishwas. “I think we have got a good response to our door-to-door campaigning,” says Sisodia. “We have made inroads into the rural areas, and especially, the lower-income groups Modi a historic winning margin. Our cam- in the city.” The residents of Ramnagar were paign will be a failure if we don’t win by a mar- visited by volunteers of BJP and AAP on the gin of 3 lakh votes. We are going to give you same day and yet, both parties claim to have forms. You will ask every potential voter for received support. The issues AAP has identitheir EPIC number. You will identify influen- fied are similar to those in the CAG survey. cers among them, who can bring you many “Ganga, infrastructure, heritage and educasaysshe Sisodia.

“But the best thing about votes one society.“Muslims Every volunteer will tion,” Hindufrom iconography: with their ideology wishes to make a career of dewas that itshould was notnot a mere desget fiveand forms welook need 125rakshasas, EPIC numbers beard capsand even like don’t Varanasi clares that women havetourist careers. it had throws something else. It was the spirfrom day.” they come with their tination, they?you Andevery Christians, The rhetoric up constant contradicof the theenforced country.thrusting-out Foreigners still While the groundwork is done by the volunhands folded, like Pootana (a demoness).

But itual tions.capital Amid all of hereboobs, in search that spirituality, adteers, the collation of they campaigning material, come like Pootana, the milk offer is poisoned.” butts and it isn’toftoo persuasive to hear wantMalhotra to restore thatthat status, strategising and analysis are covered the hyatmikata.

Meanwhile, at the Miss India pageant by prepaex-Miss IndiaWePooja insist the that spirit to Varanasi.” core teams of CAGkind in Delhi, Luck- is in full pageant isn’t rations, another of remaking only about “external beauty”.

Underisrepeated attacks by the now Gandhinagar.

Some young of swing.and A female trainer teaches women The DV atmosphere one of near-machismo: has AAP’s the BJP-CAG“Chin strategy meetings to catwalk: parallel, elbows front, back when a girl BJP, fumbles over campaign a gun, thesuffered teacher from Kejriwal’s resignation? have even been chaired

by Amit straight.

It hurts?

It looks fab.”

A cosmetic phy- jeers: “Are you planning to chop onions all has stepped in Yet “Maybe.

Butis our supporters or Shah the past.

Ona chin the day of Modi sicianin blandly urges extension surgery your life?” marriage a woman’s only fuasto a fierce leader votersmale-female are willing equalto lispolling, 1,562 polling in need because the “three partsbooths of the face” be ture: one DVnon-BJP leader mocks who can ity “look ten proclaims to our reasons,” saysmust Sisodia. the constituency willeven be manned “equal”.

The men are more brazen about even as she that girls be China ina themarried eye andby 18, Among the 2,000 by suchthey’re volunteers, ticking themany fact that making and packaging because by 25 AAP theyvolunteers would be the beheading Varanasi, many are locals, inoff the voters product.

One approached Bombay Timesbeforephoto-opstop has the “too mature in to control”. of soldiers” cluding of the party’s hand by them the ones aspirants line upagainst in uniform: tight blue jeans Pahuja’s talent formembers juxtaposition gives the city chapter.

The saffron brigade, that turn up.

As Ayush barand afinally thin white t-shirt, which a film great texture.

The DV girls on the other brought in rels man on, rips“Wherever and re-tiestheto polling reveal giggling overhand, theirhas saffron sashes about 30,000 of them from BJP percentage goes up, thesetime, are maximum bosom.

Another as being Miss-India-like; the uniand theof Sangh Parivar,pageant including votes for the with BJP. That they parade facesmeans veiledour so formity the beauty eeBoth these worlds for Modi’s campaign. voters choosing to stay home, we need the CAG volunteers, that theare pageant director canatrate rily echoing DV’s drills; both Ruhi are responses to Both Modiand and Kejriwal are seenthemselves as outsideto getlegs them out”, individual members slip out their without distraction.

Prachi calling modernity unlike Kejriwal, Modi is yet to of At thefirst, meeting forseems the aarti the Krishna tem- rs, although‘products’ Prachi to at speak that must fulfil their in Varanasi. Despite the ple in the Noticing for the old courtyard. world, where womenthe thinning make an appearance parents’ expectations.

Gandhis the city, localreach Concrowd, takes aand break, andfor soon, have noheagency, Ruhi the the meeting absence of theThe film’s in juxtapositions gress don Ajay Rai acme continues enjoy the backtoo end. new,comes whereto weanare ostensibly free. their withto female foeticide of the On billboards, But it quickly becomes clear that both these ing — and it isBhumihar also here Brahmins. that any equivalence ben much the BJP’stocampaign re- his campaign cleverly ki rai, worlds are of responses modernity.rhetoric, The battle, tween the film’s two claims, worlds “Varanasi must be abanmeetings with baar Rai.” as flected always,inisthe being fought onthe thevolunteers, bodies of Abki doned.

WeAjay learn that Pooja Malhotra’s mother it appears that our the freedom city is on is trial, not Modi.

To walked Back out at Madhav Kunj, in Krishna Dharamwomen — and as elusive on eiof her marriage to keep her baby achieve that historic margin he seeks, even the shala, volunteers areafter, fighting over the ther side. daughter alive. Soon Prachi tells usday’s that RSS, after a feels gap of almost fourwhere decades, has menu.

“There are be tooangry manywith aloos,” Each side like a factory, women she cannot really hercomplains father for woken up its shakhas in pre-given Varanasi for the the Andhraher brigade, whilebecause Renu fumes at the are sought to 300 be shaped into forms curtailing ambitions, after all, he elections. joined religious the RSS when he watery dal. Malhotra’s A few volunteers come — forms ofSruthjith use to militant nationallet her live. love ofwho her had mother is was Sangh for from Delhi already left, disappointed ism,10. orHaving forms lost thatcontact might with enterthe themselves stronger for have knowing the battles she fought, the last few years, has come back to work thedoes campaign.

A locals versus outsiders smoothly into the he capitalist commodity ma- with but she not carry around the burden of with As the volunteersinterviews get ready reto battle is also brewing.

Vijay Kumar, BJP chine.the ButCAG. Pahuja’s painstaking perpetual gratitude.

ButAs if Prachi’s world awere campaign in factories Ramnagar reach out to out 25,000 worker putsall it,women “Varanasi mainbe BJPforever ke liye veal that the dotonot only spit the party to be our future, would voters, Sruthjith we visit theAnkita Kashi winning chuki hai. Ab to bas in well-oiled clonessuggests they might want. beholdencondition to mento—aafor their very lives.

Vishwanath laterinthat Meanko kaise busy rakhna Shorey wins Temple third place the evening.

Miss India pag- volunteers Crushed under suchbhi a weight, whathai.” other batwhile, I am she wanted at the office again. ApparNames thepossibly volunteers have been changed to eant, but knows that “achieving her tles couldofwe hope to fight? ently, a fresh round complaints has been protect identities. dreams” comes at theofcost of objectification. registered.

“Okay, we are still nottoconvinced Prachi remains terrifyingly loyal the Hin- trisha gupta is a writer and critic based in Delhi kotamraju that are here forasModi and I need that clarity,” t@chhotahazri dutvayou vision — even she recognises the priyanka

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saturday, april 26,26, 2014 saturday, april 2014

April is Autism Month, a mother shares her story of helping her son embrace his uniqueness “Dear Shilpa The egg curry was very good and it was very tasty that egg curry was nice and thank you for the lunch with egg curry and I love you Shilpa from dear Sonu.” (sic)

Joe D’Cruz’s endorsement of Narendra Modi cost him a translation and spurred a debate on freedom of expression

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nspired by the movie The Lunchbox, Sonu (orbetween Shubham) wrote letter to his n the war fascism andthis liberalism, ta reacted to “unreflective leftists’ authoritarmother, Dr Shilpa Rao. She saves a photo Joe D’Cruz, 51, Sahitya Academy award-winianism” and said that by that logic, “We will offor it on phone. letter itselftois elsener (2013) hisher epic novelThe Korkai, seems have to stop reading TS Eliot, Ezra Pound, Carl n an interview, Joe D’Cruz seems where, as iscasualty.

Sonu, who isn’t at home be the latest Cruz is currently a vocal supSchmitt, Yukio Mishima because they supportunfazed about the controversy, or that it their apartment block that facesTamil a forest ed in Fascism, and Pablo Neruda because he was porter ofinthe coastal people of southern has cost him the English translation of Aazhi east Bangalore.

Nadu and takes pride in being a part of its vi- an apologist for a mass murderer like Stalin”.

Soozh Ulagu.

He is landscape. the one who keeps their home ex-Critics pointed out that Navayana has a hisbrant subaltern tremelynovel tidy, his shoes and mother’s His maiden published in his 2005, Aazhi sliptory of publishing writers like Slavoj Zizek, pers (Ocean are all neatly lined up. Sonu is away whose at Soozh Ulagu Rimmed World) escalated “politics is quite loathsome”, as SenYour books, for which you have won ‘Empower’ camp, somewhere in the hills near him to star status in contemporary Tamil literagupta puts it, or Namdeo Dhasal, who has recognition, are about the history and Mumbai, learning life skills, publishing amongst people ture. Navayana, an Ambedkarite been vocal in his support for the Shiv Sena. culture of fishing communities in he has never met before.aHe won’t beof able toFollowing such criticism Navayana’s publishhouse, committed to publishing translation southern Tamil Nadu. Your political to But his mother the9,next 10 days.

Another er, S Anand, has, in a statement, said that the D’Cruz’s talk work. then onfor April D’Cruz posted support for Modi seems to be at odds milestone both ofsupporting them. Theirs seems like publication of D’Cruz’s work is in “abeyance”. a status update on for Facebook, Narenwith that. a partnership, each holding on to the other, However, the prickly question of withdrawing a dra Modi.

Steeped in liberal and left-of-centre I am a humanist; I do not support Hindutva. eachreeling lettingunder the other fly andcontroversy soar. legal contract in the face of personal, but differpolitics and the recent My heart and support are for the Sonu was diagnosed with Autism of withdrawing Wendy Doniger’s works as aSpectrum re- ing opinion remains unresolved. dispossessed and the coastal communities for when the he publishing was 18 months sult of a Disorder Hindutva(ASD) campaign, co- old.Legally, the publisher cannot use the perthe hardships they have endured through sonal views of the author as a reason to reat 25Navayana weeks, weighing 900 grams, munity Born balked. made aunder statement centuries.

In solidarity Shivaji terminus illuminated in blue to mark World Autism Awareness Day vivek bendre the contract. Chhatrapati “The agreement between it took many books. monthsAnd before to withdrawing D’Cruz’s evenhe as began the scind and author has clauses that relate by comments himself. When did not begin publisher to freedombreathe of speech werehebeing typed Your declaration of support for Modi on particularly to the manuscript. While the final respond his name or recognise family, docon Facebook and to Twitter, the translator V Geetha has cost you of He authority to go aheadthat andSonu publish a manu- “If aFacebook torsout pegged onproject. delayedShe milestones.

But Rao, also pulled from it the found it difers understand is different. he no longer covers histhe earstranslation before the TV. your first novel Aazhi Soozh Ulagu. scriptchild is with thea publishing au- syn- isn’t an autistic savant, but is great with Ena paediatrician herself, knew from it wasn’t ficult, she said, to separate “the work the just is in wheelchair house, or has the Down’s a citizen of a sovereign and thor’sdrome, opinion on any ismatter that.

“I got on to Google and searched man” and couldn’t accept D’Cruz’s support for some the problem visible.or Butperson the inabilityI amglish and spellings, though hedemocratic takes longer to and something it’s my personal view that Modi —He is cannot a reason for us withdraw publicasymptoms. when theGujarat word po‘autism’ Modi, “the principal That’s architect of the tobe communicate, toto have social interactions, isIndia learn compared to others. hasworking emergedtowards from the lowerfriends rungs of tion,”also saysaRachna Pratap, senior ex- likewhonow came up,”not shebring says, herself adding to that herher journey grom” and could have problem.

Autism has contract to be treated making and rec— will understand the needs of the ecutive, began in that moment. A journey that would translation published. anyPenguin. other physical disability and those livingsociety ognising the idea of community. rural and urban poorThe and canofusher in among now itthe matter stays wobbly and unreprove to brought be, and remains, a hard — albeitForwith The issue has to fore the legalone right shouldn’t be denied reglack awareness economic prosperity.

If Geetha staysshe firm in her decision to wrought with laughter andand inspiration. versus the moral right to condemn censure, solved. ular education,” says. people, glaringly so among the book,and Navayana remained in denial for support a while — not “I translate and raisedRao questions whether one can Rao’s intrepidity, the way too can doctors, is a daily battle Rao Economic prosperity is not the throwshe its hands up.Sonu spring from want to readthat anything a condipoliticaldidn’t or cultural views are at about variance is raising and Sonu face.

“It only was very hard Therejection. real issueHe though is about for the lack of that has no cure” — but,several soon, perhaps, from thetion personal.

For literature offers exwas shunned to convince schools benchmark of a leader’s worth.

Hetoistake him In a regular school, he tolerance on either side ofnot thethe political themen doctor in herwhose came to the fore.

It was four amples of of letters political colournot being ‘normal’, sort divide. in. Evenin when accused of the killings 2002I volunteered in Gujarat. to has to talk, protect “Whather kind of precedent this set, if we all years he spoketheir his first word, and six-and-aings have notbefore outweighed artistic ex-husband andwill his parents hold him a free awareness The enriching courts have given a clean chit. session himself, that become trapped in our auhalf before he formed a sentence. literary merits.

Gunter Grass, for example,Now was 13, he thought could be arigidities?” grandson asksenvironment for teachers at a top school, Manmohan Singh ushered in economic is needed critic their Nilanjana Roy.degrees Nobody has the goes Classinto VI atthe anWaffen open school, drafted in histoteens SS, thatequivalent did thor and befitting medical they weren’t Most liberalisation, but today he’s dueinterested. to retire, and to that.

Class a typical school. not clubto him withVIII the in Nazis or diminish theAcceptance pow- answer and the fancy nursing home people area chance not during sensitive perhaps, Modi must be given teachers er of his from literary output. and classmates hasn’t come they owned. “Being doctors enough to want to help,” she these days of global economic hardships. sudhathey g tilak is a Delhi-based journalist she is sceptical about special schools, Writereasy, andbut filmmaker Shuddhabrata Sengupdid not have the sensibility says. Rao has been giving him where “children are in a place where they to accept his condition. That rejection wasHow thedospecial education following you respond to he theneeds, retraction by a aren’t interested in each other. In a regular what propelled me to work with him. Sonuyour prescribed format.

He hasand never done art thertranslator V Geetha the school, he has to talk, he has to protect him- has made me stronger,” she says. apy, yoga therapy or suchlike. withdrawal

by Navayana? self, that enriching environment is required,” He understands that his family unit is dif-I’m not Rao says she succeeded in making himthe what a stranger to resistance.

Following she believes. ferent, as is his life; he even tells Rao to remar-publication he is because of early intervention and thanks of Aazhi Soozh Ulagu, I could not Her main challenge has been to make oth- ry. Electric switches are still an obsession, but to the wholehearted support of her parents visit my village, Uvari, because I was receiving and sisters. “Losing my mother to cancer two threats from those who accused me of using years ago was a huge setback for both of us, foul language in my book. A court case that I she was my tonic. But then, nothing lasts fordenigrated the Christian community is up for ever, life moves on,” she says with a smile. Movhearing thisinmonth.

It’s now a sadworks turn ofwith events ing on life, she autistic withchildren this publisher, but there are other fish from in at her clinic. Sonu comes back the school, sea. lets himself in and doesn’t open the door for anyone except his mother, who reWhat’s opinion turnsyour at 7.30 pm. about the condemnation you havebyreceived for plans your to As life moves along, age 21, Sonu political drive aleanings?

Jaguar XF, go to a big office where he is Thisthe is about the where freedom of expression.

If docuboss and people bring him there’s place for their political orwould ideological ments to sign.

An aeroplane drop Rao stand, which I respect, there’s placehave for my off to her clinic.

Later, he would a beautipersonal liberty and views. (“where My hopedid forthat Modi ful wife called Natasha come from?”coexists wonderswith Rao)my and children to deliver respect for whom he would sit down and withcommitment. and teach, like Rao does V Geetha’s passion with him. She smiles at his imagination, and What next? must mentally be counting it as another of SoJust a boy nu’s milestones.

Another long day at work; and a longer night Sonu seen with his of writing, for sure. mother, Shilpa Rao, at their home in Bangalore deepa bhasthi is a Bangalore-based freelance writer

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Speaking without words

Camp Varanasi

Two books that take us on different journeys to the same destination — a better understanding of those who live on the autism spectrum The diary of a political dilettante who joins as a volunteer of the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) in Varanasi, a city seized by poll fever Awareness first While people might know more about autism today, much more needs to be done s ramesh kurup

Course correction Predictably, the Ganga, Varanasi’s lifeline, still finds itself on every party’s manifesto akhilesh kumar

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t the busy junction opposite the Varanasi Cantt railway station, a dusty pink signboard, crowded out by lassi- and chaat-shop signage, proclaims ‘Krishna Dharamshala’. On April 18, in room number 56 of the dharamshala, a group of youth gathered around. Watching Narendra Modi’s ‘Idea of India’ speech, which he had delivered in January at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, they cheered loudly, fervently repeating his slogans. Later that day, the same group would slap on an AAP topi on one of the members, foist a broomstick on him and jeer at the ‘Kejriwal’ in their midst — an act they would regularly indulge in for their amusement.

A few doors down, room number 59, the Varanasi office of the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), was hosting a steady stream of volunteers arriving from across the country — Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, Seemandhra, the rest of UP, Punjab, Delhi, and even an itinerant Kashmiri Pandit. Since April 12, nearly 120 volunteers had registered and set up camp at Madhav Kunj, a wing of the dharamshala, and at the nearby Swastik Hotel.

For the next month, till Varanasi goes to polls on May 12, these volunteers, along with thousands of BJP and RSS workers, will build and propagate the ‘Modi wave’ in the city, expected to become a tsunami as BJP’s UP in-charge India, 10have million AmitnShah will you people know. are estimated be on the autism is a In to their online avatars,spectrum.

NaMo (anAutism acronym neurodevelopmental disorder that for Modi that has gained wider currency in has the grown fromfans one in 150acquired children unsavou(2007) to election season) have onetroll-esque in 88 children (2012) in for the their US, with the ry, reputations, singlerisk beingbullying four times for boys.

A combiminded of higher Modi critics.

Even their nationfor of genetic factors is love Modi and has environmental been overbearing — thought to bebyresponsible. cause has —not matched only their hatredAfor Kejriwal so been definitively identified. With science unable to provide all the answers, we learn about this condition from many sources. These books, one by a boy with autism and the other by a mother whose son has autism, take us on different journeys to the same destination — understanding this condition better.

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Finding Neema Juliet Reynolds Hachette Non-fiction ₹399

The Reason I Jump Naoki Higashida (translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell) Random House Non-fiction ₹1,200 (approx)

The Reason I Jump Autism has been likened to people imprisoned in their bodies, walled off from the rest of the world by factors that vary from person to person. Naoki Higashida’s ability to explain what he feels constructs a few skylights that help us glimpse his wonderful mind.

David Mitchell, a bestselling and acclaimed author and his wife KA Yoshida who translated the book are parents of a boy on the autism spectrum. In the introduction, Mitchell writes, “The Reason I Jump allowed me to round a corner in our relationship with our son… It knocks out a brick in the wall.”

Higashida invites readers to understand his world by answering specific questions. The fact that a non-verbal child of 13 years can painstakingly answer these questions using an alphabet grid in Japanese itself advances the body of knowledge on autism. Some revelations are that people on the autism spectrum don’t dislike society but can’t navigate it with ease; that a child with autism can get “the

Each child needs a customised approach. The book tends to generalise in several places, saybeenwhere his fan ever of since. is nice yaar in much so, that it has, in some cases, become has ing ‘we’ ‘some us’ is“He required. can make jokes,” she says, looking the basis for selecting or rejecting marriage person.

WhileHe parents of children on the spectrum her Facebook profile where she has proposals. But who are the faces behind the up canfrom take comfort from this book, the temptaposting updates of her volunteer Modi masks, Twitter trolls and Facebook fan been tion to use ithourly as a definitive source on what for her 10,000-odd followers.feel, Herthink man clubs? What drives them to go on month-long stint children on the autism spectrum Madan, “my bestThe friend and sabbaticals, quit plum jobs, abandon young Friday, and experience has husband’s to be resisted. author business immediately plays a families, shut down their businesses, only to my explains awaypartner”, sensory problems as “feelings” from the Oncediffiapsweat it out in the heat and dust of Varanasi, clipping in some places.

TheCharcha presencesession. of sensory of autism the campaigning schedule the often with little hope of meeting the man prised culties in is well researched andfor docushe quickly clarifies, however, city himself? Why is it that you either love the Na- day, mented.

These niggling issues do“Main not take mebook nahinbecause jaaongi,ofI want to go to Mo fan club-turned-volunteer araway from the the wealth of areas.bits We of have adopted my or hate them? informationthe andrural the little fiction that 124 villages Ghaziabad, where are interspersed with theinquestions. f the 120-odd volunteers, my NGO To Here’, me, she says, The book ends withworks.”

‘I’m Right a short mostly under-30 and entire“security kawritten problem story afterlife, inho thejaata voicehai of He (Modi) is niceabout in the ly upper caste, only four are wom- person, yaar. na, these guys have no arrangeShun, the soul of a boy who dies in an acciHe can en, self included. I had registered ments here,the notauthor’s for celebrities.” dent. The story shows ability to make jokes earlier that morning. Renu, a lecdiva shoes, demands notwithput himself inHer another’s predict emoturer from Kanpur, and Aditi, who standing, she and her man tions, use humour appropriately and Friday introhas come down from Bangalore, intend to stay month at duce unexpected twists in the entire narrative.

Every have been there since operations the not the hotel writer aspires to dharamshala, write like this. Higashida has began at Madhav Kunj. Aditi and her husband, where areone slightly She grown arrangements to see autism as of hisbetter. strengths, Nandan, run a software company in Banga- has left behind two normal”. children “preferring to her be husband autistic and versus lore. But they have shut down operations till at home because sheI “believes Reading The Reason Jump, oneinisModi hardyaar”. put to May 12; Aditi will man the CAG office desk for argue otherwise. fter a four-day-long survey of Varanasi’s the month and Nandan will handle their IT rerural and urban segments — all the city arquirements. The fourth is a former Mrs India, Finding Neema 16honest, villagesif—occasionally for the volunteers, work whose costume changes are making more eas Thisand is an too detailed come toof a halt now. Meanwhile, news at the dharamshala than the electoral has an account, Julietfor Reynolds’ life as an some Irish/ my text battle outside in Varanasi. “Pata nahin kyun members English arthave criticpeeked living inatIndia with messages her artist the management hasbrings carriedPoonam out a social aayi hai (I don’t know whycan she’s says and big picture”; that he/she feelcome),” and relate husband.

Happenstance and evidence of any onRenu, bristling visibly at the attention thehave for- profile these emotions to others; and that they her soncheck.

NeemaFinding into thenocouple’s lives.

Neema Modiwith love,clubfeet they suspect thatdiagnosed I have been mer beauty queen was attracting.

“She’selse. not line wishes and desires much like everyone was born and later to the Aam Aadmi Party to leak inforhere for Modiji, she has her ownsays agenda, for planted On social interaction, Higashida that peobe on theby autism spectrum.

The book takes the Aftertoall, they have done the same to her 50,000 followers,” adds, still fuming. ple with autism end upshe alone because “things mation. reader back a pre-liberalised India, with its AAP camp.

Back at room number 56, job ArDr Manisha ‘mainedue PhD Tyagi, a renever, ever go right” tokiya theirhai’ difficulties in the middle-class aspirations of a government politics is being hotly husdiscently crowned Mrs India, was one of Modi’s vind expressing themselves. as theKejriwal’s highest achievement.

Reynolds’ My Karanjai, defence of new, if flawed, chief at amany Chai messages pe Charcha Theguests book has forsession. society.She “To cussed. band Anil an the artist ideologically be able to study like other people, we need committed to the far left, is an integral part of more time and different strategies and ap- the story. The couple takes up guardianship of proaches,” says Higashida. This differentia- their household helper’s child Neema, who tion needs to be internalised by a comes across as a charming child/adult, able conventional education system that is unsuit- to roll with the punches and hold his own. The ed to autism’s learning needs. Hihonesty of the book shines gashida’s thoughts on autism are through, especially while talking that “people with autism are born of the author’s relationship with out of the regime of civilisation.”

Neema — the good, the bad and Speaking of a “deep sense of crithe exasperating. Parents of chilWe are like sis” existing on Earth, he says, “We dren on the autism spectrum are travellers from a are more like travellers from a disoften pushed to the wall by their distant planet tant, distant past. And if, by our offspring and this book speaks being here, we could help the peowith disarming honesty about ple of the world remember what those times. truly matters for the Earth, that The book doesn’t detail therapy would give us quiet pleasure.”

Neema might have undergone, with only the As a special educator, I am left with a sense last two chapters being of interest to parents of wonder that such purity exists every time I looking for such information. The work of meet a child on the autism spectrum. Reading people like Saswati Singh, the Nav Prerna the author’s opinion on autism, it is tough to Foundation, Merry Barua and Action for Auconnect this depth of thought with the other tism is mentioned briefly, providing a referchallenges he faces. The unevenness of skill ence to parents interested in contacting them. development is brought home yet again — As a new entrant to the field, this book gives such thought can and does co-exist with an in- me hope. Such chronicles illustrate how far ability to carry out mundane tasks. our society has travelled. The book ends on a My approach to this book was to learn in or- note of activism for autism — that there is der to connect to my work with children. This much, much more to be done. was difficult to do in some parts of the book. A saying in autism circles is “If you know a child sangitha krishnamurthi is a special educator with autism, you know a child with autism”. in Bangalore

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CUB READS

Wanderlust in Africa A terrifying yet haunting wilderness on the page

anita roy

G What do geese think?

PMO DONATES REMOTE T CONTROL TO NATIONAL MUSEUM! T iving Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay’s novels a graphic makeover is an unnecessary act.

Yet, when Satyajit Ray adapted Bandopadhyay’s evocative Apu novels for the screen, it resulted in sheer magic. In Moon Mountain’s case however, the graphic namesake pales in comparison with one of the best-known, much-loved adventure novels in Bengali literature but it does fare better than the film adaptation released last year; the most expensive Bengali film ever made.

When Shankar returns to his tiny hamlet from Calcutta after his exams, a humdrum life beckons. Haunted by his thirst for adventure, he jumps at his neighbour’s offer to work in Mombasa, Kenya.

For Shankar, life in Africa promises so much — exhilaration, wonder, adventure and danger. He starts work with a company laying rail tracks from Mombasa to Kisumu. He realises the perils of Africa when the workers begin to disappear week after week, only to discover that the “most fearsome” of predators, the he remote control is mounted on African lion hasIt is old. a bracket on the wall. been is onscarred the prowl.

The plastic and pitted.

Shankar is then The buttons have been worn posteduse. as Only the stasmooth by constant the mute tionmaster at Ki- that it button is clean and shiny, indicating sumu frequently. railway The elmust have been replaced station.

MomenMoonderly Mountain bearer flaps at it with his duster, his tarily relieved, heis doing Bibhutibhushan efforts listless, weeping softly. He Bandopadhyay quickly realises this out of sheer force of habit, knowing it Puffin that far from be₹399 serves no purpose. He brushes away his ingof out danger, tears with the back hisofhand.

His turban he is now is slightly askew, but he does closer not care. than ever“Once to predators.

One was day, on fishthis house fulla of love and ing trip, he finds he a traveller named Diego laughter,” says sadly, “There was a time Alvarez lying exhausted. As he nurses Alvarez back to health, the traveller tells Shankar of his extraordinary tale of adventure in the heart of Africa. Weeks later, Alvarez embarks on his unfinished journey to the densest jungles in Richtersveld to look for diamonds. With Shankar in tow. Together, they walk through deserts, climb treacherous mountains, battle beasts and finally, come face-to-face with the deadliest of all beasts, the Bunyip.

At its core, Chander Pahar is an adventure tale. Bandopadhyay had never been to Africa and he wrote it almost entirely from his imagination. While Saurav Mohapatra’s writing match that aba doesn’t Ramdevtry has to announced Bandopadhyay’sthe sense of adventure or his in his microphone involved literary virtuosity, Sayan Mukherjee’s ilrecent mishap was a Pakistani ISI lustrations sometimes capture the occurred spirit agent. The mishap at of the stirring tale.meeting For instance, the first an election in Alwar, where the time anson African lion attacks Shankar,isthe of the former Maharaja crossing visualsswords in the panel are blurred with the Baba with former murder accused impactChand of a lion pouncing on Shankar’s Nath, head of Asthal Bohar Monasstartledtery, horse, dislodging him.

Or the full local who has been demolishing page panel of a cheetah watching Shankar monuments to create better ones. through the in thePolls jungle, whichaisserious Thenight Lok Sabha represent masterful.

All things considered, however, challenge to the seer, as his opponent is stick toKumar Chander Pahar, the original.

Jitendra Singh, a close associate of

ON THE SHELF

We might never understand animals, but they are profoundly similar to us

here’s nothing like a period of enforced bed rest to stoke the fires of wanderlust. Grounded by a bad back and an even more painfully low bank balance, the only travelling I’ve been able to do recently is of the armchair variety. Thankfully, I SHOVON CHOWDHURY is had a book on hand that proved the perchief Truthdigger and author fect vehicle for this static flight of fancy. of The Competent Authority The long, slow convalescence from an illness, which had confined him to his childhood room for several months, reget stuck, but otherwise it never gave any sulted in William Fiennes’ decision, as trouble. Now, look at it, lying in a corner, soon as he was up and about, to set off on gathering dust.” He shakes his head sadly a migration of his own, following flocks and caresses it with a trembling hand. of lesser snow geese from the Texas prai“They’ve “Where are those fingers that held it so ofwhen I was constantly running ries northward on their breeding around looking for the remote. been using it for ten?” he says. “She was so quick with it, and grounds off the coast of Siberia. The book over a decade. Did it so graceful. She could pick up, point, and ‘Look behind the sofa,’ they that resulted shares its title with the would shout, and, ‘did you ever cause problems?” press in one fluid motion, sometimes in book that inspired it, but whereas Paul check in mummy’s hand“Not at all,” says the old the middle of dinner.”

Gallico’s The Snow Goose is an unabashed “Since it holds so many memories for bag?’ Sometimes they would man, “It has always been tear-jerker, oozing with anthropomorbeat me if I was late. Are you a quiet and reliable. Sometimes it you, why don’t you keep it as a souvenir?” I phic sentimentality, The Snow Geese is a was treated very badly, but it never ask. “After all, no one else wants it.” fool, they would say, the nation is remarkable piece of nature writing — complained. It has given years of loyal “I asked, but they refused me,” he says, waiting. Often I was thrashed to withcool, clear, as graceful as a swift and pepin an inch of my life. It was all in good service. No one ever thought it would hanging it back on the wall. “The PMO is pered with delicious terminology. spirit. Later on, at night, the babalog would last this long. All the other remotes of that donating it to the National Museum. For 10 I particularly loved learning that the come and apply ointment. They were very time have ceased to function, although years, this humble piece of plastic ruled restlessness exhibited by migratory birds nice people, very traditional. Now nobody some of them still emit toxic fumes. This the nation. We will display it prominently, at certain times of the year is called zuof fancy We all experience the restlessness of migratory birds lingaraj panda uses this remote any more. Like me, it has Flight one turned out to be unexpectedly dura- they told me, so that future generations gunruhe (from zug — to move, and Unoutlived its utility.” ble. Occasionally the mute button would never forget it.” ruhe meaning anxiety or restlessness). seizes us at certain times of the day or the feathered soulmates, echoing and shapThe term was coined by German natural- year is, perhaps, only partially explained ing his own quest for the wide open ist Johann Andreas Naumann at the be- by our quotidian exigencies of life. spaces of the sky, for freedom. ginning of the 19th century although it As I lay there, immobilised by pinched But can we ever really know what anwas only in the 1960s that this was estab- sciatic nerves, I felt the pull of my own other creature is thinking? The philosolished to be an innate behaviour. Scien- seasonal zugunruhe, my thoughts listing pher Wittgenstein summed up the tists observed that caged garden westwards but, caged by circumstance, conundrum neatly: “If a lion could talk, warblers, for example, became restless unable to join the flocks of departing fi- we could not understand him” — simulnot just at the same time as rangs as they fled the im- taneously suggesting that animals are their wild counterparts, but pending Delhi summer for profoundly different from us (we cannot in the same direction: hopcooler northern climes… understand them) and rather similar to ping towards the south-west, According to his friend us (they say stuff). Reading William Put an animal in a as their fellows headed down story and it is never and fellow-writer Mark Had- Fiennes’ marvellous book, you cannot the Straits of Gibraltar, turndon, Fiennes often kick- help wonder what the geese are thinking just an animal ing south and south-east as starts creative writing class- as they line up in that undulating V in the the free birds wheeled to- is further es by asking students weword could see‘abuse the world from up Kumar Rahul Gandhi.

His task ille’, of bharatnatyam’, n a move hailed in Chennai andtoAm- sky.ofIfthe wards Morocco. about an author animal — or there — a genuineofbirds’-eye — what in complicated by paucity of funds, due to ritsar,write best-selling Chetan ‘devaluation Punjabi view community Who what the turn- Sadly, he bird that they’ve it look market’ like, how and would it feel? Per- of which he knows approached Ramdev.

Bhagat was—arrested earlyencounthis morn- would marriage ‘exploitation the seasons, the in fluctuations of the tered. Invariably, animal (or bird) rep- haps thestudents best we can is to simply bear diding soofsitting on stage, front of thouing from the his palatial Juhu residence IIM-A for do musical numbers.’ daylight and night-time the subtle resents some unspoken of re- witness, as closely andofasthe accurately we ausands of people and a livehours, microphone.

Is this the end road forasthe by officers of the Stereotype aspect Police. “We pull of the waxing in and waning moon, themselves.

We can’t,complaints says Haddon, look canthor to our of thisThe “I’m facing problems giving-taking of of non-human One Night @co-habitees the Call Center? ceived repeated regarding does to innersaid. tides?

A whole sub- at animals objectively.

“Put anby animal in a extraordinary, fragile andcall changing money,” heour allegedly Ramdev’s assothe film Two States, written the suspect, charges against him for the planstrictest branch of science — chronobiology — is story and is neverand justTamilian an animal.

The et. And write down, with a full heart a be ciates clarified that the ISI-trained mike from theitPunjabi communiof punishments.

If convicted, he and could devoted to Voice the mysterious dog awho waits for Odysseus’s re-is a clear head, what is that we see. used Islamic Distortion workings to convertof faithful ties,” said spokesperson.

“The author sentenced to it three years of listening to the circadian and circannual clock,has the turn.

The dove that He brings olive ‘blessings’ to ‘money’.

The suspect Santa-Banta jokes, intravenous injection law-abiding citizen. came the quietly.” daily and annual rhythms of life: sleep- branch back Noah...

Warthe anita been apprehended.

“We charged it with of roy rasam, and and compulsory repeat viewWhile histolegal teamMoby-Dick, is optimistic, is a writer director of Young ing andsaid waking, feeding and migrating.

Horse.”

One might snow geese toagainst the Zubaan sedition,” the police.

“We would have situation looks add bleak.

Charges ings ofanita@anitaroy.

Mithun Chakraborty’s act as a Tanet The longing to be else that list: forinclude in them Fiennes seems to‘overuse see sent it to Pakistan, butsomewhere all flights are full.” him ‘misuse of laddoos’, mil person in the movie Agneepath.

MICROPHONE WAS PAKISTANI AGENT, SAYS RAMDEV!

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CHETAN BHAGAT ARRESTED BY STEREOTYPE QPOLICE!

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Thekotamraju Investigator is a fortnightly round-up of all things droll and newsy. All views are personal. Really personal t@shovonc priyanka

takeaway talk

saturday, april 26,26, 2014 saturday, april 2014

Business as usual A game of cards mid-afternoon at the Piazza Carlo Felice, named after a Savoy king bloomberg/alessia pierdomenico

A pleasant surprise Up north, Turin not only serves the world’s finest chocolates, but is suave, intellectual and touched by tragedy

THE CRITICAL ISSUE

After W the revolution

ratti & Milano. Close by, the Museo D’Arte Orientale houses the country’s largest collection Square politics of artefacts from Gandhara (India) Through theand Southeast Asia. In the cathedral behind at the piazza, revolutions Egyptdella hopesSacra the intricately Baroque Tahrir, Cappella to become new bit Sindone displays the world’s most afamous ap / amr nabil country of linen. It bears the image of a ‘crucified’ man who many believe to be Jesus Christ.

Yet I favour the other Turinese miracle: aperitivo. The swift pre-dinner drink that this stately city has transformed into a sumptuous ritual. Apertivo runs roughly from 6-9pm, with drinks priced at €5-10, including the buffet. Feast on spreads so lavish — cured meats, endless variations of pizza, crostini and bruschetta, local cheeses, gratinée peppers, lush salads — that supper will be oft, and happily, forgotten. For Art Nouveau exorbitance head to Caffé Platti or Caffé San Carlo, although funkier, modern alternatives include Lanificio San Salvatore in the gritty San Salvario neighbourhood, and La Drogheria, at the edge of Piazza Vittorio Veneto. If required to redress your nocturnal indulgence, burn the carbs on a two-hour hike to Basilica Superga, the domed 18th-century church on a hill across the River Po. (Although I’m all for the more charming alternative: a vintage 1934 funicular that begins at Stazione Sassi.) The views of the city, the snowy arc of the Alps and surrounding plains are singularly lovely.

Back at the centre, evenings are often spent getting lost in the lamp-lit backstreets of Turin. Join in a Piedmontese folk dance at the Officine Corsare, a student-run left-wing social club, catch Fellini at the 1940s Cinema Lux, a string of open-air jazz concerts at Piazza Castello. Or meander until you find a quiet piazza, an empty bench. It’s a city of endless surprises.

The tragedy would be to leave.

here I am standing, Friedrich fallen from grace. Kolkata, Lisbon, Rome, PaNietzsche once caused an in- lermo, Athens, Damascus. The great ones, achfamous disturbance. One win- ingly beautiful, marked by past grandeur and ter evening, or so the story loss. Up north, I arrived to find Turin not only goes, he saw a horse being flogged in Piazza serves the world’s finest chocolates, but is Carlo Alberto, and ran up to the creature. He suave, intellectual and touched by tragedy.

For over two centuries, Turin played host as threw his arms around it, weeping, repeatedly capital of the Duchy of Savoy, the proclaiming “God among men!” longest surviving royal house in janice pariat is the author of Boats on Land Over a century later, the piazza is ’m standing at the edge of Tahrir Square ously. And yet, there’s no dearth of women in like solar energy, sanitation and so on.

Europe (1416–1860), swelling with free of such shenanigans, its cobin Cairo. There’s nothing here to give you public life — you see them everywhere, in Everyone agrees that, in a way, when thoubled stone warm in the sun, fabulous Baroque palaces and Evenings are often an inkling of the history that unfolded at shops, at immigration counters, in big busi- sands of women stepped out into the public speckled by fat pigeons and the spent getting lost in gardens. In the 1800s, it saw rapid this very spot not three years ago — no nesses. Have you noticed, a friend says gently, space during the 18 days they made Tahrir benches along the edges scatindustrialisation, especially in lamp-lit signpost, no poster, no marker. Unless you thethat there are also many more men in tradi- their own, they transformed that space. The the automotive sector; the buildtered with students and loungers.

Turin I look count the line-up of tanks nearby at thebackstreets Na- tionalofclothes? around me and I do in- most important thing, a writer friend tells me, ing of iconic landmarks, includIn the middle, rises an equestrian Get there tional Museum — I’m told they are protecting deed see that. This is an assertion of our is that we felt safe in Tahrir, we were with our statue (unrelated to our Nietzing the Mole Antonelliana and Lufthansa, France, KLM and the museum from possible looters after some identity, she tells me, it’s not a regressive own people, we were all Air there for a cause we Air schean tale), facing the city’s Museo Egizio; and the prestige of India, among offer one-stop looting took place during the revolution. thing. This is a way of saying we’re Egyptian. held dear. Tahrir had spaceothers, for children, for most beautiful building, the Pabeing capital city, from 1861-65, of Mumbai.

Everyone you speak to refers to the revoluAt an evening seminar organised as part of music,flights song, from dance,Delhi andand when we moved out the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Italy. The lazzo Carignano. tion — as if it has already happened. And in an Indian festival — India by the Nile — which of our houses, even during curfew, we, the The first time I visited Turin, I had prepared 20th century, though, wasn’t kind. Wracked some ways it has — the 18 days in early 2011 is what takes me to Cairo, we talk about wom- women, were not stopped, we carried supplies Stay myself for disappointment. Fresh off the by strikes and unrest after the World War I, when Tahrir was occupied by millions of Egyp- en. Saher el-Mougy, a writer and teacher, in, we took news out…

Roma e Rocca Cavour is a plane from Sicily, I was convinced I was merid- and bombed heavily in the Second, Turin entians, were the revolution. They brought down speaks of the change that cannot I’m reminded of the early days grand old central landmark ionale at heart, a person of the south. After all, joyed an ‘economic miracle’ in the 1950s and a dictator, created new solidarities, marginal- be measured. The revolution, the of the post December 16 protests: what’s not to love about splendid valleys ’60s (owing mainly to Fiat and Lancia), only to with large, if slightly scruffy, rooms (from ised the right wing, humanised the army, and occupation of public space, the no matter what time of day or bursting with almond, olive and lemon trees, be hit by the oil and automotive crisis later. In €57 for doubles; romarocca.it).

In yet, rapidly created the conditions for an election. And yet, making of that space their own as night, women felt safe. And one-millionsensationally fresh seafood, Arab-Norman- 30 years, it lost a fourth of itsThe fashionable San Salvario, Hotel Urbani most important like Tahrir, this did not last. I askis a there isn’t the kind of euphoria you would ex- never before, all this changed ‘Detroit Byzantine architecture and a people’s special strong population. Nicknamed the thing, comfortable choice a of writer safe and pect. Instead, there’s still some confusion, something for women. her about this: Tahrir was(from full of€95; friendliness. I’m also drawn to cities that have Italy’, there seemed impendingfriend danger ofme, is hotelurbani.it). consider the elegant Sitea, tells some concern.

It’s difficult to say exactly what stories ofOr sexual violence. heading down the same path of desolation assafe in where the football stays that we felt In the offices of Mada Masr, an independent this is, changes to the psyche are Yes, Juventus she says, and that team was deits twin. Yet it has survived with remarkable re-were(from €200; grandhotelsitea.it ) Tahrir, we online news agency (perhaps the only inde- difficult to map, even more diffiliberately used to try and break silience and inimitable style. with our own pendent one today, they tell me) a group of cult to quantify, but somewhere, our spirit: it followed a pattern, Eat Spared from the bureaucratic pomposity of were people, we young people discuss the options before Egyp- women have made political acthe men who perpetrated it were Rome (alas, the malady of many capital cities), favourite is Chez Rinoo — I still there for a cause we not My tians today. We have to be hopeful, they tell tion their own. from among us, it was very the relentless touristic legions of Florence, dream of their held dear me, but also cautious: can the army actually Earlier in the day, in a discusclear that they hadfettuccine been sentwith in towild and the vast, monolithic greyness of Milan, Tuboar — runthe bymovement, the tiny, to yetdivide formidable, turn civilian? Is this possible at all? And even if sion with members of the Nationbreak us. rin is blessed with an eleganza discreta, an unBrunilde.

For back pizza,to head to thethe unfailing the leadership changes, what about the bu- al Council of Women I’ve heard I think the reports: viderstated elegance, best savoured by strolling Augusto, kingsdidofindeed burratafollow e salsiccia, or to reaucracy, those who hold power even today — the same thing. They recall the olence a frightin any direction from Palazzo Carignano. The the hipeningly Bottegasimilar Baretti.pattern, Set in the they are still from the old regime. How will moment in 1923 when Egyptian it peaceful isn’t city reveals tree-lined avenues, 11 miles of soarPiazza CarloofEmanuele II,that Societe Lutece is this change? feminist Huda Shaarawi boldly flung her veil outside the realm possibility the perpeing arcaded streets lined by preserved turn-offor lazy Sunday brunches, delicate There’s also concern about the many young into the sea — it’s from women like her that tratorsperfect were outsiders. the-century shop façades and Art Nouveau bresaola and roast meals. people who were arrested and charged after they take their inspiration. We will continue What’s important in allmeat this, she tells me, is buildings seemingly more French than Italthe revolution. Why were they arrested? Why the fight for women’s rights, they tell me, and that we now know what to watch out for, and ian. For the leisure-inclined, choose from an Tip jumped into podid the army, which claimed to side with the mention that India and the recent protests fol- we know too that once having array of Baroque piazzas — soak up the lovely Turinbehas legendary people, pick them up? They need to be exoner- lowing the December 16 gang rape incident litical action, we will not pushed back, ice loneliness of Piazza San Carlo, or the bustle of cream parlours.

Try Caffé Miretti ated, returned to their lives. What about those have been inspirational. The revolution has we’re working to create a new Egypt, a respon- for Piazza Castello, hemmed by once-royal buildflavours — orange who were killed? Their families? given us the same kind of hope, they say, and sible, elaborate independent country that willwith be Grand as ings, including the Palazzo Reale, host of exhazelnut Later, in a meeting with some friends, I ask while we’re focusing on our country, we are al- much Marnier, for its women as itswith men.Chivasso amaretti. cellent photo exhibitions, and Palazzo The Fiorio’s Viaof Po serve excellent about women — what role did they play? I’ve so looking elsewhere. India has so much to What more couldalong one ask a revolution?

Madama, once a seat of the Italian senate. stracciatella, delicate cream with chocolate noticed — I’m visiting Cairo after 18 years — teach us, we need to empower our women, but Grab a truffle sandwich at Caffé Mulassano, a bits. Along Via Lagrange, nip into Rivareno to many more women in headscarves than previ- we also need sustainable solutions in things blink@thehindu.co.in tiny dazzling jewel of a place, or languish over satiate fruit-flavour cravings. a liqueur-drenched affogato at the opulent Ba-

The uprisings in Tahrir Square allowed women to make political action and space their own

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Sacred skeins The Shroud of Turin, imprinted with an image in the likeness of Christ ap/alessandro di marco

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Hello Morimoto Celebrity chef Masahuru Morimoto celebrates success and competition in India

Super-heroic ventures

usually pay off. One such was his arrival in India eight years ago with Wasabi by Morimoto at The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Venturing out of his comfort zones, Japan and the US, for the first time, it was a move seen, at the time, as a professional hara-kiri by his contemporaries in the West and by his own guru Nobu Matsuhisa, who turned down the offer before him.

Back in India after five years to mark the fifth anniversary of the Wasabi at Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel (better known as Taj Mansingh), Morimoto says, “When I opened in Philadelphia, they said, why Philadelphia? When I opened in Mumbai, they said, why Mumbai?

But it wasn’t really a leap of faith — Wasabi wasn’t a standalone; it had local muscle.”

Much sake has flown since in the capital, and Morimoto’s success as the first international celebrity chef here, is largely responsible for it. Megu laid its tables at The Leela Palace two years ago; more recently, Akira Back welcomed diners at the JW Marriott Hotel Aerocity. Is Morimoto worried about competition, especially from Back, who claims to be his acolyte (a claim he rubbishes outright)? “Not at all. If Indian customers have more high-end Japanese options, they can understand what we do better. In an equilateral triangle, the wider the base, the higher the apex will be, right?”

He should know. With 10 restaurants to his name (and three more in the pipeline this year

The comics industry in India is animated by passionate creators, readers and collectors ready to shell out big bucks

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rishi piparaiya

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n the mid-1980s, when Phantom, Mandrake and Flash Gordon — the dashing e looks every bit like a top chef.

Besupermen from Indrajal Comics — ruled coming, in a black double-breastthe hearts and bookshelves of children in jacket, hisinname India, threeed brothers Delhiembroidered were busy cursively in ofred, an invisible Midreaming up an army all-Indian superhechelinLike startheir pinned to hiswestern chest. And yet, rising roes. famous counterparts, from behind the table to greet,too he would steps forthese homegrown superheroes efward in a pair offalling white dress shortsvillains and sneakfortlessly catch cars, send and ers, beaming!

At 58,into Masahuru Morimoto, their cronies flying outer space, kill thea Nobu alumnus, and surbaddies and healcontinues the victimstoofshock injustice. prise in person on the that plate.had Allbeen of it with Coming fromas a family in thea practised ease that comes success and publishing business for twowith generations, sibwith the habit of taking risks that lings Sanjay, Manish andintelligent Manoj Gupta didn’t need to think twice before entering the comic book industry in 1986. Research, brainstorming and meetings with designers and artists followed, at the end of which was born Nagraj — the longest-running Indian comic superhero. Despite the competing attractions of television and the internet, each new issue of Raj Comics’ Nagraj sells at least 50,000 copies even today.

Cut to Bangalore; circa 2014. Arun Prasad zealously collects comics — old and new. He has over 15,000 rare comics, including the first prints of Amar Chitra Katha, Indrajal and Tinkle. These early editions are a prized possession today. In Mumbai, for instance, you can come across roadside vendors selling vintage comics for anything from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 each, depending on the publication date, the buyer’s passion and the seller’s business acumen. For the costliest ones, the buyer is asked to deposit the money in the vendor’s account before the comic can change hands.

Out-of-sight offsite

Stay unseen but top of mind at the next conference

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e have crossed March 31 and another aged financial year has breathed its last. And a newborn FY 2014-15 peeks out from under the Roman calendar with a cherubic grin. For those who have a life, April means chirping birds and the advent of spring. For the rest of us who plod through 9-to-5 jobs, it only signifies one thing: Strategy Conferences. Yay — we’re going on an offsite!

We’ll have meetings. We’ll work on business plans. We’ll create water-cooler gossip! Here are pointers you’ll thank me for: Seating My college thesis was on “Interpersonal dynamics of seating arrangements in conference rooms”, which makes me su-

premely qualified to opine that U-shaped seating is the worst — you’re forced to make eye contact with everyone in the room. Round tables are marginally better — you only have six odd douchebags to deal with. Theater-style seating is ideal — sit at the back and play Candy Crush.

Temperature Conference room thermostats are permanently set to 16oC. That coupled with the free bottled water means frequent restroom breaks (never factored into the schedule). Dress in layers — there will always be that colleague who is ‘feeling sick’ and needs your jacket.

Goodies An awesome conference will have bowls

in Chicago, Miami and Las Vegas) his success in the restaurant business is only matched, exceeded even, by his popularity on the cult-hit Iron Chef, a Japanese cook-off first telecast in Japan in 1993 and later in the US. Known both in reel and real life for his unorthodox use of ingredients and techniques in a cuisine famously unforgiving and rigid, has earned him mixed reviews and an equal share of critics and patrons, including the Obamas.

But he continues to do what he does best and allows his travels to feed his food (French, Italian, Spanish and “Indian too”). “I make my own épicé or garam masala for my signature dish lobster masala and marinate angry chicken Morimoto in tandoori and Peruvian spices.

And have you tried the rock corn tempura, a variant of my rock shrimp tempura? Or the carpaccio fish substitute made of tofu and tomato? All inspired by vegetarian diners in India.” (Aside: crucial in a country where, of the 10 richest people seven are vegetarian.)

Does he cook any of this for his wife though? “No. In my personal time, I don’t chop, I don’t slice, I don’t watch Food Network either. Not even Iron Chef.” “Besides,” he says of his partner of 34 years and his finest unofficial protégé, Keiko Morimoto, “she’s the betterlooking and better-cooking Morimoto.” soity banerjee

Modern mythmaking Despite a fading market, Mumbai-based Karan Vir Arora launched Vimanika Comics in 2008, banking on innovative formats and merchandising to attract new readers shashi ashiwal

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This, then, is the world of comics — dom- vintage set of 128 comics in Bengali starts at inated by passionate readers, collectors, sell- $1,038.70 (around ₹63,000). ers and creators. Yet, the one thing that stands “Collecting vintage comics is a global pheout today is the age group of the readers. nomenon, which is now visible in India too,” These are not children, rather they used to be says Manas Mohan, chief operating officer at the kids and teenagers in love with comics in ACK Media, which owns Amar Chitra Katha the 1980s and 1990s, who are now trying to re- and Tinkle publications. kindle the magic.

The titles from Indrajal Comics, which beby losers who envy those1964 who and brought of high-quality confectionary — mints, year latergan publishing in March sweets and candies — placed within arm’s have since That Splurging on nostalgia outleft itsfor lastgreener issue inpastures.

April 1990, are most in dereach. cheapskate conference will have to be in in thepopularity front row are where At A Comic Con India, the annual comicssaid, con-try not mand.

Next the vintage comupChitra kneeling. sugar and saunf.

Some give you2011,nincompoops vention held in the hotels country since the ics of end Amar Katha, including the first freemedian writing age padsofand pens.isThank visitors 21 andthem children are title, Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Nala-Damayanandhardly stock up — kids at home willconappre- ‘Higher authorities’ ti, besides the early editions of seen here.

“People ciatesuming it. The tightwads only today give free will be in attendcomic books arepen- The leadership teamTinkle. cils.above Pencils? (other than architects) ance, strutting around in jeans and ill-fit18.Who Some readers spend uses₹50,000 pencils in this dayto and age? ting t-shirts, pattingFuzzy you vintages on the back, a month buy comics.

Some readers making small talk, giving rah-rah speechThis is no longer the domain of While publishers look askance at spend ₹50,000 es and handing out awards.

Be uber-cool Drinks kids,” says Comic Con organiser those trading in comics at arbia month to buy a bottle tequiPost-conference session equals free, un- and memorable. Down Jatin Varma. “Nostalgia is a major trary prices,ofthey are also happy comics limited booze.

It may be domestic, IMFL la. Jump fully clothedto into the pool. factor,” he adds. know that Score collectors are not or premium.

It doesn’t matter. Drink ca- renewed inYesterday’s comic-loving childas if a century at beach cricket. willingCorporate to sell. “This no one is watching. reers are made, or shredded, at offsite is today’s high-earning profesterest in comics impacts us posistrategy conferences.tively by creating a higher decibel sional who thinks nothing of Group Photograph splurging on a cherished part of childhood. value for the brand,” says Mohan. ACK is growrishi piparaiya is the author Aisle annually be ThisSample piece ofthis: chromatic memorabilia has Gordon a vintage lot of 47 Flash ing at over 30 perofcent in the ₹600no historic pulledfor outauction a Damned Indrajal value; comicsit’sisonly available on rishi@aislebedamned.com crore Indian comics industry. eBay at a base price of $648.70 (₹39,000), But in this mad rush for vintage comics, along with shipping charges of $80 (around buyers can often be mistaken about a comic’s ₹5,000). And bidding for a Phantom Indrajal value. “The valuation process (of vintage com-

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Animal ways Medieval feasts usually involved a ghastly carcass or two shutterstock

and croutons, a glazed ham, two cold partridges, some broiled mushroom and a raised mutton pie. The second course presented Arabella with an even more bewildering choice.

For there was besides the pastry, a Rhenish cream, jelly, a Savoy cake, a dish of salsify fried in butter, an omelette and anchovy toast.”

Equally complex and gout-inducing is the little dinner planned by Sir Bonamy Ripple, a well-known gourmand, in Heyer’s False Colours: “‘They have a way of cooking semelles of carp which is better than anything my Alphonse can do,’ he said impressively. ‘I thought I’d have it removed with a fillet of veal. We must have quails: that goes without saying — and ducklings; and nothing beside except a few larded sweetbreads, and a raised pie. And for the second course just a green goose, with cauliflowers and French beans and peas, for I know you don’t care for large dinners. So I shall add only a dressed lobster, and asparagus, and a few jellies and creams, and a basket of pastries for you to nibble at.

THE HUNGRY READER That,’ he said, beaming upon his prospective guests, ‘is my notion of a neat little dinner.’”

Tempted by these accounts, I decide to seek a recipe for Davenport fowls — till I realise it involves taking “livers, hearts and the tenderest parts of the gizzards, shred very small, with half a handful of young clary, an anchovy to each fowl, an onion, yolks of four eggs boiled Comic timing Yearning for an all-Indian superhero, the Gupta siblings Manish (CEO), Manoj (president) and Sanjay (studio Comics 1986 kamal narang hard,head) withlaunched pepper,Rajsalt andinmace.

Stuff the fowls, and sew up any vents and necks that water may not get in.” It gets worse. Hessian soup ics) is still to be settled in the country. How do houses. Ditto at the retailers. “Getting to the involves stewing half an ox’s head and a calf’s you make sure that a copy is from the first consumer is a challenge now. Margins are tongue. And even the innocent-sounding print-run of a particular comic? It is a compli- high for distributors and small stores don’t Rhenish cream recipe — taken from the stern cated process,” says Mohan. even want to stock comics. And even if they and authentic The Complete Confectioner (1800) Varma points out that in the US, the Com- agree, the payments are invariably delayed by — starts with instructions to “cut two calves’ mercial Valuation Consultants (CVC) rates a up to six months, making it tough for publish- feet very small and put them into a saucepan”. comic book based on its preserved condition ers,” says Varma.

Resigned to the fact that I’m an incomplete and its uniqueness — whether un- deed nyone fancy a pig’scompletely cheek? Or feel Despite many challenges, fish…the freshwater crayfish and Mumbaistargazy confectioner, I decide to avoid the authentic available or signed by theherring? creators Or, andfor sothat on. pies like a soused based comic aficionado Karan heads Vir Arora went and head straight for wimpy recipes designed with little tasty whitebait all peepOn arriving at a valuation, it gives aofstamp of ing matter, a mouthful negus? ahead launched Vimanika incrust.”

2008. “Com- for the squeamish and lazy. In any case, I’m not outand through the thick pastry approval specifying that the comic is rude of value These might sound like in- panies wereHilary not innovating.

I thought it two was quite sure about a dish made from Rhenish Similarly, Mantel — who has won and should safeguarded. sults.

But,be believe it or not, they’re delicacies Booker time to Prizes do something different to regenerate for her historical novels set in wine, sugar, the yolk of eight eggs, and fla“In India, some the people selltables. comics dirt the that once graced politest Soused interest,” says. samehe era — describes this as a time of voured with lemon peel, laurel leaves and corcheap andare some sell them highmaripre- plague, herrings herrings in at a very vinegar His new-age comics brand derives its name uncertainty and excess.

An age when iander. Though I must admit that Savoy Cake — an early with 20th gifts cen- a tall, fancily shaped sponge cake filled with almiums.

I wish hadofthe wherewithal to the nade.

Negus is awe kind mulled wine. And frombitterest the Vimanika enemyShastra, was sweetened tury Sanskrit text on marzipan airborne vehicles.

Vimaregulate, do not overpay,” pig’s cheek so is, that well, people pig’s cheek served with of candied quinces, lions, tarts of ternate stripes of coloured jelly — sounds fun. nika’s superheroes arealmond based cream on Hindu says Varma. walnut ketchup and fried eggs. And al- preserved oranges and “flaIt is while perusing the quaint but daunting mythology Lord Shiva, decorated Kalki, Hanuman, Ga- English cookbooks of yesteryears that I feel there is no on voured thoughCurrently they’ve tumbled offinformation contemporary with— rosewater; with prenesha and theofDashavatars among violets”. others. the number ofthat’ll copiessoon published for served menus — for reasons be obvious petals roses and candied sympathy for Mr Woodhouse. Jane Austen’s Unlike in Japanlater, and Europe, comics in India hypochondriac character constantly urges his various decades ago, it Indra— these dishestitles continue to live onbethe pages Two centuries Jane Austen describes not mirrored the growth of guests to choose gruel and a small soft-boiled jal, romances ACK or Tinkle.

So as- fiction. of period and historical rather morehave commonplace meals involving the entertainment certaining For, whether it’sthe thereal storyvalue of a coldmedia meats and and boiled mutton egg over roast pork and apple Probably Old favourite Manas Mohan, COO oftart.

ACK Media, which ownsreaction vintage comic brandRhenish Amar Chitra Katha or sector.

“Comics were of a comic book remains soon-to-be-headless queen in and White Soup here at balls.

But not no- an acute to one cream present in any other format.

So glazed peacock too many. tricky in India. the glittering court of Henry VIbody approaches the food of the How do you make we beyond books,” II; the wittyMohan wooing of a believes muslinpasttook withthem as much zest as Geor(This is part of a monthly series that follows a Theythat are never sure a copytoo is says Arora. comics available free with the app, others buyers are a London largely clad madcap during gette Heyer. The Queen of Re- food trailare through the realm of fiction.) absorbed in the from the first printThe comics can be read online come for a fee. punting righttale now, season; or an edifying inbut an drama gency Romances believes green to amiss dinner run of comic? through a subscription.

MoreBesidesminwalla coming out newer titles,ofpubis a with journalist and author The that this “ischaraca fairly English adds parsonage, the goose and orange soufflé is shabnam India doesn’t have over, characters ap- Six lishers are advertising their titles, holding Spellmakers of Dorabji Street ters areshort neverphenomenon too absorbedand in quiteVimanika’s as important to the wella commercial pear t-shirts, posters, should over soon”. the drama tobe miss their dinner. beingon of her heroines as theand af- campaigns in schools and marketing them at evaluator other knick-knacks, besides Buteven, that is Or breakfast ofprecisely sirloin, fections of the rakish hero. beIn public events. When ACK brought out a comic Soup (Serves ing aavailable aspretending sculpturestoand the Carnatic musician6)MS Subbulakshmi, it where the problem salt-beef, York ham, soused herring and but- Arabella — about young girl be onWhite The soup served at Today, 50 per cent of tied uporiginal with the Chennai-based music associIf and when tered eggslies.

— washed down the with chocolate an heiress —paintings.

Heyer describes a meal of the the Narada Netherfield in Pride come from the ation Ganaball Sabha to launch the title at buzzof around local and tankards ale. Indeed, they seem so times. “The Arora’s dinner, revenues which consisted of two Prejudice was probably sale of merchandise.

He has annual festival. “That comics diesarteries, out, the busy clogging their it’s a miracle courses, seemed tosuch Arabella sumptuous be- theandassociation’s made using partridges. variation: tied upher with apparel firm Kapsons the sale brought us support fromHere’s loversa of comics as publishers beanother left at aglazed loose yond they live long enoughwill to eat wildest imaginings.

Nofor suspicion 1 1/4 litres of light beef or mutton stock of Vimanika t-shirtsthat in northern “We are well as music,” says Mohan. end. networked children crossed peacock. Or findToday’s true love.

Or get beheaded. her mind her host India. had resigned 50 gm blanched almonds also looking a franchisethat model for selling Rajslices Comics, meanwhile, making a feature prefer live-action heroes to the de32- himself Take, for example, Philippa Gregory’s to theatknowledge the reputation 10 of white bread, noiscrusts merchandise and comics,” he says. starring that Nagrajcourt typi- of scriptionpage-long of a mealbattles in the gluttonous himself and his cook had been placed in film 1 egg yolk its superhero Doga. “It should be early nextcream year,” says Gupta. of Henrycally VIII wages.

— as seen through the eyes of jeopardy; or that the artist in the kitchen, hav- ready 100ml double Old stories in new avatars A hardsoured copy ofcream a comic book that was availahis fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. “To my sur- ing, with strange Gallic imprecations, which 100ml or milk lemon juice, chilliis flakes to taste at Like Arora, ACK, assistants Diamond quake, Comicsrent andlimb Raj bleSalt, forpepper, ₹5 in the mid-1980s now priced Competing with TV and fricassees, made prise there is chicken, in pies his various 50 Adjusted gm toastedfor almonds to garnish Comics aretwo trying differentDavenport approaches to ₹50. inflation, there is hardly any Observing that the demand for from roasted with mouth-watering herbs and limb half-roasted fowls, 1 Put almondsBut andpublishers bread in aare blender; addto makeflung theirthem presence Thewith changes visi- price increase. anxious comics is notbut as robust as it used carved from the bone; in this season of and into felt. a pan someare béchasome stock totomake a smooth paste. ble at Landmark, Crossword orgaprices low retain customers.

Waging a to called be in the 1980s, Manish Gupta, Lent it’s not meat.

For the purposes of mel sauce and tarragons, wasand evenother now, as he keep 2 Strain it into the remaining stock. nised bookstores now have racks for crucial battle for readership, comics publishCEOfast of Raj Comics, it onthat the arranged the Lenten the King blames has ruled a basketthat of pastries onaafew dish, unde3 Beat the yolk with the creams and add Indianto publishers, Mohan. house, or to erstowill wishaside for some ofhours. the superpowin reading, TV cided chickendeclining counts asinterest fish. There are allasthe leave thissays dishonoured thelikely mix. Set for 1-2 companies are also tapping the in- ers4 Heat, their keeping comic itheroes are so generously Internet emerge as the gameand birdsthe (also not meat according topopGod cutComics his throat with a large carving knife.” well below boiling point not just for was selling their titles but also with. of entertainment. andular themedium King) beautifully enfolded within ternet “Soup a la Reine removed with fillets of endowed (to avoid curdling the egg). Add remaining to attract young readers through apps for moThe another falling demand, in turn, to re- turbot one for the flavour and leads tenderness. with an Italian sauce; and the Chickens ingredients and garnish with almonds. phones were and tablets. some of the rashmi pratap duced for comics at egg, distributors’ wareTherespace are rich dishes of and there’s in- abile la Tarragon flanked While by a dish of spinach

A short history of hogging

Characters in historical novels are so busy clogging their arteries, it’s a miracle they live long enough to eat another glazed peacock. Or find true love. Or get beheaded

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Hold Place your to callbreath… home Coming soon to a stadium near you is the new kabaddi league, promising to draw global The court verdict might give the third gender an identity, but finding shelter is still a struggle attention for one of India’s most underrated sports

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henever Balwan Singh, the 54- last three decades. Competing against 11 counyear-old head coach of the In- tries, the national team has retained the kadian kabaddi team, intones baddi gold ever since the sport was “kabaddi… kabaddi… kabad- introduced at the Asian Games in 1990. di”, his diaphragm moves in a time-tested Singh has coached and managed the unbearhythm not unlike that of a trained vocalist ex- ten team since 2003. I meet the Dronacharya ecuting an intricate raga. The awardee outside the gates of the stomach movement is so proNew Willingdon Camp on Delhi’s nounced that it is visible through Race Course Road; by the time we his t-shirt. As Singh says, “Uttering reach an eatery nearby for a chat Kabaddi has the word while playing is good evolved into a slick, over coffee and pakoras, Singh, not only for concentration but alsophisticated sport clearly a genial man, has already so for the internal body organs. To invited at least three of the over the years my knowledge, there is no other guards to join us and greeted sport that can help maintain overpretty much every passerby. all fitness like kabaddi does.”

“I know it’s not as popular as I’m meeting Singh to talk about cricket, but one shouldn’t forget the soon-to-be-launched Pro Kabaddi League that kabaddi is our country’s oldest sport. It is (PKL). The brainchild of veteran sports com- said to have been around since the time of the mentator Charu Sharma, backed by his broth- Mahabharat, and that’s a remarkably long er-in-law and industrialist Anand Mahindra, time for a sport to survive,” Singh says, in what PKL is slated to take off in July-August with is now a familiar refrain among those in the eight city franchises graced by stars from 24 world of kabaddi or the PKL. kabaddi-playing nations, including India.

And like in the case of cricket’s IPL or foot- Pulling in the crowds and money ball’s ISL, the owners are a mixed bag of who’s “I see this venture as a means of reconnecting who — from actor Abhishek Bachchan (Jaipur) with our country’s past,” says Charu Sharma. and Future Group’s Kishore Biyani (Kolkata) to “I fell in love with the sport at the Asian Games I wearMahindra foundation.

Yes,(Pune) I live at Uday Kotak ofes,Kotak Bank Jamaaths. the State, theyAnand are a Super Doha inSpread 2006. I across came back and told remains to find a safe haven, just coach like everybocoach Balwan Singh is the head of the withScrewvala a man. Yes, I’m a middle- (Mahindra); and UTV’s Ronnie (Mumbai). kind of matriarchal society byto hierarwe have been defined meaning take unbeaten dy else. Indian Deepika (name changed upon reSHARMA kabaddi team RAMESH aged fag. But I know who I am, this chiesup likefor that a guru a chela (disciple). a of long timeand now...

Kabaddi has quest), a 23-year-old Master in Social Work Val. It took me 20 years to get evolved Homegrown strength The Jamaaths a whole have been instrumeninto aasslick, sophisticated sport over who While he agrees and comes from a professional low-income leagues background here, and I’mof not somethat idiot senator While many usgonna mightlet know the Span- the tal in the and public representation andseems mobilisyears, forming a pro-league the lives the money involved cansupported bring their of in a ladies hostel byown the set NGO. destroy that.team **** the don’t give ish football Realsenator, MadridI has won thea best ing of support forThe theleague community.

Butacross there She thing to do.” will travel troubles, thatof“severe checks says, “Ihe’s amconfident the youngest four brothers damn what League he thinks.”

The impact Champions nine times and theofLathese Liga the havecountry been instances wherefrom individual with support the Alloutfits India in and punishments” tackle my family. I was can forced outthem. of my home by lines, spoken

by Armand played

by Kabaddi 32 times, it’s unlikely that Goldman, we know India is unhave convinced their members into believing Federation.

With multi-city venues myFor national-team players Rakesh parents last week, whensuch theyascame to Robin Williams in The having Birdcage,won stays long after defeated in kabaddi, the gold at and thattop-class trafficking and Charu begging were the only players, is certain it will be know Kumarabout and my Navneet Gautam, the They PKL told has effeminate identity. the scene ends. It’s achampionship poignant moment every international held in the ameans a livelihood in the Jamaath.” great to crowd-puller. come as would a surprise, albeit a welcome one. me they rather not have a son like me.AsI film that has real world resonance. It’s about a The Jamaath aside, there are few places came Kumar, captain started playing tothe this hostelsays, and“Iwas taken underserithe gay parent, Armand, reasoning with his son where such individuals can seek a safe haven. wing ously of when I wasa 13.

In my village Nizampur, Vasuki, counsellor.

She intends to Val, why he wouldn’t appear to be anything AJ Hariharan, the founder secretary of Indian meet outside kabaddi has aand richadvise tradition and myDelhi, parents this week them to other than who he truly is, so that Val’s soon- Community Welfare Organisation, a Chennai- help I’m proud to carry on thisintradition.” me assimilate back my home.” to-be father-in-law, the senator, can be con- based NGO that works towards improving the He excited by south the fresh new prospects Theisefforts down mirror those set invinced that theirs is just a normal American living conditions of sexual minorthrown up by the league.

“While weyears can ago live to motion more than 14 family. (Armand’s partner is Albert, a cross- ities tells us, “Broadly speaking, quite comfortably as international kabaddi

by Anindya Hajra, a transgender dressing homosexual who has taken on the there aren’t dedicated facilities to players, the PKL willactivist definitely a boon for us. rights andbefounder memrole of the woman in their relationship). Cut serve the needs of sexual minoriNot only will it of bring more attention to Kolthe ber Pratyay Gender Trust in to 2014 and you have 16 states in the US that ties. During adolescence, when Transgenders game, but we’ll also get to play withthe startrust, playkata.

Speaking about often have legalised same sex unions. the realisation of their sexual ers from countries learn from Hajra says, and “Around two them. years have to make do other Back home in India, it took the Supreme identity dawns on these young- with desolate This will be especially for the upcoming back, weuseful inaugurated our Purareas, Court more than 67 years to grant recognition sters, they tend to run away from Asian gamesBasha in Korea thisShelter September.”

Night and Daytime which leaves them to the third gender, a community that was rel- or leave their homes, usually beDrop-in Centre. It was created for vulnerable egated to the fringes of Indian society. Looked cause their families don’t accept Go native trans-women in Kolkata who are down upon as an anomaly, even by educated them. They would never find acKabaddi players from such Chipart of thecountries street-based sexasworkpeople, those belonging to the third gender commodation in a regular lodge nese Taipei, er’s Italy,community.

Iran, Pakistan, Korea The South impetus bemade ends meet through begging, prostitu- or a hotel as they are harassed and and England, to name a few, will the hind its creation was play that in these tion and occasionally ‘blessing’ weddings and accused of conducting their business on the sex league.

Navneet Gautam, a defender the naworkers, who travelled from farin flung archildbirth ceremonies. The passing of this premises. Needless to say, these people have to eas tional team, histocaptain.

“See, it’s of the city,agrees had nowith place retire after their landmark verdict hopes to change conditions resort to perilous alternatives.” goodworking that we hours. get to play and at such long They more had no proper fooda for them, granting them, most crucially, a But baby steps towards the betterment of and highthey level.were I’ve been in theto top level for of over exhausted the point col-a sense of identity, dignity and acceptance. their existence are being taken. Hariharan lapsing. decade now… (but) there arehave many for whom Most of these ladies nowhere to But before those bigger ideals are achieved, says, “We have now tied up with the Chennai dress it’s harder, and setups such as the PKLday. willAnd enbefore they get on with their the community needs to fulfil something Corporation to set up a shelter exclusively for they courage more to take the game.” used to people make do withup desolate areas, more basic — the need for shelter. While State- runaway transgendered people. The Corpora- street There is optimism in the run-up to thehighfirst corners and taxis, which left them run shelters do serve the needs of runaway tion is providing the physical infrastructure, ly edition of thetoleague thisOur year.

Sharma vulnerable sexual later assaults. facility ofboys, girls and the homeless, those of the third such as the buildings that will house these fers points to the larger picture: is India’s inthem a respite of sorts“This where they can gender usually have no place to call home, as people. We have volunteered to provide resi- recuperate, digenous sport; in the they don’t care thata freshen up US with a bath and have their families often ostracise them when they dents with free counselling and career guid- good no onenight’s else follows their version of football, sleep before they proceed for learn of their identities. ance so as to channel their faculties into their but they go crazy over day. it. WeOur should take offers pride work the next shelter Sankari, a transgender activist in Chennai, developmental and productive activities.” in kabaddi too,aand PKLof should some way in these women space their go own that they says, “For members of the transgendered comEven though the beneficiaries of these pro- can encouraging that.” call home.” munity in Tamil Nadu (referred to as Arava- grammes find temporary relief in such maarasu bijoy bharathan nis), the closest thing to a second home are the keshift arrangements, their end objective sibi

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One small step Transgenders celebrate the recent Supreme Court verdict pti / shahbaz khan

Hop, skip and jump Indian players look forward to honing their game by playing alongside international stars in the Pro Kabaddi League

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meet scan

saturday, april 26,26, 2014 saturday, april 2014

by A free country, againZapped an app India’s first celebrity hijra Lakshmi on her journey from being a ‘homo’ and Now, to jetan lagactivist can well bethe Letter to Mr Modilong road to independence for the third gender a thing of the past

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Ghaziabad resident commits suicide, leaves family in the hands of ‘future PM’

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utting it simply, jet lag is when our the arts then and training in Bharatanatyam. her father was asked how hegoes accepted his son’s circadian rhythm haywire Kavi asked her to continue with her education sexuality, he said, “if my child was when crossing too many time zoneshand— both academics and dance. icapped would youiteven ask me whether rapidly.

Recently, was discovered that I’d When she finished school, she joined Mum- have him leave And theasked amount of to light thathome? a person is just ex- bebai’s Mithibai College. Around this time, Ken cause his sexual orientation is different?” posed to affects the severity of jet lag as Ghosh was making music videos and she audiIt wasAnd when Lakshmi met Shabira, Indian’s well. to find a solution to this, like tioned for a dancer’s role and bagged it. Laksh- first PhD student that she first fortransgenders everything else these days, is an app mi went on to dance in several videos and heard theoptimal hijra culture.

In Mumbai, thatabout makes lighting recom- they became a choreographer. Slowly, she began aremendations split into seven families family that will help and you each reduce dressing up in drag when she was out. When hasthe its amount own guru and disciples, called chelas. of time it takes for your Kavi started working towards reShe decided to join with Shabira, body to readjust. Entrain, as the app is pealing Section 377, the law that but justby before the of move, Shabira called, is created a group mathemakes homosexual activity a went missing.

Lakshmi went maticians from the University of Mi- nevcriminal offence, Lakshmi beertheless and was fascinated by It was the firstchigan. time The app will mirror what your came part of his team. She turned the community. She decided to that Indian body TV is going through, asking you up for the first press conference on. Soon after time her initiation, questionsstay to work out what your audiences saw dressed like a woman, her face Lakshmi joined a to night body thinks it is.

According yourclub an- and a hijra with her fully made up. That caught the atbecame a bar dancer.

She was swers, the app’s recommendations relabiological parents tention of the media and Zee TV tively famous already, admirwill automatically pop-up.

And and in sitasked Kavi whether Lakshmi ers from across the city came uations where you cannot get to a dark to would provide them with a watch her dance and shower place, even if the app recommends it cursound byte. She did. It was aired. rency notes to overcome your lag,on youher. canWhen resetthe thethen And that’s when her parents found out she home minster of Maharashtra, RRrecomPatil decid‘lighting history’ and the app’s was aligning with the hijra community. Much ed mendations to shut down the city’s dance she orgaschedule willbars, update emotional drama ensued, with her father nised a protest. The dancers lost but Lakshmi’s automatically. even lining up marriage proposals for her. “Fi- zeal for activism soared. In a video for Project nally, I said if you do this, I’ll run away.” Caught Bolo for the Hamsafar Foundation, she articubetween a judgemental society and parental lates in detail her life from being a ‘homo’ to affection, her parents eventually came an activist hijra and guru of her hijra family. around. In a BBC interview, years later, when Lakshmi is opinionated and outspoken.

That has won her both friends and enemies. In the mid-noughties, Mumbai newspapers frequently carried reports of fights and brawls involving Lakshmi and others in the community. “Mostly the community leaders were of the opinion that while I was high-profile and getting a lot of publicity, I never discredited the community. The fights were caused by his is, by no means, the death of the English language or even the who were jealous of me,” she says. people death of the OED. The next edition of OED, the third in 156 years, In 2002, she became one of the founding has been in the pipeline for the last two decades now. What’sboard news members of the Dai Welfare Society, though is that the publishers have come to terms with the fact that the sought to work for the well-being of hijwhich next edition will probably only exist online. This insight must’veras. been In a few years though, she left it to start her well researched, considering the first edition took 70 years to complete own organisation, Astitva. In 2008, she beand nine months for researchers to arrive at the definition of thecame wordthe first transgender person to repre‘run’ — now the longest single entry. The second edition came sent out in Asia Pacific in the United Nations. At the 1989 and the third is expected by 2034. Michael Proffitt, CEO of OED she spoke of the plight of sexual miassembly, said, “We hear everything that goes on in the world of English for the “People should be more humane. norities. last 500 years and it’s deafening.” If the new dictionary is printed, They it should respect us as human beings and will have 40 volumes, double the length of the second edition. consider our rights as transgenders,” she said.

Back in India, she straddled her celebrity lifestyle and her outspoken activism. She appeared in several TV shows. In one, Sach ka Saamna, where contestants who are rigged up to a lie detector and asked embarrassing questions, Lakshmi brought her parents along. “It was the first time that Indian audiences saw a hijra with her biological parents, I did it as a part of my activism,” she said. Lakshmi’s appearances in mainstream media went a long ow bad could it really be? Sub-zero temperatures, no way in dispelling myths about hijras. electricity, heater or any device, nothing except a The SC verdict is an enormous success for sturdy sleeping bag. Ida Beate Løken, a 19-year-old NorweLakshmi and others like her. This means that gian student of agriculture, says not so bad at all. In a radthe two million transgenders in India — who ical effort to reduce her environmental impact, Løken often live in dire poverty and whose occupamoved into a cave in Norway in May 2013 and has been tions are usually begging or prostitution — there ever since. “When it rains, I wonder how I do this. have access to medical care and reservations But then when I get up here and sit inside, it is quite for educational institutions and government warm. Then I know why I do it,” Løken told a Norwegian jobs. It isn’t just typical Lakshmi hyperbole channel earlier this month. Born and brought up in fjordthen when she says, “India got its independfilled Western Norway, she also said, “It’s actually a lot of ence on August 15, we got ours on April 15”. fun to stay here.”

akshmi Narayan Tripathi had been dancing for a while, hamming it up for the cameras at times. It is only when she finally ascends the makeshift stage at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, dressed in a black-white-and-gold sari, that she stops dancing, takes the mike and pauses mid-sentence n a bizarre incident last week, a 35-yearto give advocate Anand Grover a tight hug. “I old man killed himself and apparently call him my boyfriend,” she shouts into the left a note asking the BJP’s PM aspirant to mike and cackles along with her audience, betake care of his family. Om Prakash Tiwari, fore sharing with them how crucial Grover’s a resident of Loni in Ghaziabad, jumped in role had been in giving herself and others like front of a moving train on the outskirts of her their “independence”. Earlier in the week, the city. The local police claim they have rein a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court alcovered a suicide note from Tiwari’s body lowed transgender people to be recognised as that states, “Dear Narendra Modi Ji, you are a third gender. For Lakshmi, this was the sucgoing to become the Prime Minister of Incessful end of a long campaign. dia. I am committing suicide due to financial problems. I request you to take care of Vivacious and outspoken, Lakshmi is the first celebrity hijra. Born and raised in Mummy daughter after my death.” That’s yet anbai as a boy, she is one of the rare transgenders other portfolio the ‘future PM’ will have to who found support within her family. Early handle. on, she knew her sexual preference was different. “Yet I never thought of myself as different.

People would laugh at me and call me names, and they made me different. I am who I am,” she recalls. She thought she was gay and everyone called her “homo” anyway. So when she was in Class 5 or so, she got in touch with the only publicly gay person she knew — Ashok Row Kavi. Lakshmi was already interested in

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The last of the dictionaries

The Oxford English Dictionary might have seen its last print

T Italian spirits for sale The ‘world’s most haunted island’ will be auctioned next month

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he island of Poveglia, a what was once her home. An stone’s throw away from the American TV crew, part of the city of Venice, will go on sale to show Ghost Adventures, tried to reduce the public debt of the catch Maria. One of the show’s Italian government. The island presenters even claimed to be was allegedly home to a mental ‘possessed’ after a trip to the ishospital in the 1920s, where lo- land. Despite its ghoul connecbotomies were common prac- tion, a few residents of the tice. Earlier still, in the 18th nearby islands in the Venetian century, it was sealed off and lagoon are looking to chip in used to house plague victims. It and purchase the island. They is said that thousands of ghosts, have even set up the Poveglia Per literally, loiter about on this sce- Tutti (Poveglia For All) Associnic island. The most famous of ation and are crowdsourcing the them is Little Maria, a plague vic- money to buy the island. We liberty tim who, at opportuneLady mowonder what the ghosts of PoveLakshmi celebrates ments, can be spotted the crying would make of this auctionSupremeglia Court and looking over the lagoon commotion. verdictatat Jantar Mantar last week meeta ahlawat

Return of the cave woman

Norwegian teen lives in a cave to reduce her carbon footprint

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preeti mehra

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saturday, april 26, 2014

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cornerstone in-faq by joy bhattacharjya

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id a quiz on singles last week. This week my twin boys celebrated their birthdays, and the film version of Two States just released. I guess the universe is trying to tell me something.

1

The best-selling double album of all time is Michael Jackson’s History, which sold over 33 million copies worldwide. Which is the second best-selling double album ever with over 30 million sales worldwide? It’s a proper album, not a greatest hits compilation.

2

Which pair of 19th-century celebrity brothers did sisters Sarah Ann and Adelaide Yates marry in 1843? If you can’t name both brothers (incidentally Asian) tell me how they were better known. Lots of hints.

3

James Ormond played just two tests for England, but he will always be remembered for this amazing on-field exchange. ______: “Mate, what are you doing out here?

There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”

Ormond: “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my own family.” Fill in the blanks.

4

In a desperate bid to justify my three years studying for a Mathematics degree — what are twin primes? It’s quite simple actually.

the new york times crossword-0309

oscar double features

5

In 1964, which well-known Indian director made a black-and-white short film for PBS titled Two: A Film Fable?

6

In late 2001, for what reason did Sony recall a whole set of teaser film posters of Spiderman?

Incidentally, the ones that were not recovered are highly prized collectors’ items.

7

Which Hollywood star has a fraternal twin named Michael, who has a heart condition?

This actor once admitted to contemplating suicide so that his brother could have a heart donor.

8 9

Greek mythology: name Apollo’s twin sister, the daughter of Zeus and Leto.

In which children’s book series would you come across Isabel and Pat, the O’Sullivan twins?

10

Finally, in the 1998 comedy Twins, who played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s almost equally well-endowed twin brother?

Answers 1. Pink Floyd, The Wall, the chorus was performed by students of Islington Green school in the US, who were taught cockney accents 2. Chang and Ellis Bunker, the original Siamese twins.

And they had 21 children between them. Go figure!

3. Mark Waugh. Steve Waugh was also playing for Australia at the time — and Mark could not have been too pleased 4. Primes separated by 2, example 17 and 19, 41 and 43 5. Satyajit Ray 6. The Twin Towers in the New York skyline are reflected in Spidey’s eyes, and this was just after 9/11 7. Ashton Kutcher. Michael eventually got a donor 8. Artemis, the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, childbirth and virginity. Talk about multitasking.

9. The St Clare’s series by Enid Blyton 10. Danny DeVito

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joy bhattacharjya is a quiz master, director Kolkata Knight Riders and author of Junior Premier League — The First XI t@joybhattacharj

ACROSS

1 Compadre 6 Director of “Carrie” and “Scarface” 13 Muss 19 They put up walls 21 Does some farrier’s work on 22 Berate 23 Nelson Mandela? [1995, 1985] 26 She, in Lisbon 27 Strike the ground in a golf swing 28 On the line 29 Fraternal group 30 One giving unreliable testimony? [1976, 1985*] 34 Blood-related 36 Gang girl 37 Paradigms 40 Bread holder?

43 Magnate 46 Alternatively 48 Like yaks and mynas 50 Muckraker Tarbell 51 Flips over 53 Reason for missing a flight? [1970*, 2000*] 57 Message from one who’s all thumbs?

58

60 “With the jawbone of ___ ...” (declaration of Samson) 61 Purposely misinform 62 First name in tyranny 63 Real enthusiast 65 Ending for acro- or homo66 Look-alike 68 Part of a line at O’Hare?

[2002, 1976*] 73 From the top 74 Hide-hair connector 75 ___ cologne 76 Put away 79 Leader of the pack 82 Insurance giant 84 Part of a jazz duo?

85 Noted provider of pictorial instructions 86 Cheesy pickup line? [1944, 1995*] 90 Bears, but not Cubs 92 Novelist Patchett 93 Forfeits 94 Degrees for attys.

96 “Hound Dog” or “What’s New Pussycat?”

97 Baseball’s Iron Man 99 Snowmobile brand 102 River to the Rhine 104 V-shaped fortification 106 Reason why all the

computers are down?

[1976*, 2005] 111 Gallic girlfriend 113 Surgically remove 116 Pulitzer winner James 117 Locale in Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” 118 Seaside outing? [1955*, 1954] 123 Former Gracie Mansion resident 124 Repeat 125 Lying face up 126 ___ Channel (“Hannah Montana” airer) 127 Successfully impersonate 128 Early Apple computers

DOWN

1 Yellow shade 2 Thomas of TV 3 Caravaggio’s “The Sacrifice of ___” 4 End of some URLs 5 Individually 6 Annual N.B.A. event 7 Auction ending?

8 The Oscars are awarded on it: Abbr.

9 When repeated, a plea of Richard III

10 Daughter in “The Sound of Music” 11 1986 World Series champs 12 “Dilbert” intern 13 Reciprocal raising of tariffs, e.g.

14 Lummox 15 “Amazing!”

16 Many a hanging 17 Deficiency 18 Some P.A. announcements 20 Knitted wrap 24 TurboTax option 25 “Yuk!” 31 Target competitor 32 Not yet final, legally 33 Linda of Broadway’s “Jekyll & Hyde” 35 “Holy cow!”

38 Historic fort on the Oregon Trail 39 Bygone boomers 41 Mince words?

42 Tijuana treat 43 Star of “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” 44 Put the finger on 45 Poisonous 47 “The Divided Self” author R.D. ___ 49 “I’m not kidding!”

52 Enliven, with “up”

54 Like Gamal Abdel Nasser’s movement 55 Jet black 56 Numismatic condition 59 Ocean routes 63 Achieved through trickery 64 “Rough day?” response 67 Expand 69 Chemistry Nobelist Otto 70 Award won 21 times by Harold Prince 71 In a stupor 72 Like fall leaves 77 Hatcher or Polo 78 Allay 79 Food thickener 80 Actress Anderson 81 Small irritations 83 Meadow mamas 85 “No one’s ___ than me” (Eminem lyric) 87 Belgium or Denmark 88 Tons 89 Diddle away 91 Emphatic

95 “Beetle Bailey” figure 98 Excited about 100 Moves slowly 101 Scares off 103 Astronaut Thomas on four space shuttle flights 105 Prefix with natal 107 Western 108 Dr. Alzheimer 109 Medicinal plant 110 Can’t stand 111 Mimicked 112 Skirt style 114 Short cut 115 James portrayed by Beyoncé 119 Clinch 120 Post-W.W. II female service member 121 From ___ Z 122 The Engineers of the N.C.A.A., for short

By Alan Arbesfeld / Edited by Will Shortz

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