Blink issue 30 august16 2014

JAWS AT MY DOORSTEP As riverbeds vanish, crocodiles are forced out of their natural habitat in Gujarat. But there is no reason to panic yet p2 saturday, august 16, 2014

shutterstock

Freedom means to walk one’s own path, to spurn convention and society’s judgement. Six individuals have done just that by refusing to tick the boxes of children, EMIs and other urban compulsions p7

Freedom from us

NO GRAND HOTEL In Bollywood, hotels aren’t sites of fancy but a dreadful Western invention p14

BEACON ON MARINA Getting acquainted with Chennai’s iconic lighthouse and its maritime history p16

know play

BL BL 222

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

That’s not cricketWho is in your bathtub?

The gentleman’s game is one in which the players mouth obscenities, and glower and fume at each other, all in the full glare of TV cameras

vijay lokapally

Run afoul The skirmish between English cricketer James Anderson and Indian Ravindra Jadeja during the ongoing India-England Test series nearly escalated to the Bodyline level

As riverbeds shrink and migration getty images/gareth copley rises, the human-crocodile conflict intensifies in Gujarat

O

M

On edge The Vishwamitri’s riverbed has depleted, resulting in smaller nesting spaces for mother crocodiles kamlesh surve

CH-X _ A

any cricketers and cricket writers believe that cricket is a reflection of the times we live in. If that were true, then the times have always been rough and controversial for cricket.

The recent Ravindra Jadeja-James Anderson ‘clash’ was but another instance. At one stage, it had the potential to escalate and strain the relationship between the cricket Boards of India and England. Quite on the lines of the Bodyline controversy in 1932-33, when Australia and England nearly severed their cricketing ties due to the unfair tactics adopted by the English bowlers.

However, sanity was restored after Anderson, guilty of pushing Jadeja (if the Indian team management is to be believed), was let off. But Jadeja was let off too, the English camp could have very well countered. Strangely, the India captain MS Dhoni chose to pursue the case merely because it involved his favourite player in the team. In the process, India lost focus and drifted from its main task of playing good cricket. The crushing innings loss at Old Trafford not only caused acute embarrassment but also meant India will not win the series. At best, it can look for a 2-2 verdict if it triumphs in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

For long, cricket has been touted as a gentleman’s game. Nothing can be farther from reality, as incidents of players mouthing obscenities, and glaring and fuming at each other have been captured on television often enough. Some term it ‘aggression’, while others say it’s ‘venting frustration’. Sadly, it has come to be accepted as part of the game, and minor fines are imposed to discipline players.

It certainly doesn’t deter young players like Jadeja and Virat Kohli from antics that show them in poor light. Can they be ideal ambassadors for this so-called gentleman’s game?

Jadeja and his ilk seem to believe that expletives are the best show of aggression on the field. Now that’s a misconception, as the West Indies fast bowlers amply showed in the 1970s.

They let fly not a word, only some gobsmacking deliveries. In stark contrast to Jadeja is the much-talented and appreciated Cheteshwar

n August 3, Thakor Bachu Vasava, yer who had come to India on an assignment, 33-year-old resident of Diver vil- was killed when he went for a swim in the Narlage in Vadodara district, Gujarat, mada at his ancestral village of Bhalod in Bhatook his cattle to graze on the ruch district. In July, a woman in her 20s was banks of the Narmada. Little did he imagine dragged away from the banks of the Dev river. that a few minutes later, he A search party was sent out, but would be trapped in the jaws of a even hours later her body could not be traced. seven-foot predator. A crocodile In the last five months, six huattacked Vasava and dragged A tug of war between man lives have been lost to these him into the depths of the river, rescuers and a predators, with over a dozen atbefore killing him. His body was crocodile lasted fished Both out later by the rescuers of team, but Gidwani by the tacks also at being Found Pujara. play for same Ranji collar the reported. crease during a nearly an hour the State’s forest in thematch water bodies of cenhave nothing in department. common when it comes to Ranji Trophy mostly quarterfinal at Faridabad tralfrightening,” Gujarat — therecalls Narmada, VishEarlier April, a 60-year-old their gameinand demeanour.

While Jadeja’s be- in 1987. “It was Gidwani. wamitri and Mahi — crocodiles man from Vadodara at- etiquette, Ahmed was later haviour clearly showscity lackwas of cricket dropped from the team for tacked into the Vishit is alsoand truepulled that competitors today rarely ap- the misdeed. have become a nightmare for the wamitri a spirit large incrocodile.

The people Vadodara district.

While thehow Crocodyplaud eachriver otherby in the which the ‘agEven of earlier, in 1984, I remember durincident caused much panic fear among ing lus palustris has been a favouriteKotla topicthe forDelregressive’ Australians paidandspontaneous a Ranji match at Ferozeshah the residentsevery of the neighbourhood, as the hi searchers, it has thrown upSurender several challenges compliments time VVS Laxman excelled wicketkeeper-batsman Khanna for the administration. the reptile refused let go of theare body. tug of confronted on the pitch.

Thetolikes of Jadeja notAaccordBengal spinnerUnsurprisingly, Dilip Doshi on the human-crocodile conflict is no longer war between theeven rescuers the crocodile ed such gestures on theand domestic circuit. boundary line, again by holding him by conthe lasted nearlyrefusing an hour. to rationalise bad on- collar, fined to thewith countryside; areas“police, are beHowever, and the latter urban screaming ginningAnd to report similar In behaviour, May, Hiteshan Barot, a California-based field umpire says, “One gets lawput police”. there was the incidents. disturbing incident off by their behaviour because they think they in which Delhi’s Madan Lal and Maharashtra’s are above the game. In Jadeja’s case, and oth- Pandurang Salgaoncar pulled off a stump ers like him, playing for the Indian Premier each during a match at Kotla in 1980. But these League becomes a ticket to boorincidents were quickly forgotten ish behaviour. People refrain and the players maintained a corfrom speaking or taking action dial atmosphere during the rest because the Board [BCCI] does of the contest. not back them in cases involving Surprisingly and, as a former In 1984, I remember top players.” international cricketer observed, how during a Ranji To guard against bad behaeven shockingly, the Indians purmatch, Delhi viour on the field, former India sued their case against Anderson wicketkeepercaptain Anil Kumble had offered without an iota of evidence. It batsman Surender to mentor youngsters. “Cricket was one man’s word against anKhanna held Bengal education is a must,” he had as- spinner Dilip Doshi by other. Jadeja is known to irritate serted. His cricket education inopponents with his antics and, the collar, when the cluded teaching youngsters according to some past players, it latter started how to handle their finances is now imperative that the Board screaming “police, and how to conduct themselves introduces for youngsters a police” in public. This is not to suggest course in good behaviour. that past cricketers were exemPlayers adopt aggressive tacplary in their manners. Players tics, sometimes bordering on vihave been known to stir up conolence, in body-contact sport like troversy since the time of WG Grace. But in the football, hockey, ice-hockey, basketball. But modern era, minor arguments have degener- that’s not cricket! ated into physical aggression. Who can forget “Cricket demands dignified behaviour,” as the staggering sight of Australian legend Den- the New Zealand great Richard Hadlee would nis Lillee, bat raised, threatening to pound the advocate. Players like Kumble and Laxman Pakistan great Javed Miandad? The Pakistani brought grace to the middle and left a rich legwas saved by the umpire’s intervention. acy that someone like Jadeja, Kohli or Gautam Closer home, Baroda seamer Rashid Patel, Gambhir should not be allowed to devalue. As stump in hand, chased Delhi opener Raman the former great Mohinder Amarnath once Lamba on the field. It is another matter that told me, if a young cricketer today considers they buried the hatchet later by playing as himself to be a role model, then he should partners in a double-wicket tournament. learn to behave like one.

In yet another incident, Haryana wicketkeeper Salim Ahmed held Bihar batsman Hari vijay lokapally is deputy editor, sports, The Hindu

Q R

Q R

3

BL

know

saturday, august 16, 2014

Unlikely visitors The forest department’s warnings have cropped up everywhere in the city kamlesh surve; (inset) a crocodile snuck into a bathroom in Sojitra village. The five-footer was rescued and brought to croc-friendly Malataj afp

According to an estimate (there is no official crocodile census yet), Gujarat is home to around 1,400 crocodiles. The State is one of the largest crocodilian habitats in India after Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Their total population in the country is estimated to be around 5,000. While most of Gujarat’s crocodiles are found in the Narmada, the Mahi and Vishwamitri rivers are home to a large number too. Vadodara district is possibly the worst-affected as all the three rivers flow through it. The Vishwamitri even passes through the heart of Vadodara city.

During the monsoons, when the rivers get flooded, mugger crocodiles migrate to small ponds and lakes in villages. In this season, they lay eggs, and hatchlings make the ponds their own habitat. In some cases, reptiles that move into villages are captured and released into other reservoirs already populated with crocodiles. “They are rescued and set free in the Aajwa reservoir on the outskirts of Vadodara. Their population has increased manifold in the last few years. And that means an increasing number of human-crocodile encounters,” says Ashok Pawar, corporator at Vadodara Municipal Corporation. The 22-km stretch of the Vishwamitri in Vadodara is home to more than 200 mature crocodiles.

With the growing number of human-crocodile conflicts, the State forest department has swung into action, spreading awareness about safe practices on the banks of the rivers.

Crocodiles are one of the 24 reptilian species protected under the Schedule I (Part II) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Any violation of the Act can result in up to seven years of imprisonment. Victims of these reptilian attacks are given compensation from the State government — kin of the deceased get ₹1.5 lakh, and the injured get anything between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 depending on the extent of the

injury. for which people turn to the rivers — toilets, Attacks on humans intensify during the washing and crossing to the other side. The April to July period, forest officials say. Mother forest department has apparently asked civic crocodiles, nesting and hatching young ones, bodies to provide these facilities away from are insecure about their safety and, conse- the riverbed. quently, on high-alert and nervous. Any moveIn villages, crocodile awareness proment near the river banks, where the nests are grammes are being introduced in schools and usually located, aggravates the crocodiles. safety tips shared through group meetings.

But for people using the banks, it is difficult “‘Magar thi sachavie, magar ne sachavie’ (Keep to entirely cut-off access to the river. Some safe from crocodiles, keep crocodiles safe) is wash clothes, others attempt to cross the river. the mission slogan. It has found a connect Many take a plunge for fun. However, accord- with the people,” says Saxena.

In stark contrast to the incidents reported ing to forest officials, crocodiles have not attacked unless they have been provoked or in Vadodara city, a few villages nearby are redisturbed. “They are not habitual man-eaters. sponsibly preserving crocodiles in their vilFemale crocodiles are just more alert when lage ponds.

At Malataj village in Anand district, a large they lay eggs. And in this period, even a slight movement can turn into a cause for an at- lake has become a regular habitat for many tack,” says VK Saxena, deputy conservator of crocodile families. The village, it appears, has set an example for co-existence. forest (in-charge), Vadodara The lake is home to about 70 marange. He says it is the increase ture reptiles. The people, says in human movement in and sarpanch Durgesh Patel, remain along the rivers that has led to alert to changes in crocodilian attacks.

The city is beginning behaviour and adjust accordIn Vadodara, as part of the to feel like a large ingly. When asked if their pressafety measures, numerous wildlife sanctuary ence causes a sense of fear signboards carrying warnings among them, the sarpanch says, about crocodilian dangers have there is nothing to fear. “The cropped up over bridges and in women go to the pond every day streets. The city is beginning to feel like a large wildlife sanctuary, say some of to wash clothes, despite knowing there are its residents. Forest officials feel that the only crocodiles in it. They have never attacked anyway to mitigate the risk of crocodile attacks is one in the history of Malataj. Crocodiles capto make people aware of the behaviour of tured in other villages are also brought and these reptiles. Despite additional glow-in-the- set free in our lake,” he says. The idols of local dark signage and a team spearheading an goddess Khodiyaar Ma too depict the deity awareness campaign, people tend to ignore mounted on a crocodile — a symbol of their coexistence, say residents. the warnings.

In July, when a family in the town of Sojitra, The city is also seeing a rise in migrant population, which is mostly unaware of such dan- in Anand, discovered a five-foot mugger in gers. Coupled with the fact that the their bathroom, forest officials captured it Vishwamitri riverbed has been shrinking, re- and brought it to Malataj.

Jigar Upadhyay, a researcher and activist for ducing the nesting space for the crocodiles, the conservation of crocodiles, believes that the number of incidents has only increased.

The Vishwamitri has been divided into sev- co-existence is the only way to end this conen zones by the forest department. Two volun- flict. “Crocodiles attack out of ignorance. Peoteers, two guards and one forester have been ple are also ignorant about their behaviour,” assigned to each zone. Their job is to make lo- says Upadhyay, who should know. He has been cals aware of their reptilian neighbours and to researching crocodiles for over a decade now. ensure that all safety measures are in place.

The department has also identified the needs rutam vora

Q R

talk takeaway

BL BL 204

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

WINDOW OR AISLE

A mile-high threesome dipankar

Even before the flight had taken off, he had broken the ice, and I couldn’t help but tune in

rishi piparaiya

SHOVON CHOWDHURY is chief Truthdigger and author of The Competent Authority

dipankar

I

BIHARI YOUTH DEMAND FULL GIRLFRIEND! I

believe the first to do so will reap rich elec- promote love jihad. Either way, we will be toral dividends, cutting across party lines.” threatening the author.” Meanwhile, the tooed backpackers.

A smartly individ- Congress Sensing opportunity, manydressed politicians has promised to increase the girlf-Brushthrough ramen.

He was reciprocating. ual sat nextthe to agitation. me and IRevolutionary returned his sosmile riend to 75 per cent inhis all States ruled have joined ingquota his hand through hair frequently, with the condescending for cen- by chest cialite Brinda Karat has look led areserved demonstrathe Congress. puffed out. It was quite fascinating to tre-seatatoccupants. don’t really have was much As the agitation tion Jantar IMantar which watch actually. spreads across Bihar, Enempathy for duffers who while are not industrious lathi-charged repeatedly, AAP Supre- glish-speaking girlsspeak are being airlifted out He: So, do you Hindi? enough to Kejriwal get a window or an aislea(seat), on a of Patna. mo Arvind has demanded CAG Inis also planning a She:The Wellgovernment I can.

Boeingto737 at that. quiry locate the other half. The BJP has widespread publicity campaign promoting He: So say a few words.

As we settled withauthor our respective reading greater demanded thatinthe reveal more acceptance of Hindi-speaking Shesocial (blushing): Well I can’t really speak material, beautiful young has ladybeen murmured “One thing no one has mentioned is about the agirl.

“Her identity sup- girls. shudh Hindi. an “excuse me” — damn, oneisof those times how this pressed.

How do we know she not Banglasentiments of like Hin- longAndbook they hurts both the laughed heartily, when you wishayou had the centre — and di-speaking deshi?” asked spokesperson, “Orseat worse, girls,” said Msa Kavita Kumar, a lost pals reunited after handful of Kumbhs. we both promptly Others steppedhave aside to let from Moradabad?” taken theher socialAsactivist from Champaran the food trolley rolled inDistrict, around “If 30 minpass. As we sunk into our seats,ofI the could all utes theseinto menthe stalk onlyheEnglish-speaking opposite view.

“Theback religious identity flight, introduced himself. haveissworn that hiscould smile be wasanbroader than will happen toPriya.” the rest of us?”visualisboy unclear.

This attempt to it girls, “Hi,what I’m Suresh”.

“I am I started had ever been. ing ‘Priya weds Suresh’ wedding cards and a And was he smooth? Even before the flight baraat led by a white horse and me. I was payhad taken off, he had broken the ice, and I ing close attention to them by now — this becouldn’t help but hear snippets of their scin- ing far more interesting than the 2011 Costa tillating conversation.

Book of the Year that I was plodding through.

He: So what do you do?

“Sir, will you have the dhokla or She: I’m with (a leading media the keema pav?” said the hostess, house). Heading sales. interrupting our auditory threestorysomeof New are always on the lookout. the eldestas did He: Wow, that’shequite some.

He choseAs the dhokla, And they both today I am responsible. thing. You handleDelhi salesresident for the Prabhakar Pat- male member, I. “Do you have fruits,” she asked. laughed heartily, like Twice every day I walk entire country. wardhan is one “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Justpast give me long-lost pals oon after Aamir Khan appeared naked shoots, including one involving Sunny LeoneShe: Yes, the whole shop. farpowder I of grit, of courIndia. a few the sachets of So milk reunited after a in newspapers, the government has an- and a bass guitar. “We’re appealing the vernot succeeded, age and dedication.

One business vertical. then.” have “Umm... sure.” And the handful of Kumbhs nounced a series of steps to prevent the dict,” said her agent, “We’re hoping that if sheThe conversation Despite the multiple I remain opti-“I will moved to hostessbut handed out a few. recurrence of such incidents. “From uses a rudra veena instead, the government plasters, thethe I even visitedlater.” education and hedespite had just be backmistic. with tea and coffee now on, all naked individuals will consider her case favouraheadwords bandage, my local to seepowder if appropriate of despite admira“No thanks, justMLA, the milk bly.” Leone dismissed rumours trespassing on railway tracks he could help me. Untion for the her wheelchair, yadda yaddawhat tale is fine.” that she plans to hold a naked will be promptly arrested by fortunately, the kerosene me strikes one graduate first is in theher family. about being the first We were intrigued — the eavesdropping the Railway Police,” said Railprotest against the decision, al-He: I’mlight of hopeabout shining in his as well. obviously couldn’t fumes display in hisanyresidence passionate education reaction, but though many have gathered way Minister Sadananda Gowwereconstraints. so strong, “Why I fell unconan aluminiIn fact, I eyes. wantHe toclutches start a venture fund that in- he had no such do you want da, “any musical devices found near railway lines, just in case. um funnel in his hands. It is scious,heafter which bea-increvests in education. these sachets?” asked with Iawas flirting In related news, all those in-She: That in their possession will be conten up his followers.” old is and so battered. noble. You totally should. dulity. “Oh, mybyfive-year-old daughter loves volved in the infamous photo-He: I will“Itake fiscated. Special signs will be this man his faces never leave ideas fromhome you. without them. MyWill husband and ever I loveachieve to see the shoot debacle have been arrest-She: Absolutely! put up at all railway crossings, it,” he explains, “It’s a family tradidream?

Youstruggles can help with him. the If you Anytime! she makes as she powder ed and charged with outragingThey spoke in Hindi and Sanskrit, prohibittion. about In 1963, the yearflights, I was born, information about regular holidays, upbring- gluing have her mouth.” ing removal of clothing.” modesty and sedition. “On the my grandfather prosupply of kerosene ration ings, movies, past jobs andBalmukund so on, the conversaMoist as it was, even moreatsoany soaked in chutwhole, we consider ourselves The news has led to mass reshop inchoked the National CapitalHe Recured some keroseneanimated from the lotion getting increasingly as it ney, I silently on my dhokla. probafortunate,” said a memberprogressed. of signations from the Railway Poany other region, please cal I’m ration shop.butHe very no expert shewas was displaybly didgion, too. or Because the conversation ended. the crew. “Originally, Aamir lice, and the cancellation of a line as to this the column. editor, and she excited.

See, see, he indicating told us, who ing textbook body language femi- Quite drop as abruptly wanted to use an iPod.” several upcoming photo will do the needful. says it’s impossible?

Since then, we nine interest.

Legs crossed towards him, shoe dangling, constant eye contact and a finger rishi piparaiya is the author of Aisle Be Damned The Investigator is a fortnightly round-up of all things droll and newsy. All views are personal. Really personal t@shovonc perpetually twirling her hair like a chopstick rishi@aislebedamned.com n news described as ‘reassuring’ by the Left Wing Feminist Forum, several cities in Bihar have witnessed massive demonstrations by youth demanding full girlfriends. This was after the stunning revelation of the plot of Chetan Bhagat’s soon-to-be-published bestseller, Half Girlfriend, in which a Hindi-speaking Bihari youth is refused full facilities by an upperclass English-speaking girl. As a result, he is forced to accept a compromise, the details of which most people have been too scared to inquire about.

“This type of discrimination is totally unacceptable,” said Beni Prasad Sinha, 67, a noted youth leader of Patna. “For many

years, Biharis have been denigrated. For a while, the national acceptance of Sonakshi made way toheroine my usual aisle seat. The Sinha as amy leading had a soothing plane packed, andhave the cabin peoeffect, butwas this time they gone was too far.” plednews primarily by corporate The has inspired veteranexecutives politicos andPrasad a surprisingly large number of tatLaloo Yadav and Nitish Kumar to join forces. “Each of us had half a party, so it seemed to make sense,” said Mr Yadav, “Now, we will lead the fight against Chetan.

We will also demand special subsidy from the Centre to increase supply of Englishspeaking girls in Bihar.” Political analysts have welcomed the move. “In the post-Nehruvian era, lack of sex has been one of the key challenges facing Indian youth. Yet no political party has addressed this issue. We

GOVERNMENT BANS MAN, 51, REMAINS NAKED PEOPLE ON OPTIMISTIC! RAILWAY TRACKS! Q

S

T

R

CH-X _ A

5

BL

talk

saturday, august 16, 2014

THE CRITICAL ISSUE

The real tragedy When faced with an insurmountable loss, what can a State and its people do?

Hate not A Palestinian mourner reacts after seeing the remains of his loved one in a morgue following an Israeli strike ap/lefteris pitarakis

S

Urvashi Butalia is an editor, publisher and director of Zubaan

everal years ago I travelled to Israel for a literature festival. I did so with some reluctance and some uncertainty.

Ought I to go or not? Perhaps this dilemma will not make much sense to today’s generation, but for those of us who grew up with a stamp on our passports that said ‘valid for all countries except Israel and South Africa’, the question of whether to go or not was a very real one. For me, the decision was eventually made after my Palestinian and Israeli friends encouraged me to do so. Come and see for yourself what it is like, they said.

It was in 2011 that the borders — Israel’s with Jordan, Lebanon and Syria — erupted with demonstrations, shooting and tear gas. Palestinians everywhere gathered at the border to mark Nakba Day, the day of catastrophe, in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were made homeless.

Standing atop Haifa University, we could almost see all the borders of this small country, and it seemed so strange to think that this small piece of land had held the world to ransom, and now its soldiers were standing at the borders, ready to stop the Palestinian people from marking with sorrow the day on which their history changed forever and they became refugees in their own land.

It’s difficult to believe if you don’t know this reality, a Palestinian friend who lives in Jerusalem told me. Imagine coming out of your home and seeing men with guns aimed at you.

Imagine leaving your home in the morning and not knowing if it will still be yours in the evening because ‘settlers’ will have moved in.

And, she said, these settlers are not even those who carry the history of the holocaust with them, instead they are rich Jews from America and Europe who are looking for a new life. And

it’s our lives that are at stake. when a rally called by the Association of the As we walked in the old city to which pil- Parents of the Disappeared in Kashmir was not grims flock from all parts of the world — the allowed to take place and the security forces largest numbers in recent times have been were deployed to disperse groups of supportfrom India — she pointed to a large parking lot ers and parents who had come to attend it and in front of her home. Do you know, she said to to mourn the disappearance of their children. me, till last week this is where I used to park What was it about people’s sorrow that made my car. Now this space has been designated the State so fearful? only for Jews. I’m forced to use paid parking Today, like thousands of others, I watch in nearly 10 minutes away. This is what it means despair as Israel carries out mass slaughter in to live with the dailyness of occupation in Gaza — that small strip of land which has faced your own home. terrible attacks repeatedly, where essential raInside Ramallah, things were tions can barely make it in, tense — the checkpoints were where water sources and elecabandoned because the soldiers, tricity have been turned off, hosyoung Israelis with guns and bulpitals have been bombed, What was it about lets, were busy elsewhere. Roads shelters destroyed. Some years people’s sorrow that bordering the walled town held ago a Palestinian doctor living in made the State so groups of young students, black Gaza poignantly described the fearful?

T-shirts on their backs and keffipointless deaths of his young yehs wrapped around their daughters and a niece by an Isheads, hurling the occasional raeli bomb that fell randomly on stone or potato at the soldiers, their home. I shall not hate, he but for the most part they shouted slogans said again and again to the audience, I shall and clutched large segments of cut onions in not allow myself to hate. their hands to arrest the effects of the pervaBrave words from a man of courage. But sive tear gas. how many people can think like this? Indeed, Deeper inside, things were quiet. In the it is remarkable that a lone man, faced with market square, a stage had been mounted, the loss of virtually his entire family, can hold and people sat around on chairs, singing, talk- on to compassion. But a State, armed with foring, telling stories of that day long ago when midable military might, and supported by the their lives changed forever. What was it about powers that be (including in our own country this day that made the Israelis so fearful that where our politicians will not even allow a disthey were willing to deploy soldiers with guns cussion on the subject), cannot even hold on to stop it? I found that difficult to understand. to humanity — not the humanity of allowing No one was inciting violence, the day was an occupied people to grieve, not the humaniabout sorrow and grieving and that was the ty of allowing an occupied people to live. This predominant mood — except for the occasion- is the real tragedy. al burst of anger. blink@thehindu.co.in I was reminded of a time many years ago

Q R

read talk

BL BL 186

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

ON THE SHELF

Into the wilderness

Poster girls Are Smriti Irani and the others flogged as role models by the Indian media true agents of free will? reuters/ahmad masood

We are seeing a renaissance in nature writing, which attests to a hunger among readers and a desperation to describe the natural world before it disappears Mountains of the mind Nature gives us a sense of bigness outside of ourselves

anita roy

kr deepak

No freedom in choice Labouring in the kitchen after a day’s work is now a saleable fantasy, if performed by a successful, beautiful, thin, trendy, new-age career woman. It’s a matter of ‘choice’. Or is it?

poornima joshi

“A L

CH-X _ A

nyone who lives in a city will know the feeling of having been therea women’s too long. summit The gorge-vision ast week, celebratthat predictable streets imprint oncharts us, the ed rather career of sense of women blockage, surfaces whothe arelonging famous for being faother than glass,the brick, concrete tarmac.” mous; highlight of and the show be— Robert Macfarlane The WildSmriti Places. Z Irani’s ing Education Minister Having lived in Delhi for memory nearly 20ofyears, confessions about how the PrimeI know the Narendra feeling. For the first time in Minister Modi referring tohistory, her as there nowstill more peopleher. living in cities chhoti are behen “chokes” Apparently, than rural areasthe — 54 per cent, according to whileinshe tackles formidable tasks before the latest Urbanisation Prospects Reher in the World Education Ministry, the most chalport, released is projected to lenging job forlast hermonth. is to sitThis through the interrise 66her person’s cent by 2050; the vast majority of viewtofor school interview. them live in China and Nigeria.

Thewill image of India, the superwoman from Delthis hi, the second of the world’s 24 megaglittering showlargest conforms to another delicious cities, a population of around 25 million, façadewith marketed by a mobile network — that is toboss hit 37easily million by 2030, which ofprojected the female slipping intobythe role time the list of cities population exceedof a wife, cooking forwith her man, a subordinate ing 10 million willLabouring have grown 41.kitchen afat the workplace. into the lot ofbecomes gorge-vision, a lotfantasy, of glass, terThat’s a day’sa work a saleable if brick, concrete tarmac. beautiful, And a lot thin, less performed by aand successful, trees, animals, and wild places. trendy, new-agebirds career woman.

Back in 2004, in the wake of his incredibly Indeed, the superwoman seems to be the successful book, Mountains of the only ‘cool’ first marketable persona who canMind, outRobert set outpretty on a series ofthings walks marketMacfarlane the innumerable young around Britain and Ireland of itsslimlast thrusting ever new brands in of search cosmetics, remaining wild places.

Rejecting the logic of ming formulae, clothing, shoes and interior the road map — which exists as an answer to decoration in countless publications masquethe question, “what’s the fastest way to get rading as ‘women’s magazines’. from to B?” — he set out could to losebe himself inamthe TheAbottomline is, you a brand countries’ wild places.‘real’ He spends a bassador unmapped for flesh-and-blood, Indian bleak night Ben Hope in the far north of women if youonare successful.

Scotland; through the brambles of We are scrambles now supposed to straddle multiple the holloways Dorset; discovers miniature identities thatofentail having the aperfect job, forest in the cracks ofthe a limestone pavement the perfect husband, perfect figure and, of on the west of culinary Ireland, “as beautiful course, the coast perfect skills to suit and the complex, morethat so, than any glen or models ofperhaps womanhood marketing gurus bay peak.” up for us. Any idea that contrahaveorconjured Macfarlane, along with writers Roger dicts this perfect woman’s world like would, of Deakin, William Dave Goulson and course, be seen asFiennes, ‘judgemental’ or ‘illiberal’, Diane Ackerman, a kind of renaiscoming as it doesrepresent from a grey-haired, apparsance in nature writing. popularity — ently dour feminist such Their as myself, who has quite apart from domesticity their criticaland acclaim — atshunned (messy) the beauti-

tests to a hunger among contemporary read- the real… an abstraction of experience into ers for literature about the natural world. different kinds of touchlessness. We experiTheir writing is suffused with a sense of won- ence, ful cocoon of marriage and children. as no historical period has before,women, disemAdditionally, these professional derBut anddon’t givenget anme urgency bordering on des- bodiment wrong.

I have nothing and dematerialisation.” like my distraught colleague, are pushed to peration recordwanting and describe against a to woman to cook,the fornatural herself hate Among other things, city distorts theirmany bodies because one is life never thin world disappears entirely.

Goulson’s or for abefore man ifit she so wishes.

Nor am I under- our senseorofdolled-up perspective.

It cantomake feel enough enough suit you the selfbestseller on bumblebees, Fiennes’s mining Smriti Irani’s challenges, be lyrical it her big — atcreated the ‘centre of things’, a differimage by mass mediamaking and glamorous journey following theormigration of snow son’s school interviews the intricacies of In- ence.

Urbanofliving impliessuperwoman. influence, power stereotypes the new-age With geese, Deakin’spolicy. aboutI merely the ‘fifth dia’s education want element’, to under- and status. the social market increasingly deciding what one wood, of eats, stand and the Ackerman’s subliminal evocative contexts mixture in which Being theshould natural world changes one’s whatinone look like and how festivscience sensibility in books are such as A Nat- perspective certain and images of womanhood constructtoo, butthe in very different ways.

In als are celebrated, ordinary woman, proural History the Senses, all point to a resur- 1960, novelistfessional ed and the ofpolitics of ‘choice’ Wallace Stegner wrote aisletter to or otherwise, forever gence of celebrated what one these might call that is so days. the US government struggling to look arguing and feelthat the ‘neo-romanticism’.

The or term is Where is the failing failed the part.wilderness This is thecannot contextbe invalued which more commonly to referdisto woman in this used dominant in plainare monetary choices made. terms: “we music and art, yet in this efcourse?

Where arehere the countless need wild places because reHowever, choice is thethey latest The bottomline is, florescence nature writing in overweight,of underpaid, overmind us of a world beyond the buzzword.

A woman can cook, Being in the you could be natural a brand literature, we find the same who con- ambassador tired women professionals that saas-bahu even if they cannot clean, enjoy soap opworld changes forone’s flesh- human,” cerns the earlier — mostlyofdon’t feel asRomantics empowered go there, just knowing that these eras and celebrate karva chauth if perspective very and-blood,in ‘real’ William Blake, as the female bossWordsworth, in the Airtel places exist gives people “a sense she so chooses — the choice bedifferent ways Indian women if you Ruskin and their ilk minister?

— to go out ad or our education of ingbigness salutedoutside for the themselves”. simple reason are successful into the world in order to return A few days ago, an exhausted This linked to This the that the‘bigness’ choice is was made. to the self.

Indeed, Macfarlane colleague from a news television idea of thethe ‘sublime’ Romantic liberates ones incelebrating chooses for his preface line channel told me how she acraves literature — the way that natural choice from analysing, much less from 19th-century American to be the home alone, spend some naturalist landscapes can be simultaneously uplifting addressing, any of the socio-ecoJohn which only and time Muir looking afterdescribes herself, just howthat: she “I wishes Deakin and nomichumbling. or political Macfarlane, conditions that influenced went out for a walk, finally—concluded to Fiennes someone would takeand charge of children, are not just, that or rather notmake, only, ecothe various choices women are stay out tillwork, sundown, for going out, I found, home and responsibilities which don’t warriors against environmental forced tocampaigning make or have been conditioned to was going in.” seemreally to end.

Whipping out her phone, she destruction, but are alsoscholar engaged a metamake. Linda Hirshman, andinauthor of For Wordsworth andofRuskin, nature showed me a picture a beautiful girlwas in imlin- physical quest: to understand notof just what Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women the World, perilled andand theblow-dryed human spirit en trousers hair.impoverished “Your daugh- the natural world is, but what itthis means.

What among other works, describes phenomby the twin engines ofcheer industrialisation ter?”

I asked, hoping to her up. “No,”and she does for humans — tothat be ais,part the enon itasmean ‘choice feminism’ “theofwidemodernisation.

Theverge guiding spirits — orisrathsaid, almost on the of tears.

“This how natural from movement it? spread world, belief and that apart women’s has er, demons — for contemporary writ- liberated thepursuing mother of my son’s best friend looks like.”

The Sunday Times describes Fiennes’s The women to make whatever choices ersTheare climate point is, this change, colleague environmental does not have Snow Goose as “a profoundly moving account she makes”. destruction, of biodiversity, and the the ‘choice’ tothe stayloss at home if she so wishes.

In- of This joy returning, of one man’s rediscovery of attitude and ideological framework peculiarly modern malaise of alienation in a the securities with regard to employment, rising world”. For Macfarlane, as for manythe of undermines women’s capacity to so analyse hyper-connected inflation, cost of world. living and the near absence us, thethat wildwe holds the So, possibility of enrichworld inhabit. once again, let us the last you looked up and ment, of When social was security andtime childcare accompanied evencelebration redemption: “we to arearrest fallenour in not allow of for choice saw stars? Their loss, through by a the breakdown of traditional socialartificial support mostly broken pieces… but the wild canthose still understanding of what went on behind lighting, may seem a “regrettable but eventustructures mean that young professionals in return to ourselves.” choices.usAnd, for the record, I will cook only if I ally trivialcities side-effect contemporary life,” don’t have a choice. the mega do not,ofmostly, feel as empobut foror Macfarlane it is great and serious wered as beautiful as“a the ad gurus would anita roy is a writer and director of Young Zubaan anita@anitaroy.net poornima joshi loss”.

He believe. sees it as signalling a “retreat from have you

Q Q R R

7

BL

cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

Breaking free

What does freedom mean to urban India? Is it the choice to not check boxes, to not have its ducks in a row? BLink listens in to those who have discarded the shackles of a nine-to-five-job, rejected EMIs, mobile phones and urban life. People who have found the courage to say no to having their own children and those who have pursued adventurous sex.

Freedom from the clock Dharminder Kumar, 41, Delhi

B

shutterstock

usy people who come alive only against a deadline say that they run against the clock when they are actually running along with it. Time is a concept too vast for us to know whether it runs, gallops, lumbers or trots. It is the clock that runs and tells us to do so, because it reduces time to its own narrow categories.

If you really run against the clock, and keep running for a while, you might reach the clock-less pre-industrial age when there was no need to synchronise human labour across countries and climates. The Industrial age invented the clock to increase efficiency, and the clock went on to invent what we today know

as time. So, now we know no other time but duction can realise that life is not a straight the one measured by it. Once a humble factory line drawn from morning to evening or from timekeeper, a mere device to regulate work, it the A of birth to the Z of death. There are nuhas now become as vital as the sun. But when merous time cycles in nature. We are simultait stops, you don’t lose the grip on time. You neously alive in the trees, animals, stones and simply fall out of the global system of produc- sand. Your body may still have the iron that tion. What the clock has produced for us is an was once part of a rock from the planet Mars. industrial measure that suppresses all other The squirrel that you have come to befriend — ways to relate to time. in the ample time you have once you are out of The grim tick-tock of industrial time can work, the industrial work that is — might also discipline our work but not our conscious- have that iron. Once you align with the larger ness. Often in the busy clackety machine that cycles of nature, the sun rises in your forehead was office, I could hear the faint whirr of my and the evenings sink in your heart. Looking mind working in another time. into the sky, you can realise that In this personal time, there were the clock reduces the grand cyno digits that menacingly pointcles of nature to an industrial ed at different tasks and deadroutine where we are only workOnce I left the lines. It was a continuous ers and consumers who are unmachine, I could interplay of past, present and fuable to hear the music in our safely ignore ture that James Joyce and Virgincells, which hum with the heartartificial time ia Woolf had glimpsed a little beat of the galaxy. Just as a tree and the Hindu scripture Yoga has its biological clock written Vasishtha expounds in chardown in rings, every person has ming stories. I could not dive too his own creative clock. Freedom deep into the stream of consciousness for the from the clock is a yearning for a counter-time risk of bringing the office machine to a calam- where your personal work rhythm does not itous halt. have to follow the beat of the global capitalist Once I left the machine, I could safely ignore enterprise. The recent trend of flexi-hours artificial time and its many demands. When points at the growing recognition that many there is no clock to nag you, you can find that people cannot adjust to the industrial time time and space are far more beautifully con- and they can be more productive if given the structed than the clock face would suggest. freedom to follow their own clocks. The preYour inner clock can shrink or stretch time as sent dehumanising work culture is a product the hands of hopes and memories move to the of the cult of growth where we rarely question tick-tock of your breath. In the dark clockwork what and how much of it is enough for us. of your mind, you can even feel realisation Once we draw the line at what and how much glide into perception. to produce, we will have enough scope to conOnce you opt out of the industrial time, you sider the randomness of creativity. can wonder at the non-linear spread of your being. Those who slink out of the cycle of pro- dharminder kumar is a Delhi-based writer

Q R

watch cover

BL BL 16 8

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

Freedom from EMI The talented Mr Shorey V Ramaswamy, 54, Kolkata

M A

aggie Thatcher at her peakto young.

The older Shorey you grow, the harder it be- walked against his into father. a Butstring who knows Like any working actorwas with bills pay, Ranvir has willingly of if he’ll feel then. Racism was neither un- comes to choose that path. differently some day… I’ve seen how property “B-grade trash” that little justiceFourteen to hisyears skills common nor does rare in the UK. And after returning to Kolkata can destroy families and relationships, how it there was certainly no notion of and working as a social activist, I set up the Ta- can infect the air with negativity and ill-will. I multiculturalism. A brown man working in limi Haq School for slum children in Howrah. I didn’t want that for them. And with my backs the crass, schoolend of that country wasgood-for-nothing either at the receiving past worked its halfway-mark andfor Shorey there full time three is still rumours. “People come up to and say,— ‘Sorground in me economics as a stuBunty in Khosla ka Ghosla racistdropout invective, or simply invisible.

In those around, slowly histhe groove. years.

Now,finding I mentor teach-He even ry to hear about your marriage.’

Here — I am liv- the dent and teacher I knew (2006), was compelling, whilemy in first two years inhe London, holding down goes so asrun to say that whilechange a film like Titli ing happily with my ersfar who it. (A sudden familyofinmaking my newlong-term house, fipitfalls Mithya (2008) you empathised withI was job after a master’s degree in Calcutta, gives in him satisfaction, it can never but the general impression mycreative family’s circumstances is that I’m a divornancial commitments without unlikely his character VK, by a wannabe whose un- of confronted questionsactor of life and living, fetch meant him the reach television.

“I used toMy goson’s I had to of take responsibilicee,” he says,tovisiblyconsidering agitated. that fortunes can doinglived is hisrealities strikingand resemblance a dreaded hostilities.toI was confronted to thetypark and flow children would recognisehold me this against of our meter manufacMentionme. his three-year-old son Haroon and change overnight.

But who knows if he’ll gangster.

Sadly, it’s been back a while since we saw aan exby myself.

Coming to India became from turing Khatronbusiness.) ke Khiladi,” he says. he instantly softens, happily taking the role Yes, I still liveon under the roof feel differently performance half as exciting from the istential that’s imperative.

Alluring as TV fame might he still draws Since I worked for be, modest of a willing father .of“Inmy mygrandfather 20s I used to—work a house talentedItactor Ranvir Instead, you was in thoseShorey. grim times, over 30have years ago, the line at doingof a show like Bigg Boss. “For the someday… amounts money through all day and party allwith night.several Now I would rather alstakeholders, duds that suchI as Bajatey Raho, Chandini Chowk to— not first realised what my ideological last two years I’veworking been asked.

That’s most of my life, my sav- like sui- be home with Haroon hanglive with most and all ofjust whom abroad, Chinajust andpolitical Do Knot — Disturb, which doI had no justice leanings were. no interest cide. Iings havewere trouble keeping when I’m meagre too.myI cool never him,” he says, withmaking a smile.its Helegal andstatus Sen Sharcomplex to hisincalibre.

“If I’vemoney, done aincertain ofmonmultiplying chasingkind more free and in that enhadoutside. enoughPutting to buy ame house.

Even ma take turns so that their and working, unnavigable, now and in work,ey you’d you’d get better But withthink money.

In investing in offers. the idea of a fuvironment begging for it,” he property in the the future. if I did,isI like wouldn’t have bought son isBut never leftnever alone.

I have felt insecure. And I that doesn’t seem by toproperty be happening ture dictated prices. to me... admits. struggles cityShorey’s to grow wealth or towith better the prospects doubt my son, Afterwho wrapping Jhalak, may orupmay nothe inherit Usually,Growing I get really They may up,B-grade we hadtrash. no luxuries, nobe excessangerof mymanagement children. I wouldhave have felt trapped. forward to working any part ofisit,looking does either. greates parts...

But either it’scity a bad or a di- had in Calcutta — the myscript grandfather broughtI him in the nevernotoriety felt obliged to leave (pecuniary) on the End-about Unlike those whorom-com banter atHappy tea stalls rectormoved who can’t blow nose,” he But says.as chilto 84even years ago his from Kerala. past. keepsakes In 2002, for hismy then girlf- And after my eldest poverty — and children. ingnot alongside Saif Ali astrophysics orKhan, molecular Recently, he never reclaimed some his old glory dren, we wanted forofanything vital. Perriend,son thepassed actress/director away lastPooja year, such ideas became biology — simply Ileana D’cruz and Kalki Koebecause they can, I have with haps Kanuthat Behl’s Titli, which was screened at I say, is the root of my ‘lack’ — or, shall Bhatt,even accused of assault. morehim irrelevant.

The only thing I felt I spent decades chlin.

“The film is maintrying to understand the issue this year’s Cannes in the Un Cer- Moreought different kindFilm — ofFestival ambition. recently, there specuto do forwas them as a parent was to give and addressstream and yet has it. Their knowledge of thean poor is tain Regard tale ofand a Delhi-based I justcategory. wanted The to return work for devellationthem that ahis marriage to acgood education, and I did that — at a about as sound alternative streak.

Only once as mine of making money. If car-jacking family encouraging opment at thereceived grassroots level. And Irewasn’t tress considerable Konkona Sencost, Sharma wasseveral sacrifices to you reallyinwant making a while do I get great scripts it’s something — whether viewsalone. from the foreign press.

“Cannes Others were affected by was the asame in trouble. saysto he did send He them the considresidential Rishi Valley wealth orlike and it ofjust feels —soyou’ve the this eradication poverty bit of‘youthful a cultureidealism’ shock forthat me. led I’ve me never seento the back er hiring a PRinagency early in his And I know they got to work School Chittoor district. great,” he says. towards it. I chose to do the latter, something extravagant before. liked East. Itso saddens me that that People is not the case tocareer, but itit. didn’t help quell the valued A student of humanities, my young- that’s all. mohini chaudhuri the film, my needs work, to and gotand a huge day. liked So much be we done, social de- er son too cares little for conventional ambistanding ovation,”can he says. film he plays velopment only Inbethe done when one is tions. So it’s unlikely that he’ll ever hold this As told to Soity Banerjee Vikram, the oppressive elder brother at the helm of the illegal business. “Although I’m supposed to be the antagonist, in a way, I’m also the victim of the patriarchal system. Aside from the fact that I had a great role, I wanted to see this film made,” he says.

Like every working actor with pending bills to pay, Shorey says he too has a long list of projects he walked into knowing they weren’t the smartest of choices. He’s now decided to consciously limit such subpar work by opting for less embarrassing ones. He is now the host of the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on Colors, and has appeared as a contestant on the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi — the Indian adaptation of Fear Factor shot in South Africa. Pitted against the usual crop of television soap stars who hop from one reality show to another, Shorey appeared to be a bit of a misfit. “I wanted an adventure holiday, so I thought, chal, I’ll do this and get paid also. I had such a great time. That’s why I agreed to do Jhalak,” he says.

But TV work is like returning to his home turf. Long before entering films, Shorey was a popular veejay on Channel V. His pairing on TV with actor Vinay Pathak, who has since appeared with him in numerous films, stood out for its flawless comic timing.

“I learnt everything I know — behind and in front of the camera — on Channel V… but this (Jhalak) is a different ballgame altogether. I’ve never hosted a show as grand and massy as this. There’s a certain compromise in sensibilities,” he adds.

Shorey clearly seemed out of his depth during the initial weeks of the dance show, sparking rumours of his eviction. Today the show is

Q R

Vertical limits Is this Mumbai or Kolkata?

The urban sprawl in the city of joy now rivals that of any other Indian metro arunangsu roy chowdhury

CH-X _ A

Difficult act From meaty to flimsy roles on the big and small screen, Ranvir Shorey has done them all

9

BL

cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

Playing truant A young khynnah ap masi (or herdsman of Meghalaya) grazes sheep off the road to Smith Village, near Shillong ritu raj konwar

Freedom from the city Rohit Sood, 35, Meghalaya

T

he city is too intense. After living in Delhi for more than 19 years, two years ago I left the city for good. I was completely disillusioned. It takes a certain kind of person to succeed in the city. You have to be insanely competitive in everything — whether it’s your career or your love life — and I realised that I just wasn’t that kind of a person.

I started working when I was only 18. At first, I worked in a freight forwarding company. After a couple of years on the job, in 1999, one fine day I walked into the free progress school Mirambika and decided to work there. In the process, I discovered myself, found a second life, and learnt what it meant to be a learner and facilitator. Those were the best four years of my life.

At the time, a parent of a child at school was starting a company that was going to work with schools across the country and implement teacher training programmes and other qualitative tools so that they could enhance their offerings. He asked me if I would like to work for him, and I said yes.

I must say that I liked the job, but after three years I found myself desperate to get out of that environment. One day, I told the man who offered me the job that I wanted to leave.

He asked me if I was complaining about the salary. And really, it wasn’t about that at all. I just felt tired of the insane competition to get nowhere important.

Once I quit the job, I spent the next five provide them. I work with the community — years working as a freelance consultant. I with kids, parents and the school. They wanted to create my own identity without or- haven’t had opportunities to learn these skills; ganisational backup. I was doing well profes- they are eager for more. I can also feel the real sionally. But somehow, I was never happy in effects of my work when I see how much more the city. I felt that I couldn’t cope with the envi- the kids enjoy coming to school because now ronment. I just had to get out. The city was the teachers are firing up their imaginations, sucking the life out of me. I caught myself teaching them concepts by demonstrating wondering why people did this, why did they them and not by mugging up facts. live these insane lives. In some ways, I felt Yet, it can get lonely here. My friends are in trapped. I come from a family where everyone Delhi (although some of them often come up is ‘successful’. Yet, I felt I wasn’t and we go on treks). Also, being a built like that. Eventually I defoodie, sometimes I miss that cided to get out of this situation. city. The cafes, the microbrewerI moved first to Sikkim. I ies… I also wonder if exposure is I have the time to worked with some schools do the things I love — important and, if so, why — takthere. Now I am in Meghalaya — ing a leaf out of William Blake’s I write, I listen to in a part of the State still vulnerSongs of Innocence, does it not music, I watch able to insurgency. There is a big alienate one from oneself? movies, I go on difference in the money I make.

I am grateful for the many long walks...

But I am lucky, I am single. So no things I learnt, the wonderful matter how little I make, I can people I met, for all the theatre, get by. The thing is, the minute I music and fun. It is not that peoleft the city I could feel a huge ple in the city are bad; people are weight lift off my shoulder. I finally felt free. I the same everywhere. But overall, I am much could breathe. And smile. happier and content here. I have the time to Work wise, people are so much more recep- do the things I really love — I write, I listen to tive to what I tell them here. I’ve worked with music, I watch movies, I go on long walks. The some of the best schools in various Indian ci- air is pristine. I am surrounded by lush forests. ties. And found them to be quite an ungrateful Everything is beautiful. And I finally feel like I lot. You’re just another consultant to them. am living. Like, really living.

They’re spoilt for choice. Here, in this obscure corner of the country, they value the tools I As told to Veena Venugopal

Q R

watch cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

Freedom from the mobile phone

BL

14 10

Time capsule The multi-layered flashback in The Grand Budapest Hotel evokes the civilisation that the hotel once embodied

Usha Ramanathan, 58, Delhi

I

have never really felt the need to get a mobile phone, even when everyone around me was getting one. And it hasn’t really affected me negatively; it just means more focus on what I’m doing instead of checking my phone for messages, emails and updates all the time.

As an independent law researcher and scholar in jurisprudence, I like to stay with one idea, look at it in-depth, develop the thought.

Sure, mobiles, especially smart phones, offer a space to discuss and deliberate, but they are reactive. I don’t see a point in participating in these debates, in terms of my work or otherwise. I watch all the people around me and at court, at meetings, always checking their gadgets. I don’t want to sound preachy, but I feel attention spans, which were low to begin with, have plummeted further since mobiles became ubiquitous.

Mobile phones also make it easy for PICTURE THIS people to be tracked. I have no desire to report my whereabouts to anyone else, I feel convenience is and like to know that there’s no one tryabout trade-offs, and ing to shadow me. While many say a every person decides phone is all about convenience, I feel conwhat they want to venience is about trade-offs, and every gain or lose person decides what they want to gain or lose. I don’t see a need to be constantly connected with the rest of the world.

Since I don’t have a boss or an employer to report to on an everyday basis, it does make it easier for me to stay ‘off the grid’. atching Wes Anderson’s The had to steer clear of the silken debauchery of within its walls can rob the Grand Budapest of Grand Hotel got mephone I am told in case of anBudapest emergency, a mobile indispensable. theismilieu.

So Teesri Manzil (1966) was a mur- its grandeur. It probably helps that the spirit thinking about hotels inbefore our mobile But we’ve all lived through emergencies phones der mystery inwere which the hero must clear his of the film — zany, not always honest yet someIf to you’ve never thought invented, so I’mfilms. willing take that risk rather than ‘liveBy onthe thetime edge’.Namak Halaal (1982) hit the how always admirable — is the inimitable name. about it before, a moment close your My family is usedtake to the fact that Ito don’t have a phone.

My husband has theatres, it was possible to combine the hotel- maitre d’hotel Gustav (Ralph Fiennes in his eyes remember hotels — were like in getas-thriller-locale askedand — about thricewhat in a decade if I should one, but when I’ve with a broad comic act from most freewheeling performance yet). For Gusthe of Hindi films until the Amitabh Bachchan. saidimagined no, he hasuniverse let me be. tav, as for his appointed successor Zero, the ho1990s. comes to mind?

Men in suits I likeWhat to meet people in person, talk faceand to face and focus on what In the 2000s , seedy hotels continue to form tel is not a career but a vocation. ladies in saying. saris looking in appreciation or technology, they are For me,on when it comes to any the quespart of thrillers — Johnny Gaddaar (2007), TaThe closest we’ve got is the Bengali film adbemusement asIawill scantily-clad womanthe technology tion is whether be using ityoung or whether laash (2012).will Butend sexcapades in them are now aptation of Sankar’s bestselling novel Chowsashays expertly up controlling me.between the tables? Some- also a frequent site of comedy — the famous ringhee (1968) and Uttam Kumar’s times the dancer was the only bright spot in a Hotel Decent in Jab We Met (2007) is thethere first of much-remembered turnother as Satya Sadhan Hello, anyone How did people connect with each before mobile‘Sata’ dimly-lit space.

Hindi film hotels were glossy many. Bittoo Boss (2012) even As told to Sibi Arasu hindu archives phones were invented, we wonder had a photograBose,the debonair receptionist of the Shahjahan fronts for dark dealings of all sorts — from the pher using a Shimla hotel to secretly shoot Hotel. Sata’s initiation of Sankar, like Gustav’s shady hotel in Howrah Bridge (1958) to Hotel honeymoon porn. Still, a whiff of of Zero, is the audience’s entry Hilltop, from where murderous train robber- scandal continues to cling to the point into the hotel’s inner life. ies are orchestrated in The Train (1970). hotel. The Kay Kay Menon-Rajpal This is 1960s India, and hotel As Jerry Pinto puts it in his book on Helen, Yadav starrer Benny Aur Babloo guests are either foreigners (doThis is 1960s India, Bombay cinema saw hotels “as a dreadful (2010) pits the bleeding heart ing important things like eradiand hotel guests are western invention where other ‘western in- humanity of a dance bar against cating smallpox) or the Indian either foreigners ventions’ — smuggling, illicit or extramarital the evils of a five-star hotel. In business class (wheeler-dealers (doing important sex, the black market — thrived”. Respectable 2014’s under-watched Bobby Jaall). The film’s biggest villain is a things like eradicating people, even if they went on holiday, had holi- soos, when Vidya Balan and her rich businessman’s wife. But, unsmallpox) or the day homes to go to. Heroes only went to hotel fiancé are ‘caught’ by her conserlike in mainstream Hindi moIndian business class bars for strategic purposes — in search of the vative Hyderabadi father, it’s vies, the immorality of its elite (wheeler-dealers all) was adoes grapevine growing outor Ruby, the Kinky Collective, bondageactually feel a lot from of it. When vamp (Miss Lily or Kitty, the route to the their emergence a hotelyou surrender dow and there clients not taint the hotel spikes onare it. I reached and you makes are engaging with fear.useYou embrace it side with these domination-sadism-masochism (or that villain’s gang) — or else to drown their sorrows all explanations staff.

They one big out family, completely go into the heart spikes, just community felt them and that BDSM short) about the freedom in alcohol wheninjilted by is their lady-love.

As the less.

Balan’sand other outing this of it. It’s like touched these with classI and differwhatShaadi a Buddhist philosopher said, “There’s an whole situation — the greenery,over the spikes and safely consensual ’70s and to ’80s woreexplore on, what had been pleasurthe pre- year, ke Side Effects, begins ences smoothed by feudal energy to the fear and The point is to stay benevolence feeling them,and it really spoke to me. es in aofworld that needs more of both cooperserve the vamp and the villain emerged as with a couple using thepain. inherent disreputabilindividual friendships.

Also of usof who are part of ation andofpleasure. with not just the site the discotheque, where a guitar- ity ofthem hotelsand to spice upstay theirwith marriage. By the remarkable is For thethose number middle-class the Kinky Collective (a national happiness.

This can ani- as integral to working women I’m nothero speaking thefor community strapped might about perform a crazed, film’s end, hotels havetruly emerged in the film — a ‘society’ jourmate you, else can.”

BDSM and awareness here, but audience, about myself.

Having said that, tosisbe secret youthful or where a misguided liveslike lessnothing innocuous than a play-acting nalist, a ‘hostess’ forsupport a Marwari businessman, BDSM is also about ableortoafind that placewife of peace, Four years ago, a friend of ter too-modern mightstillness display and her married couple’s. an air hostess.group) But either they’re bad girls,stripor if We are talking about who hadthink joined the com- Hindi film in they’re good,ping ego, out because when calm within oneself is something that kink en- mine waywardness by dancing with strangers.

What I can’t of is a single they’rethe marked for tragedy — a deeply consensual you’re in a dominant-submissive ables formost me. The that I see closest this which munityahad told Since of route the mainstream Hinditofilm hotel is me notabout just aBDSM locale but the em- one is tempted to read something into that. surrender the submissive’s ego is and I of was toThe seeGrand what it is the spiritual route.

I would callit’s it remarkaan inner- blem audience had never been in one, ancurious era, as in Budapest Hotel. Despite somesituation, heavy-handed morality, Chowwas. The outof Anderson’s ringhee is thestripped.

Thefilm whole personal freedom, freedom to do with ble how much the ahotel dominated ourinnercine- When wefirst firsttime see Iit,checked the hotel rare Indian thatthing lets aabout hotel the forums, their whole is at the core of things. peace, àimagination. la Kung-Fu Panda (laughs). To matic Or perhaps, it achieve wasn’t film has come down in sensibilthe world, but it still be somethingsurrender more than a den of vice.

It may ity resonated strongly withAnd me.the multi-lay- represent a civilisation It’s not about ‘surrender to god’ that place at of all. peace, engaging with fear and has surprising Hotels were a fantasy world, a threadbare majesty. in decline, but Shahjaor anything but we are to talking surrenego areinessential.

This might a bit ab- ered The moment I joined, it was likecandy-coloured stumbling up- han which the consumer desertsound of pre-liberaliflashback, moving from Hotel still manages evokeabout nostalgia. on something and falling love with it immestract but it’swas notboth freedom fromand fearnecessarbut free- animated sation India, desirable jailbreaks to theinblack and white of der to the dominant: a deeply consensual suris a writersense and critic based in Delhi dom from the fear A of film fear. that unfolded in a war, diately.

A few weeks afterthat I had render.gupta A dominant’s of self is also put in ily condemnable. evokes the civilisation the discovered hotel once trisha BDSM, I wasNo looking out of bedroom wina vulnerable position since it is the submisIt’s was not like in BDSM you embodied. hotel exciting, butyou the don’t hero feel and fear, heroine amount of my extramarital sex t@chhotahazri

Q Not a home away from home R

In the consumer desert of pre-liberalisation India, filmi hotels were a salacious fantasy. Will we never see them as anything except sites of scandal?

trisha gupta

W

Q Freedom from missionary Jaya Sharma, 50, Delhi

F

R Q R

CH-X _ A

BL

watch cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

sive’s submission that allows the dominance to be expressed. Here’s where I feel there’s a lot I learned from my experiences with kink and BDSM, the freedom to say yes or no is about consent. In so many contexts today, this freedom cannot be emphasised more, everyone’s dealing with issues of consent in a patriarchal society. Despite working for 30-odd years in the women’s movement, in the last few years, by practising BDSM I have learned so much about consent.

There’s also the freedom to explore my potential — you know, to push my limits or have someone else push it. So yes, that’s the other aspect I have learned here. And of course, being part of the community is also freedom from stigma. I’m game to try a lot of things but I do draw my lines. I will not try anything involving children or animals, nor will I try anything with anybody whose allegiances are towards the right wing or communal forces.

As a queer and women’s rights activist, we face similar problems as the LGBT community.

I was stunned by the similarities. You grow up thinking you’re the only one in the world, leading a double life, fearing whether you’ll marry someone whose sexuality doesn’t match yours, the fear of being ‘outed’, the fear of blackmail.

We are just a small number — around 20 or

Super boy Performers at the K-pop festival last year; (below) The popular K-pop group N-sonic, which has inspired many auditions this year

so in the Kinky Collective across cities like Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. But the larger BDSM community in India is huge, nearly 30,000 people who meet online as well as in safe forums and spaces. The collective is really about strengthening the BDSM commu-

touched by K-pop and Korean dramas,” he confesses. Youngsters, he says, identify with it because of its eye-popping videos and cheeky fashion. He also adds that the genre has a distinct Asian flavour, which is not visible in Western pop. “And of course, handsome boys,” he says, with a laugh.

This year’s K-pop Dance Festival is expected to be a bigger-than-ever affair. The auditions spanned across Chennai, Dimapur, Mumbai and Delhi. At the Delhi auditions, which took place on August 2, I was surprised to see a packed house, even though these were only the prelims. The talent this year was also better than last year’s. And more surprisingly, the festival is attracting a growing male fan base for a genre that is usually perceived to appeal more to women. The number of applicants aldie walker had risen this year; bands had auditioned by nity and helping peopleon outside the commuuploading their videos the festival’s webnity to understand BDSM... the way things are now, it’s all the more harder. The battle has just begun for us.

What’s your K-pop bias?from kids Freedom

As told to Sibi Arasu

With its eye-popping videos and handsome boys, K-pop Anku Pande, 40, Mumbai has a devout following from Delhi to Dimapur

E I

ven when I was a child, I knew I didn’t been unfair. I didn’t even have a dog for the ally is more worry than anger. My mother-inwant to have children. If you tell me same reason. If I leave a baby at home while law, on the other hand, is very proper and pois alast baby puppy in work, it’s unfair to the babycommon and to me. t wasthere August year.and Theaentrance to the I’m the at participants.

They discovered in- lite about it. She doesn’t want to cross the line feel that I’m not yet equipped house, I will instinctively gravitate FICCI auditorium in the Capital was Sometimes terests andI strangers made dinner dates.toI and bring it up. But once I told her about a baby. What willpulled I teachinto himthis or her?

We friend who had a baby through surrogacy and towards the puppy.

I don’t understand why, in raise packed and humming in anticipation. founda myself getting beautishe said the funniest thing : “Phir this overpopulated country, educated up of inK-pop. a different Bright posters screamed about thepeople event. grew ful world And justworld like that, one afterhumne itni mehnat kyu ki? Hum bhi we were to at Dunkin want to have more children.

Myout husband also‘I where Uniformed volunteers handed flyers and noon this May, taught I foundnot myself feels the same way. IIdon’t evento remember ourdiscussing voice in public, to ac- — a K-pop suaisa hi karte.” (Why did we work love K-pop’ T-shirts. managed grab one us of raise Donuts, Super Junior hard to have babies? We could that—dignity lies in games not fighthaving conversation about it. arrived Maybe, cept the lasta serious ones. Strangely, people had perstar and playing such as Identify back,with in being submissive. have also done it this way.)

I’ll adopt — I’mK-pop 40 now, so itFestival will probearly for one the day second Dance to ing the Idol! a roomful of strangersI’ve united in too busy to been Perhaps, I’ve been very lucky ably an older of about or 10,one. lest But today, can’t even sayreallylook grabbe good seats.child I scrambled forseven an empty our love foryou K-pop.

Were there so many back and say, I yourmusic responsibilities or toocalled thick-skinned to gauge if the child my feels like he or she issomeone being raised by that, Noticing feeble attempts, offered fans ofso Korean in Delhi, I wondered.

When a group the Undefeated Crew wish I had site. a baby other women arewere judging me for ‘grandparents’.

Also, if andasking, when I “Who’s do it, I’dyour like multiply. me a seat, but not before won the Delhi prelims, they delighted. opinions.

Women inabout the My the parents, my to takebias?” five years offIand work.she nodded Riding K-pop When saidnot SHINee, Koreanespecially wave Their familiesmy were not too enthusiastic understand same age bracket as me are often a film producer, if I’ve taken a job and felt mom, in As approval.

I had passed my initiation.

K-pop iscan’t a pop genre fromwhere South Korea that is their participation, but the crew hoped the stressed because their kids are that not happy, I’ve quit.was Bothfairly my husband coming from.

I’m an only elements and win would change MyI’m obsession with K-pop recent, a I’m characterised by its audio-visual that.

Who was their favouupThey and chorused they are envious of isme.

In and I live likeatit best, is ourbut lastitday. ex- child and I don’t have first cousins.

So my growing couple oftoday months wasWe’ve intense. hip fashions.

Theeven genre combines dance-pop, rite group?

EXO. “EXO a star become a confidante manythe others, perimented so much with jobsPark, and cities, is scared I’ll be allrock, alone in my and old R&B age. fact, The music was nothing likeour Linkin hard- mom pop ballads, electronic, hip-hop band.I’ve They are really amazing.to They’re best they alla say is, “One day my kids fears aremusical justifiedmovement in some sense.

Butinitthe re- and and travelled lot. Having babyit would have Her ly anything toaheadbang to,a but was upbeat styles.

The began crewone in thing the world,” group member said.

It up and become independent.

What and infectious. SHINee, in partic’90s, and has since turned into a will was grow befitting then that their video was inI dobyall thesevideo. years?” I tell them that they ular, is a group known for its con‘Korean Wave’, playing across did spired EXO’s children with Edwin great values, I guess temporary music style, dazzling the world. Bands such as Super raised Nineteen-year-old Kubzar,but who won classicprize grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side visuals and complex dance Junior, Big Bang, 2NE1 and Girl’s it’s lasta year’s in the song category, had The festival is Whenupon I plan school reunions, say moves. Hours before the festival Generation have become inter- case. stumbled the festival throughsome a friend attracting a growing children have exams so Dimapur, they can’t Nagamake began, I’d fortuitously seen an ad net sensations and household their on Facebook.

Hailing from male fan base for on certain days.toBut I am independent and about it. And here I was. names. Girl’s Generation even it land, his decision participate was sudden: “I a genre that is usually suchofrestrictions.

I have friends The lights dimmed in an audibeat popular acts of Miley Cyrus, have didn’tno think anything. I just went aheadwho and perceived to appeal things like,speak “No wonder you he look so torium filled with raucous K-pop Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and tell did me it.” He doesn’t Korean, but pracmore to women younger” or “You’re so lucky, youyear’s can fans. Participants took to the even Korean sensation Psy to much tised till he got the lyrics right.

At this allKubzar the time”. stage confidently, cheered on by win the inaugural YouTube Mu- travel festival, will be a veteran. And a popI do have two cats, though, and haveDid to the audience. All of them were sic Awards in 2013 for its music ular one.

“People recognise me,” he Isays. make a conscious effort to “Not talk about Indian, but they were well versed video I Got a Boy. he think he’d find so manynot fans? really.

Sometimes others look to at know me with such in small Korean phrases. They sang and For this year’s festival, which concludes at them.

But people are slowly coming about it as if He they’re thinking, “Sotosad, yourreigncats danced to popular K-pop numbers. Over the the end of the month, the Korean Cultural pity (K-pop).” might continue be the That’s the only timeisI am at a next few hours, energy levels rose and fell like Centre is bringing N-sonic to perform. A rising are ing your K-popkids.” idol in India, but Kubzar at work for words.

Can cats be substitutes for baa sine curve: shooting up for the dances and K-pop group, they recently released a music loss cutting a new single.

Really, stereotype falling silent for the songs. Crazy Freaks Dance video, Pop Beyond, which has done very well in bies?

Sitting in the my cat newlady N Sonic T-shirt—atspinsters the prewith no kids is completely worn Crew won in the dance category for their per- Korea. The band’s fans, who go by the name Su- and lims,women I can hardly wait for—the finals on August thin with overuse! formance of 2PM’s Again and Again. Edwin personic, are thrilled with the news.

30. And this time, I will be early to grab myself I’ve been just Kubzar won for his soulful rendition of Ailee’s When Kim Kum Pyoung, the director of the a front-row seat.too busy to look back and say, Heaven — nearly four minutes that had stilled Korean Cultural Centre, arrived in India in “I wish I had a baby.” the hall. Small groups, squealing in excite- 2011, he didn’t expect to see so many K-pop amina razzack is a K-pop enthusiast and was an toldattoBLink Mohini Chaudhuri intern ment, hung back after the event to meet with fans. “India is one of the last countries to be As

Q R

Q R

Happy family I don't see my cats as substitutes for children thulasi kakkat

CH-X _ A

11 15

shoot

saturday, august 16, 2014

Reaching out In ‘Anguish’, a woman epitomises the desperation of two nations

All is lost In this line drawing ‘Heavy despair’, Parasher brings grief to the page

Into the void ‘Absence’

Empty arms ‘What now?’tells the anguish of an uncertain future

BL

12

BL

shoot

saturday, august 16, 2014

Ashes to ashes ‘Refugee Woman’ was made from the soil of the Ambala camp

No way back ‘In Search of a New Home’

Refugee notes Line drawings by SL Parasher of refugees at a camp in Ambala (1947-49) tell the human story of Partition

A

group of women sit hunched on the ground, their faces hidden behind the odhini. But their posture, the way they seem to clutch one another, tells of loss and refuge. Who have they left behind? Who have they seen killed? Have they found their loved ones at the camp? These are just a few of the questions that the sketch Small Comfort throws up.

This is one of the 100-plus sketches by SL Parasher (1904-1990) that are on display at an informal gallery in the Capital, overseen by his son and daughters. Through bold strokes but with a gentle hand, Parasher draws portraits of grief of the inhabitants of the Baldev Nagar refugee camp near the Ambala railway station, where he was posted as the commandant, soon after 1947. In Cry, a bare-chested man with a topknot, with shut eyes and an open mouth, raises an arm to his head. While the sketch might be silent, his mouth tells a devastating tale of anguish.

Parasher was the vice principal of Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, in undivided India.

Post-Partition, he became the founder-principal of the Government College of Art, Punjab, first in Shimla and later in Chandigarh. His journey across the Wagah though — like that of countless others who were displaced — was marked by wrenching despair.

His daughter, Bela Sethi says, “After a hard day’s work at the camp, he used to go around sketching and drawing, as that was what came naturally to him.” Later, Parasher also worked in clay and more in colour. While he never displayed commercially, his children have taken his works across the world, showing them at exhibitions in London and Berlin.

On display at the gallery are Parasher’s early works from Partition and his later colour sketches from Shimla. While the works from the camps make for grim viewing, those from Shimla tell of a far more bucolic life. Some of his works are mounted, but many more lie stacked in drawers.

Alone together ‘Small Comfort’ shows the communities formed during tragedies

parasher archives , A71, South Extension Part II, Delhi; open between 9am and 5pm God help us Untitled, this is one of the few works in colour from the Partition series, which speak of our nation’s troubled history (1950)

CH-X _ A

13

watch cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

Freedom from the mobile phone

BL

14 10

Time capsule The multi-layered flashback in The Grand Budapest Hotel evokes the civilisation that the hotel once embodied

Usha Ramanathan, 58, Delhi

I

have never really felt the need to get a mobile phone, even when everyone around me was getting one. And it hasn’t really affected me negatively; it just means more focus on what I’m doing instead of checking my phone for messages, emails and updates all the time.

As an independent law researcher and scholar in jurisprudence, I like to stay with one idea, look at it in-depth, develop the thought.

Sure, mobiles, especially smart phones, offer a space to discuss and deliberate, but they are reactive. I don’t see a point in participating in these debates, in terms of my work or otherwise. I watch all the people around me and at court, at meetings, always checking their gadgets. I don’t want to sound preachy, but I feel attention spans, which were low to begin with, have plummeted further since mobiles became ubiquitous.

Mobile phones also make it easy for PICTURE THIS people to be tracked. I have no desire to report my whereabouts to anyone else, I feel convenience is and like to know that there’s no one tryabout trade-offs, and ing to shadow me. While many say a every person decides phone is all about convenience, I feel conwhat they want to venience is about trade-offs, and every gain or lose person decides what they want to gain or lose. I don’t see a need to be constantly connected with the rest of the world.

Since I don’t have a boss or an employer to report to on an everyday basis, it does make it easier for me to stay ‘off the grid’. atching Wes Anderson’s The had to steer clear of the silken debauchery of within its walls can rob the Grand Budapest of Grand Hotel got mephone I am told in case of anBudapest emergency, a mobile indispensable. theismilieu.

So Teesri Manzil (1966) was a mur- its grandeur. It probably helps that the spirit thinking about hotels inbefore our mobile But we’ve all lived through emergencies phones der mystery inwere which the hero must clear his of the film — zany, not always honest yet someyou’ve never thought invented, so I’m films. willingIf to take that risk rather than ‘live By onthe thetime edge’.Namak Halaal (1982) hit the how always admirable — is the inimitable name. about it before, a moment close your My family is usedtake to the fact that Ito don’t have a phone.

My husband has theatres, it was possible to combine the hotel- maitre d’hotel Gustav (Ralph Fiennes in his eyes remember hotels — were like in getas-thriller-locale askedand — about thrice what in a decade if I should one, but when I’ve with a broad comic act from most freewheeling performance yet). For Gusthe of Hindi films until the Amitabh Bachchan. saidimagined no, he hasuniverse let me be. tav, as for his appointed successor Zero, the ho1990s. comes to mind?

Men in suits I likeWhat to meet people in person, talk faceand to face and focus on what In the 2000s , seedy hotels continue to form tel is not a career but a vocation. ladies insaying. saris looking in appreciation or technology, they are For me,on when it comes to any the quespart of thrillers — Johnny Gaddaar (2007), TaThe closest we’ve got is the Bengali film adbemusement asIawill scantily-clad womanthe technology tion is whether be using ityoung or whether laash (2012).will Butend sexcapades in them are now aptation of Sankar’s bestselling novel Chowsashays expertly up controlling me.between the tables? Some- also a frequent site of comedy — the famous ringhee (1968) and Uttam Kumar’s times the dancer was the only bright spot in a Hotel Decent in Jab We Met (2007) is thethere first How of did much-remembered turnother as Satya Sadhan Hello, anyone people connect with each before mobile‘Sata’ dimly-lit space.

Hindi film hotels were glossy many. Bittoo Boss (2012) even As told to Sibi Arasu hindu archives phones were invented, we wonder had a photograBose,the debonair receptionist of the Shahjahan fronts for dark dealings of all sorts — from the pher using a Shimla hotel to secretly shoot Hotel. Sata’s initiation of Sankar, like Gustav’s shady hotel in Howrah Bridge (1958) to Hotel honeymoon porn. Still, a whiff of of Zero, is the audience’s entry Hilltop, from where murderous train robber- scandal continues to cling to the point into the hotel’s inner life. ies are orchestrated in The Train (1970). hotel. The Kay Kay Menon-Rajpal This is 1960s India, and hotel As Jerry Pinto puts it in his book on Helen, Yadav starrer Benny Aur Babloo guests are either foreigners (doThis is 1960s India, Bombay cinema saw hotels “as a dreadful (2010) pits the bleeding heart ing important things like eradiand hotel guests are western invention where other ‘western in- humanity of a dance bar against cating smallpox) or the Indian either foreigners ventions’ — smuggling, illicit or extramarital the evils of a five-star hotel. In business class (wheeler-dealers (doing important sex, the black market — thrived”. Respectable 2014’s under-watched Bobby Jaall). The film’s biggest villain is a things like eradicating people, even if they went on holiday, had holi- soos, when Vidya Balan and her rich businessman’s wife. But, unsmallpox) or the day homes to go to. Heroes only went to hotel fiancé are ‘caught’ by her conserlike in mainstream Hindi moIndian business class bars for strategic purposes — in search of the vative Hyderabadi father, it’s vies, the immorality of its elite (wheeler-dealers all) was adoes grapevine growing outor Ruby, the Kinky bondageactually feel a lot from of it. When vamp (Miss Lily or Collective, Kitty, the route to the their emergence a hotelyou surrender dow and there clients not taint the hotel spikes onare it. I reached and you are engaging with fear.useYou embrace it side with these domination-sadism-masochism (or that villain’s gang) — or else to drown their sorrows makes all explanations staff.

They one big out family, completely go into the heart spikes, just community felt them and that BDSM short) about the freedom in alcohol wheninjilted byis their lady-love.

As the less.

Balan’sand other outing this of it. It’s like touched these with classI and differwhatShaadi a Buddhist philosopher said, “There’s an whole situation — the greenery,over the spikes and safely consensual ’70s and to ’80s woreexplore on, what had been pleasurthe pre- year, ke Side Effects, begins ences smoothed by feudal energy to the fear and pain.

The point is to stay benevolence feeling them,and it really spoke to me. es in aofworld that needs more of both cooperserve the vamp and the villain emerged as with a couple using the inherent disreputabilindividual friendships.

Also of usof who are part of ationsite andofpleasure. with not just the the discotheque, where a guitar- ity ofthem hotelsand to spice upstay theirwith marriage. By the remarkable is For thethose number middle-class the Kinky (a national happiness.

This can ani- as integral to working women I’m nothero speaking thefor community strapped mightabout perform a crazed, film’s end, hotels havetruly emerged in the Collective film — a ‘society’ jourmate you, else can.”

BDSM and awareness here, but audience, about myself.

Having that, tosisbe secret youthful or where a said misguided liveslike lessnothing innocuous than a play-acting nalist, a ‘hostess’ forsupport a Marwari businessman, BDSM is alsobad about ableortoafind that placewife of peace, Four years ago, a friend of ter too-modern mightstillness display and her married couple’s. an air hostess.group) But either they’re girls,stripor if We are talking about who hadthink joined the com- Hindi film in they’re good,ping ego, out because when calm within oneself is something that kink en- mine waywardness by dancing with strangers.

What I can’t of is a single they’rethe marked for tragedy — a deeply consensual you’re in a dominant-submissive ables formost me. The that I see closest tofilm this which munityahad told Since of route the mainstream Hindi hotel is me notabout just aBDSM locale but the em- one is tempted to read something into that. surrender the submissive’s ego is and I of was to The seeGrand what it is the spiritual route.been I would callit’s it an inner- blem audience had never in one, remarkaancurious era, as in Budapest Hotel. Despite somesituation, heavy-handed morality, Chowwas. The outof Anderson’s ringhee is thestripped.

Thefilm whole personal freedom, freedom to do with ble how much the ahotel dominated ourinnercine- When wefirst firsttime see Iit,checked the hotel rare Indian thatthing lets aabout hotel the forums, their whole is at the core of things. peace, àimagination. la Kung-Fu Panda (laughs). To matic Or perhaps, it achieve wasn’t film has come down in sensibilthe world, but it still be somethingsurrender more than a den of vice.

It may ity resonated strongly withAnd me.the multi-lay- represent a civilisation It’s not about ‘surrender to god’ that place at of all. peace, engaging with fear and has surprising Hotels were a fantasy world, a threadbare majesty. in decline, but Shahjaor anything but we are talking surrenego areinessential.

This might a bit ab- ered The moment I joined, it was likecandy-coloured stumbling up- han which the consumer desertsound of pre-liberaliflashback, moving from Hotel still manages to evokeabout nostalgia. on something and falling love with immestract but it’swas notboth freedom fromand fearnecessarbut free- animated sation India, desirable jailbreaks to theinblack and it white of der to the dominant: a deeply consensual suris a writersense and critic based in Delhi dom from the fear of fear. that unfolded in a war, diately.

A few afterthat I had render. gupta A dominant’s of self is also put in ily condemnable.

A film evokes the weeks civilisation thediscovered hotel once trisha BDSM, I wasNo looking out of bedroom wina vulnerable position since it is the submisIt’s not in BDSM you embodied. hotel was like exciting, butyou thedon’t hero feel and fear, heroine amount of my extramarital sex t@chhotahazri

Q Not a home away from home R

In the consumer desert of pre-liberalisation India, filmi hotels were a salacious fantasy. Will we never see them as anything except sites of scandal?

trisha gupta

W

Q Freedom from missionary Jaya Sharma, 50, Delhi

F

R Q R

CH-X _ A

BL

watch cover

saturday, august 16, 2014

sive’s submission that allows the dominance to be expressed. Here’s where I feel there’s a lot I learned from my experiences with kink and BDSM, the freedom to say yes or no is about consent. In so many contexts today, this freedom cannot be emphasised more, everyone’s dealing with issues of consent in a patriarchal society. Despite working for 30-odd years in the women’s movement, in the last few years, by practising BDSM I have learned so much about consent.

There’s also the freedom to explore my potential — you know, to push my limits or have someone else push it. So yes, that’s the other aspect I have learned here. And of course, being part of the community is also freedom from stigma. I’m game to try a lot of things but I do draw my lines. I will not try anything involving children or animals, nor will I try anything with anybody whose allegiances are towards the right wing or communal forces.

As a queer and women’s rights activist, we face similar problems as the LGBT community.

I was stunned by the similarities. You grow up thinking you’re the only one in the world, leading a double life, fearing whether you’ll marry someone whose sexuality doesn’t match yours, the fear of being ‘outed’, the fear of blackmail.

We are just a small number — around 20 or

Super boy Performers at the K-pop festival last year; (below) The popular K-pop group N-sonic, which has inspired many auditions this year

so in the Kinky Collective across cities like Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. But the larger BDSM community in India is huge, nearly 30,000 people who meet online as well as in safe forums and spaces. The collective is really about strengthening the BDSM commu-

touched by K-pop and Korean dramas,” he confesses. Youngsters, he says, identify with it because of its eye-popping videos and cheeky fashion. He also adds that the genre has a distinct Asian flavour, which is not visible in Western pop. “And of course, handsome boys,” he says, with a laugh.

This year’s K-pop Dance Festival is expected to be a bigger-than-ever affair. The auditions spanned across Chennai, Dimapur, Mumbai and Delhi. At the Delhi auditions, which took place on August 2, I was surprised to see a packed house, even though these were only the prelims. The talent this year was also better than last year’s. And more surprisingly, the festival is attracting a growing male fan base for a genre that is usually perceived to appeal more to women. The number of applicants aldie walker had risen this year; bands had auditioned by nity and helping peopleon outside the commuuploading their videos the festival’s webnity to understand BDSM... the way things are now, it’s all the more harder. The battle has just begun for us.

What’s your K-pop bias?from kids Freedom

As told to Sibi Arasu

With its eye-popping videos and handsome boys, K-pop Anku Pande, 40, Mumbai has a devout following from Delhi to Dimapur

E I

ven when I was a child, I knew I didn’t been unfair. I didn’t even have a dog for the ally is more worry than anger. My mother-inwant to have children. If you tell me same reason. If I leave a baby at home while law, on the other hand, is very proper and pois last a baby puppy in at work, it’s unfair to the babycommon and to me. t wasthere August year.and Theaentrance to the I’m the participants.

They discovered in- lite about it. She doesn’t want to cross the line feel that I’m not yet equipped I will instinctively gravitate FICCIhouse, auditorium in the Capital was Sometimes terests and I strangers made dinner dates.toI and bring it up. But once I told her about a baby. What willpulled I teachinto himthis or her?

We friend who had a baby through surrogacy and towards the puppy.

I don’t understand why, in raise packed and humming in anticipation. founda myself getting beautishe said the funniest thing : “Phir this overpopulated country, educated up ofinK-pop. a different Bright posters screamed about thepeople event. grew ful world And justworld like that, one afterhumne itni mehnat kyu ki? Hum bhi we were to at Dunkin want to have more children.

My husband also Uniformed volunteers handed out flyers and ‘I where noon this May, Itaught foundnot myself feels the same way. II don’t evento remember ourdiscussing voice in public, to ac- — a K-pop suaisa hi karte.” (Why did we work love K-pop’ T-shirts. managed grab one us of raise Donuts, Super Junior hard to have babies? We could that—dignity lies ingames not fighthaving conversation about it. arrived Maybe, cept the lasta serious ones. Strangely, people had perstar and playing such as Identify back,with in being submissive. have also done it this way.)

I’ll adopt — I’m 40 now, so itFestival will probearly for one the day second K-pop Dance to ing the Idol! a roomful of strangersI’ve united in too busy to been Perhaps, I’ve been very lucky ably an older of about or 10,one. lest But today, can’t even say grabbe good seats. child I scrambled forseven an empty our love for you K-pop.

Were there really look so many back and say, I yourmusic responsibilities or toocalled thick-skinned to gauge if the child my feels like he or she issomeone being raised by that, Noticing feeble attempts, offered fans ofso Korean in Delhi, I wondered.

When a group the Undefeated Crew wish I had site. a baby other women arewere judging me for ‘grandparents’.

Also, if andasking, when I“Who’s do it, I’dyour like multiply. me a seat, but not before won the Delhi prelims, they delighted. opinions.

Women inabout the My the parents, my to takebias?” five years offIand work.she nodded Riding K-pop When saidnot SHINee, Koreanespecially wave Their familiesmy were not too enthusiastic same age bracket as me are often a film producer, if I’ve taken a job and felt mom, in As approval.

I had passed my initiation.

K-pop iscan’t a popunderstand genre fromwhere South Korea that is their participation, but the crew hoped the stressed because their kids are that not happy, I’ve quit.was Both my husband coming from.

I’m an onlyelements and win would change MyI’m obsession with K-pop fairly recent, a I’m characterised by its audio-visual that.

Who was their favouupThey and chorused they are EXO. envious ofisme.

In and I live likeatitbest, is ourbut lastitday. ex- child and I don’t have first cousins.

So my growing couple of today months wasWe’ve intense. hip fashions.

Theeven genre combines dance-pop, rite group?

“EXO a star become a confidante manythe others, perimented so nothing much with jobsPark, and cities, is scared I’ll be allrock, alone in my and old R&B age. fact, The music was likeour Linkin hard- mom pop ballads, electronic, hip-hop band.I’ve They are really amazing. to They’re best thing they all is, “One day my kids fears justified in some sense.

But re- and and travelled lot. Having baby have Her ly anything toaheadbang to,a but it would was upbeat styles.

Theare musical movement began initthe crewone in the world,” a say group member said.

It up and become independent.

What and infectious. SHINee, in partic’90s, and has since turned into a will was grow befitting then that their video was inI dobyall these years?” I tell them that they ular, is a group known for its con‘Korean Wave’, playing across did spired EXO’s video. children with Edwin great values, I guess temporary music style, dazzling the world. Bands such as Super raised Nineteen-year-old Kubzar,but who won classicprize grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side visuals and complex dance Junior, Big Bang, 2NE1 and Girl’s it’s lasta year’s in the song category, had The festival is Whenupon I plan reunions, say moves. Hours before the festival Generation have become inter- case. stumbled theschool festival throughsome a friend attracting a growing children have exams so Dimapur, they can’t Nagamake began, I’d fortuitously seen an ad net sensations and household their on Facebook.

Hailing from male fan base for on his certain days.toBut I am independent and about it. And here I was. names. Girl’s Generation even it land, decision participate was sudden: “I a genre that is usually suchofrestrictions.

I have friends The lights dimmed in an audibeat popular acts of Miley Cyrus, have didn’tno think anything. I just went aheadwho and perceived to appeal me He things like,speak “No wonder you he look so torium filled with raucous K-pop Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and tell did it.” doesn’t Korean, but pracmore to women younger” or “You’re so lucky, you can fans. Participants took to the even Korean sensation Psy to much tised till he got the lyrics right.

At this year’s allKubzar the time”. stage confidently, cheered on by win the inaugural YouTube Mu- travel festival, will be a veteran. And a popI do have two cats, though, and haveDid to the audience. All of them were sic Awards in 2013 for its music ular one.

“People recognise me,” he Isays. make a conscious effort to “Not talk about Indian, but they were well versed video I Got a Boy. he think he’d find so manynot fans? really.

Sometimes others look to at know me with such in small Korean phrases. They sang and For this year’s festival, which concludes at them.

But people are slowly coming about it as if He they’re thinking, “Sotosad, your cats danced to popular K-pop numbers. Over the the end of the month, the Korean Cultural pity (K-pop).” might continue be the reignThat’s the only timeisI am at a next few hours, energy levels rose and fell like Centre is bringing N-sonic to perform. A rising are ing your K-popkids.” idol in India, but Kubzar at work for awords.

Can cats be substitutes for baa sine curve: shooting up for the dances and K-pop group, they recently released a music loss cutting new single.

Really, the new cat lady stereotype falling silent for the songs. Crazy Freaks Dance video, Pop Beyond, which has done very well in bies?

Sitting in my N Sonic T-shirt—atspinsters the prewith no kids is completely worn Crew won in the dance category for their per- Korea. The band’s fans, who go by the name Su- and lims,women I can hardly wait for—the finals on August thin with overuse! formance of 2PM’s Again and Again. Edwin personic, are thrilled with the news.

30. And this time, I will be early to grab myself I’ve been seat. just too busy to look back and say, Kubzar won for his soulful rendition of Ailee’s When Kim Kum Pyoung, the director of the a front-row Heaven — nearly four minutes that had stilled Korean Cultural Centre, arrived in India in “I wish I had a baby.” the hall. Small groups, squealing in excite- 2011, he didn’t expect to see so many K-pop amina razzack is a K-pop enthusiast and was an toldattoBLink Mohini Chaudhuri intern ment, hung back after the event to meet with fans. “India is one of the last countries to be As

Q R

Q R

Happy family I don't see my cats as substitutes for children thulasi kakkat

CH-X _ A

11 15

watch cover

BL BL 168

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

Freedom from EMI The talented Mr Shorey V Ramaswamy, 54, Kolkata

M A

aggie Thatcher at her peakto young.

The older Shorey you grow, the it be- walked against his into father. a But who knows Like any working actorwas with bills pay, Ranvir hasharder willingly string of if he’ll feel then. Racism was neither un- comes to choose that path. differently some day… I’ve seen how property “B-grade trash” that little justiceFourteen to hisyears skills common nor does rare in the UK. And after returning to Kolkata can destroy families and relationships, how it there was certainly no notion of and working as a social activist, I set up the Ta- can infect the air with negativity and ill-will. I multiculturalism. A brown man working in limi Haq School for slum children in Howrah. I didn’t want that for them. And with my backs the crass, schoolend past that country wasgood-for-nothing either at the receiving of worked its halfway-mark andfor Shorey there full time three is still rumours. “People come up to and say, — ‘Sorground in me economics as a stuBunty in Khosla ka Ghosla racistdropout invective, or simply invisible.

In those around, slowly histhe groove. years.

Now,finding I mentor teach-He even ry to hear about your marriage.’

Here — I am liv- the dent and teacher I knew (2006), was compelling, whilemy in first two years inhe London, holding down goes so as run to say that whilechange a film like Titli ing happily with my ersfar who it. (A sudden familyofinmaking my newlong-term house, fipitfalls Mithya (2008) you empathised with I was job after a master’s degree in Calcutta, gives in him satisfaction, it can never but the general impression mycreative family’s circumstances is that I’m a divornancial commitments without unlikely his character VK, by a wannabe whose un- fetch confronted questionsactor of life and living, of meant him theI had reach television.

“I used toMy goson’s toof take responsibilicee,” he says,tovisiblyconsidering agitated. that fortunes can doinglived is hisrealities strikingand resemblance a dreaded hostilities.toI was confronted to thetypark and flow children would recognisehold me this against of our meter manufacMentionme. his three-year-old son Haroon and change overnight.

But who knows if he’ll gangster.

Sadly, it’s been back a while saw aan exby myself.

Coming to since India we became from turing Khatronbusiness.) ke Khiladi,” he says. he instantly softens, happily taking the role Yes, I still liveon under the roof differently performance half as exciting from the istential that’s imperative.

Alluring as TV fame might he still drawsfeel of Since I worked for be, modest a willing father .of “Inmy mygrandfather 20s I used to—work a house talentedItactor Ranvir Instead, you was in thoseShorey. grim times, over 30have years ago, the line at doingof a show like Bigg Boss. “For the someday… amounts money through all day and party allwith night.several Now I would rather alstakeholders, duds that suchI as Bajatey Raho, Chandini Chowk to— not first realised what my ideological last two years I’veworking been asked.

That’s most of my life, my sav- like sui- be home with Haroon hanglive with most and all ofjust whom abroad, Chinajust andpolitical Do Knot Disturb, which doI no — leanings were. hadjustice no interest cide. Iings havewere trouble keeping myI cool when I’m meagre too. never him,” he says, withmaking a smile.its Helegal andstatus Sen Sharcomplex to hisincalibre.

“If I’vemoney, done aincertain of monmultiplying chasingkind more free and in that enhadoutside. enoughPutting to buy ame house.

Even ma take turns so that their and working, unnavigable, now and in work,ey you’d you’d get better But withthink money.

In investing inoffers. the idea of a fuvironment begging forbought it,” he property in the the future. if I did,isIlike wouldn’t have son isBut never leftnever alone.felt insecure. And I I have that doesn’t seem by toproperty be happening ture dictated prices. to me... admits. struggles cityShorey’s to grow wealth or towith better the prospects doubt my son, Afterwho wrapping Jhalak, may orupmay nothe inherit Usually, Growing I get really B-grade They may up, we hadtrash. no luxuries, nobe excessangerof mymanagement children. I wouldhave have felt trapped. forward to working any part ofisit,looking does either. great es parts...

But either it’scity a bad or a di- had in Calcutta — the myscript grandfather broughtI him in the nevernotoriety felt obliged to leave (pecuniary) on the End-about Unlike those whorom-com banter atHappy tea stalls rectormoved who can’t blow nose,” he says. to 84even years agohis from Kerala.

But as chilpast. keepsakes In 2002, for hismy then girlf- And after my eldest poverty — and children. ingnot alongside Saif Ali astrophysics orKhan, molecular Recently, he reclaimed some his old glory dren, we never wanted forofanything vital. Perriend,son thepassed actress/director away lastPooja year, such ideas became biology — simply Ileana D’cruz andthey Kalki Koe-I have because can, with Kanu Behl’s Titli, which was screened at I say, haps that is the root of my ‘lack’ — or, shall Bhatt,even accused of assault. morehim irrelevant.

The only thing I felt I spent decades chlin.

“The film is maintrying to understand the issue this year’s Cannes in the Un Cer- More ought different kindFilm — ofFestival ambition. recently, there specuto do forwas them as a parent was to give and addressstream yet has it. Their and knowledge of thean poor is tain Regard tale ofand a Delhi-based I justcategory. wanted The to return work for devellationthem that ahis marriage to acgood education, and I did that — at a about as sound alternative streak.

Only once as mine of making money. If car-jacking family encouraging opment at thereceived grassroots level. And Ire-wasn’t tress considerable Konkona Sencost, Sharma wasseveral sacrifices to you reallyinwant making a while do I get great scripts it’s something — whether viewsalone. from the foreign press.

“Cannes Others were affected by was the a same in trouble. says to he did send He them the considresidential Rishi Valley wealth orlike and it of just feels —soyou’ve the this eradication poverty bit of‘youthful a culture idealism’ shock forthat me. I’ve seento the led never me back er hiring a PRinagency early in his And I know they got to work School Chittoor district. great,” he says. towards it. I chose to do the latter, something extravagant before. liked East. Itsosaddens me that thatPeople is not the case tocareer, but it it. didn’t help quell the valued A student of humanities, my young- that’s all. mohini chaudhuri the film, my needs work, to and gotand a huge day. liked So much bewe done, social de- er son too cares little for conventional ambistanding ovation,”can he says. film he playsone is tions. So it’s unlikely that he’ll ever hold this As told to Soity Banerjee velopment only Inbethedone when Vikram, the oppressive elder brother at the helm of the illegal business. “Although I’m supposed to be the antagonist, in a way, I’m also the victim of the patriarchal system. Aside from the fact that I had a great role, I wanted to see this film made,” he says.

Like every working actor with pending bills to pay, Shorey says he too has a long list of projects he walked into knowing they weren’t the smartest of choices. He’s now decided to consciously limit such subpar work by opting for less embarrassing ones. He is now the host of the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on Colors, and has appeared as a contestant on the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi — the Indian adaptation of Fear Factor shot in South Africa. Pitted against the usual crop of television soap stars who hop from one reality show to another, Shorey appeared to be a bit of a misfit. “I wanted an adventure holiday, so I thought, chal, I’ll do this and get paid also. I had such a great time. That’s why I agreed to do Jhalak,” he says.

But TV work is like returning to his home turf. Long before entering films, Shorey was a popular veejay on Channel V. His pairing on TV with actor Vinay Pathak, who has since appeared with him in numerous films, stood out for its flawless comic timing.

“I learnt everything I know — behind and in front of the camera — on Channel V… but this (Jhalak) is a different ballgame altogether. I’ve never hosted a show as grand and massy as this. There’s a certain compromise in sensibilities,” he adds.

Shorey clearly seemed out of his depth during the initial weeks of the dance show, sparking rumours of his eviction. Today the show is

Q R

Vertical limits Is this Mumbai or Kolkata?

The urban sprawl in the city of joy now rivals that of any other Indian metro arunangsu roy chowdhury

CH-X _ A

Difficult act From meaty to flimsy roles on the big and small screen, Ranvir Shorey has done them all

read cover

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

Playing truant On target US Marines Aadvance young khynnah against the ap masi in (orsouthern herdsman Taliban of Meghalaya) Afghanistan ongrazes sheep off the road to February 14, 2010 afp/patrick baz near Smith Village, Shillong ritu raj konwar

Finding OBL A coherent narrative on Pakistan’s role in nurturing the Taliban that is rich in lessons on counter-insurgency, but has a few crucial gaps

C The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan — 2001-2014 Carlotta Gall Penguin Non-fiction ₹499

arlotta Gall’s book on Afghanistan, The Wrong Enemy is, as you guessed, mostly about Pakistan. Most reviewers of the book would, like Daniel Markey (author of No Exit from Pakistan), say that there is nothing new or surprising about it. Columnist Sadanand Dhume agrees, saying, “At this point, accusations of Pakistani perfidy won’t raise the eyebrows of anyone with even a passing familiarity with the region.”

Yet, it is interesting to look at the evidence that Gall presents to support her case. Her credentials are impeccable — 10 years of extensive reporting for The New York Times while based in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and 30 years of familiarity with the “harsh mountains and the emerald valleys of the Hindu Kush” since the he city is too intense.

After living in time she accompanied her father, Sandy Gall, Delhi more than of 19Afghanistan years, two who covered the for Soviet invasion years I lefttothe cityoffor I for BBC. She wasago witness most thegood. stories was completely It that she chronicles.

No onedisillusioned. can dispute her takes Her a certain kind ofand person to succeed in facts. comments conclusions may, the city. You have to be insanely competitive in however, be contested. everything — whether it’s yourbooks careeronorthe your Ahmed Rashid, whose three Talove life — and I realised that Itextbook just wasn’t that liban have almost acquired status, kindwritten of a person. has a long critique of Gall’s The Wrong I started whenexamination.

I was only 18. At first, Enemy thatworking merits close Rashid I worked a freight forwarding company.

Afsays, “Thein Pakistan military’s insecurity about ter a couple of yearsand on the growing job, in 1999, one American intentions power of fineNorthern day I walked into the freeand progress school the Alliance, India Iran led to its Mirambika and to decided work there.Gall In the fateful decision rearmto the Taliban.” arprocess, I discovered found a second gues, however, that it myself, was NATO’s decision, in life, and learnt it meantitstoUS-mandated be a learner December 2006,what to expand and facilitator.force Thosetowere the bestAfghanistan four years peacekeeping southern of my life. as a red rag to the ISI and made it that acted At the Taliban time, a parent of a child school was push to “make lungeat for control of starting a company that was going to work the South.” with acrossa convincing the countryand and impleGallschools does present coherent ment teacher training programmes othera narrative about how the Pakistanisand played qualitative so thatthe they couldinitially enhance major role intools nurturing Taliban in their offerings.

He asked me if help I would to the mid-’90s, extended military notlike so covworktofor him, and said yes. ertly enable it toIspread its power all over AfI must sayand that Ireluctantly liked the job, but after three ghanistan, withdrew open years I found myself desperate getwith out no of support to Taliban post-9/11 whentoleft that environment.

Onetoday, I told the man options, but continued support it indirectly who offered me the job that political I wanted to leave. in many ways, including backing He askedthe mereligious if I was complaining about the through parties that Musharraf salary. And really, it wasn’t aboutinthat all. I helped bring to power in 2002 the at border just felt tired of the insane competition to get provinces.

The regeneration of the Taliban nowhere important. from 2003 onwards is painstakingly chroni-

cled. Gall vividly recalls how during a visit to world and the lessons they provide for practiQuetta in early 2003, she noticed the open pres- tioners of counter-insurgency. She is firm in ence of the Taliban. Militant mullahs like Da- her view that intelligence-based police operdulla and Fazlullah were having a free run in ations rather than military forays would have Pakistan, with generous access to electronic paid greater dividends and averted major tragmedia. In July 2003, Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISI’s edies like the massacre of a wedding party at favourite Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekma- Kakrak in July 2002 by an Army unit looking for tyar held a Council of War and agreed to co-op- Mullah Baradar. erate in the fight against American forces in She also lauds the success of the Afghan LoAfghanistan. Gall claims on the strength of an cal Police programme launched by Generals interview with a senior retired ISI official that Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus. She the Pakistan intelligence agency was aware of tells the story of how the Taliban advance on this meeting and encouraged it.

Kandahar was reversed in August 2010 by the Taking the narrative forward by another dec- Afghan Border Police led by Abdul Raziq before ade, the book abounds in many such stories of the Americans completed the rout. She also decomplicity or active encouragement by the Pa- tails how the next two stages of the counter-inkistan Government, military and intelligence surgency strategy (“the hold and build stages”) Once with I quitorthe job,Taliban, I spenttheir the next five were services to the brothersprovide them. I work with the community — implemented over a two-year period and years working as a freelance consultant.

I awith in-arms like the Haqqani network and the suikids, parents andsystem the school.

They secure administrative put in place wanted to create ownhavoc identity without or- with cide bombers whomy cause in Afghanistan. haven’t opportunities to learn theseAfghan skills; thehad help of a much transformed ganisational backup. was doing The Osama bin Laden I(OBL) con- well profes- they are eagerLocal for more.

I can the real Police.

By also the feel summer of sionally.isBut somehow, I wasdenever happy in effects of my 2013, nection examined in great workthere whenwas I seeno how much more doubt that the the city.

I felt that I couldn’t cope tail.

Gall’s assertion that every ISIwith the envi- the kids enjoy coming to school now Taliban was on thebecause run even in ronment. just had to get out. chief from IKayani to Zaheer-ul Is- The city was the teachers Panjwayi, are firing up imaginations, its their birthplace.

For our There are interesting national sucking lifeLaden’s out of hideout me. I caught myself teaching them lam knewthebin concepts by demonstrating security planners and inputs, but they do wondering why people did elabthis, why did they them and notpractitioners, could have done with more by mugging up facts. there are lessons to not add significantly live these insane some oration.

Gall againlives. leavesInone a ways, I felt Yet, it can get lonely from here. the My success friends are in be learnt of the to what has appeared Local trapped.

I come fromwhen a familyshe where everyone Delhi (although bit disappointed some of programme them often come up Police in southin the media since is ‘successful’.

Yet, I felt I wasn’t quotes Talat Masood telling her and we go on treks). Also, being a ern Afghanistan.

Osama was killed builtsomething like that. Eventually dethat Musharraf Isaid foodie, sometimes I miss that However, Gall’s interviews with cided get out ofconvinced this situation. in an to interview him city.

The cafes, the microbrewera Taliban commander and the I the moved firstPresident to Sikkim. that former knewI ies…

I also wonder if exposure is Haqqania Madrassa chief are I have the time to worked with some schools bin Laden’s whereabouts.

How- do the things I love — important and, if The so, why — takequally revealing. confidence there.

Now I am about in Meghalaya — Musharraf ever, she is quiet what exactly out sweep of William Blake’s of thetoTalibaning thata itleaf would back to powI write, I listen in a part the State stillhave vulnerhad said, of which would lent greater cre- I watch of Innocence, not er in Kabul Songs once the Americansdoes left it comes music, able totoinsurgency.

There is alists big some “bombdence the story. She also alienate one from oneself? through in these interviews. movies, I go on differenceshe in the money I make.during long shells” uncovered herwalks...

I aam grateful for the many Gall ends with plea to the Americans that, But I am lucky, One I am was single.

Sothe no ISI had a spe- given Pakistan’s investigations. that things I learnt, the wonderful determination to continue exmatter little OBL I make, cial cell how to handle withI acan Controlling Offi- porting militant people I met, and for all the theatre, Islamism terrorism, they get by.

The thing the minute I to anyone. must not yetmusic cer who did notis,have to report and fun. is not that peoturn their backIton Afghanistan. left the city couldclaims feel athat hugethe Americans Her plea is unlikely Similarly, sheI also ple in the cityheeded, are bad;although people are to be reweight lift off my shoulder.

I finally feltISIfree.

I ports had intercepted evidence that the then chief the same I am fromeverywhere.

AfghanistanBut areoverall, appalling — much by the could breathe.

And smile. whereabouts. These end Pasha knew bin Laden’s happier andthe content here.

I have the timethe to of July, Taliban was dominating wise, people arebut so do much recep- provinces areWork interesting inputs, notmore add signifido the things I reallyLohar, love —Nangarhar I write, I listen to of Wardak, and Kative toto what I tell here.inI’ve with pisa, cantly what hasthem appeared theworked media since music, I watch movies,Kabul.

I go on walks. The which surround Aslong the summer of some of the schools in various Indian ci- 2014 bin Laden wasbest killed. air isrecedes, pristine.isI am surrounded by lush Afghanistan’s winter of forests. disconties.

Andisfound to be quite anthe ungrateful What reallythem impressive about book are tent Everything beautiful.

And I finally like I about toisdescend over the Hindufeel Kush? lot. insights You’re just consultant the thatanother Gall with her yearstoofthem. fron- am living. Like, really living.

They’re spoilt for choice.

Here, inisthis obscure tline reporting from Afghanistan able to pro- hormis tharakan is a former chief of the Research As told to Veena Analysis Wing Venugopal corner of the country, theyinvalue I and vide regarding the fighting that the parttools of the

Freedom from the city Rohit Sood, 35, Meghalaya

T

Q

Q R R

CH-X _ A

9 17BL BL

read talk

BL BL 186

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

ON THE SHELF

Into the wilderness

Poster girls Are Smriti Irani and the others flogged as role models by the Indian media true agents of free will? reuters/ahmad masood

We are seeing a renaissance in nature writing, which attests to a hunger among readers and a desperation to describe the natural world before it disappears Mountains of the mind Nature gives us a sense of bigness outside of ourselves

anita roy

kr deepak

No freedom in choice Labouring in the kitchen after a day’s work is now a saleable fantasy, if performed by a successful, beautiful, thin, trendy, new-age career woman. It’s a matter of ‘choice’. Or is it?

poornima joshi

“A L

CH-X _ A

nyone who lives in a city will know the feeling of having been therea women’s too long. summit The gorge-vision ast week, celebratthat predictable streets imprint oncharts us, the ed rather career of sense ofwomen blockage, surfaces whothe arelonging famous for being faother than glass, brick, concrete andshow tarmac.” mous; the highlight of the be— Robert Macfarlane The WildSmriti Places. Z Irani’s ing Education Minister Having lived in Delhi for memory nearly 20ofyears, confessions about how the PrimeI know theNarendra feeling. For the first time in Minister Modi referring tohistory, her as there nowstill more peopleher. living in cities chhoti are behen “chokes” Apparently, than rural areasthe — 54 per cent, according to whileinshe tackles formidable tasks before the latest Urbanisation Prospects Reher in the World Education Ministry, the most chalport, released is projected to lenging job forlast hermonth. is to sitThis through the interrise 66her person’s cent school by 2050; the vast majority of viewtofor interview. them live in China and Nigeria.

Thewill image of India, the superwoman from Delthis hi, the second of the world’s delicious 24 megaglittering showlargest conforms to another cities, a population of around 25 million, façadewith marketed by a mobile network — that is hit 37 million by 2030, which ofprojected the femaletoboss easily slipping intobythe role time the list of cities population exceedof a wife, cooking forwith her man, a subordinate ing 10 workplace. million willLabouring have grown 41.kitchen afat the into the lot ofbecomes gorge-vision, a lotfantasy, of glass, terThat’s a day’sa work a saleable if brick, concrete tarmac. beautiful, And a lotthin, less performed by aand successful, trees, and wild places. trendy,animals, new-agebirds career woman.

Back in 2004, in the wake of his incredibly Indeed, the superwoman seems to be the successful book, Mountains of the only ‘cool’ first marketable persona who canMind, outRobert set outpretty on a series ofthings walks marketMacfarlane the innumerable young around Britain and Ireland in search of itsslimlast thrusting ever new brands of cosmetics, remaining wild places.

Rejecting the interior logic of ming formulae, clothing, shoes and the road map — which exists as an answer to decoration in countless publications masquethe question, “what’s the fastest way to get rading as ‘women’s magazines’. from to B?” — he set out could to losebe himself inamthe TheAbottomline is, you a brand countries’ wild places.‘real’ He spends bassador unmapped for flesh-and-blood, Indiana bleak night Hope in the far north of women if youon areBen successful.

Scotland; through the brambles of We are scrambles now supposed to straddle multiple the holloways Dorset; discovers miniature identities thatofentail having the aperfect job, forest in the cracks ofthe a perfect limestone pavement the perfect husband, figure and, of on the west coast of culinary Ireland, “as beautiful course, the perfect skills to suit and the complex, morethat so, than any glen or models ofperhaps womanhood marketing gurus bay peak.” up for us. Any idea that contrahaveorconjured Macfarlane, along with writers Roger dicts this perfect woman’s world like would, of Deakin, William Dave Goulson and course, be seen asFiennes, ‘judgemental’ or ‘illiberal’, Diane a kind of renaiscomingAckerman, as it doesrepresent from a grey-haired, apparsance in nature writing. popularity — ently dour feminist such Their as myself, who has quite apart from domesticity their criticaland acclaim — atshunned (messy) the beauti-

tests to a hunger among contemporary read- the real… an abstraction of experience into ers for literature about the natural world. different kinds of touchlessness. We experiTheir writing is suffused with a sense of won- ence, ful cocoon of marriage and children. as no historical period has before,women, disemAdditionally, these professional derBut anddon’t givenget anme urgency bordering on des- bodiment wrong.

I have nothing and dematerialisation.” like my distraught colleague, are pushed to peration record and describe against a to woman wanting to cook,the fornatural herself hate Among other things, city distorts theirmany bodies because one is life never thin world disappears entirely.

Goulson’s or for abefore man ifitshe so wishes.

Nor am I under- our senseorofdolled-up perspective.

It cantomake you selffeel enough enough suit the bestseller on bumblebees, Fiennes’s mining Smriti Irani’s challenges, be lyrical it her big — atcreated the ‘centre of things’, a differimage by mass mediamaking and glamorous journey following theormigration of snow son’s school interviews the intricacies of In- ence.

Urbanofliving impliessuperwoman. influence, power stereotypes the new-age With geese, Deakin’spolicy. aboutI merely the ‘fifth dia’s education want element’, to under- and the social marketstatus. increasingly deciding what one wood, of eats, stand and the Ackerman’s subliminal evocative contexts mixture in which Being theshould natural world changes one’s whatinone look like and how festivscience and sensibility in books are such as A Nat- perspective certain images of womanhood constructtoo, butthe in ordinary very different ways.

In als are celebrated, woman, proural History the Senses, all point to a resur- 1960, novelistfessional ed and the ofpolitics of ‘choice’ Wallace Stegner wrote aisletter to or otherwise, forever gence of celebrated what one these might call that is so days. the US government struggling to look arguing and feel that the ‘neo-romanticism’.

Theor term is Where is the failing failed the part.wilderness This is thecannot contextbe invalued which more commonly to referdisto woman in this used dominant in plainaremonetary choices made. terms: “we music art, yet in this efcourse?and Where arehere the countless need wild places because reHowever, choice is thethey latest The bottomline is, florescence nature writing in overweight,of underpaid, overmind us of a world beyond the buzzword.

A woman can cook, Being in the you could be natural a brand literature, we professionals find the same who con- ambassador tired women thatsaas-bahu even if they cannot clean, enjoy soap opworld changes forone’s flesh- human,” cerns the earlier — mostlyofdon’t feel asRomantics empowered go there, just knowing these eras and celebrate karvathat chauth if perspective very and-blood,in ‘real’ William Blake, as the female boss Wordsworth, in the Airtel places exist gives people “a sense she so chooses — the choice bedifferent ways Indian women if you Ruskin and their ilk minister?

— to go out ad or our education of ingbigness salutedoutside for the themselves”. simple reason are successful into the world in order to return A few days ago, an exhausted This is linked toThis the that the‘bigness’ choice was made. to the self.

Indeed, colleague from a newsMacfarlane television idea of thethe ‘sublime’ Romantic liberates ones in celebrating chooses for his preface a line channel told me how she craves literature — the way that natural choice from analysing, much less from the 19th-century American to be home alone, spend some naturalist landscapes can be simultaneously uplifting addressing, any of the socio-ecoJohn which only and time Muir looking afterdescribes herself, just howthat: she “I wishes Macfarlane,that Deakin and nomichumbling. or political conditions influenced went out for a walk, finally—concluded to Fiennes someone would takeand charge of children, are not just, that or rather notmake, only, ecothe various choices women are stay out tillwork, sundown, for going out, I found, home and responsibilities which don’t warriors against environmental forced tocampaigning make or have been conditioned to was going in.” seemreally to end.

Whipping out her phone, she destruction, but are also engaged a metamake. Linda Hirshman, scholar andinauthor of For Wordsworth and nature showed me a picture ofRuskin, a beautiful girlwas in imlin- physical quest: to understand notof just what Get to Work: A Manifesto for Women the World, perilled andand theblow-dryed human spirit en trousers hair.impoverished “Your daugh- the natural world is, but what itthis means.

What among other works, describes phenomby the twin engines ofcheer industrialisation ter?”

I asked, hoping to her up. “No,”and she does humans —tothat be ais,part the enon it asmean ‘choicefor feminism’ “theof widemodernisation.

Theverge guiding spirits — orisrathsaid, almost on the of tears.

“This how natural and apart from movement it? spread world, belief that women’s has er, demons — for contemporary writ- liberated thepursuing mother of my son’s best friend looks like.”

The Sunday Times describes Fiennes’s The women to make whatever choices ersTheare climate point is, this change, colleague environmental does not have Snow Goose as “a profoundly moving account she makes”. destruction, of biodiversity, and the the ‘choice’ tothe stayloss at home if she so wishes.

In- of This joy returning, of one man’s rediscovery of attitude and ideological framework peculiarly modern malaise of alienation in a the securities with regard to employment, rising world”. For Macfarlane, as for so manythe of undermines women’s capacity to analyse hyper-connected inflation, cost of world. living and the near absence us, thethat wildweholds the So, possibility of enrichworld inhabit. once again, let us the last you looked up and ment, of When social was security andtime childcare accompanied evencelebration redemption: “weto arearrest fallenour in not allow of for choice saw stars? Their loss, through by a the breakdown of traditional social artificial support mostly broken pieces… but the wild canthose still understanding of what went on behind lighting, seem a “regrettable but eventustructuresmay mean that young professionals in return to ourselves.” choices.usAnd, for the record, I will cook only if I ally trivialcities side-effect contemporary life,” don’t have a choice. the mega do not,ofmostly, feel as empobut fororMacfarlane it is and serious wered as beautiful as “a thegreat ad gurus would anita roy is a writer and director of Young Zubaan anita@anitaroy.net poornima joshi loss”.

He believe. sees it as signalling a “retreat from have you

Q Q R R

takeaway cover

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

Breaking I free Showstopper ahoy!

As Chennai embarks on a weeklong celebration of its founding day, we take a bird’s-eye view of this 375-year-old city from its lighthouse, which recently threw its doors open again magine you’re a sailor out in the Bay of a collaboration between the Ministry of TouBengal. Imagine you’re caught in a rism and Ministry of Shipping, renovated storm. And with your GPS and other digi- lighthouses along the country’s coastline will tal navigation systems floundering, your soon play host to ‘lighthouse tourism’. only hope for survival is to find land and find At the Marina lighthouse, R Neelakandan, a it quick... When, suddenly, you see that ever so navigational assistant, acts as our guide and faint light, reappearing like a heartbeat on the directs us to a small museum set up recently horizon, and you steer your vessel, the largest on the ground floor. “This was earlier the genof containers or the smallest of sailboats, to- erator room,” he says. Dipping into the State’s wards it, towards land. At a longitude of 13 de- rich maritime history, he explains the various grees 2 minutes and 22 seconds, that beacon exhibits that include samples of previous can only mean the Marina lighthouse on light sources, maritime instruments such as Chennai’s coastline. sextants and compasses as well as replicas of Built to an imposing 58-metre height and lighthouses in other parts of the country, inoverlooking the Marina beach, cluding its only floating lightthe lighthouse has for 37 years house on a ship near Jamnagar, ufactured by Chance Brothers in Birmingham, emanated four 10-second blinks Gujarat. The show-stealer, how- England, and first installed on June 1, 1894. every minute, visible up to a disever, is undoubtedly the rotating From the museum, we accompany NeelaIt is the only tance of 50km (26 nautical two-metre, white light lantern kandan in the lift to the 10th floor, where a inner-city lighthouse miles). It was closed to the public assembly that was originally stunning view of the Bay and the city’s coastin the country in the mid-’80s for a range of reacommissioned for the light- line await us. The panorama takes in the 16thsons — from security concerns, house on Karumbhar Island in century Santhome Church flanked by the owing to its proximity to the dithe Gulf of Kutch. slum tenements in Foreshore Estate and the rector general of police’s office “The Olakaneeswara temple, Marina beach, numerous government builddiagonally opposite it, to rumours of a wom- in Mahabalipuram, where a bonfire is said to ings that stand out for their Indo-Saracenic aran plunging to death from atop it. be lit every night atop the temple to guide sail- chitecture and, of course, the ships on water.

Growing up in Madras, the lighthouse was ors is believed to be the first lighthouse in Ta- One floor above us is the light itself, accessed always on my bucket list of sorts, ever-present mil Nadu,” says Neelakandan. In Madras only by the staff. The coastguard has installed at the end of the Marina but never accessible. Lighthouse, ICR Prasad, a lighthouse official several pieces of equipment at the lighthouse, So when it finally reopened its doors to vis- and researcher writes how this was done by including a radar beacon, a National Automatitors last year, I got to see the inside of a struc- using 12 coconut oil wick lamps, behind which ic Identification System (NAIS) antenna, Sonar ture that dominates our image of the city. And 12 reflecting mirrors were placed for better equipment and a static camera with a 15-km the footfalls — about 2,000 a day — since the re- beam formation. zoom, all of which are remote controlled. time.the So,Marina now welighthouse know no other timeinbut duction usy that people comeinalive only as can realise that we lifefinally is notdescend a straight opening prove I’m who not alone feeling Before was built After an hour at the top, the there one measured by it. others Once a humble factory to line from morning to evening from this way. against a deadline say that they run 1977, were three at different the drawn ground level.

From the outside,orthe theproject clock to when they are ac- points timekeeper, a mere device—to regulate work, the A ofnavy birthprotocol to the Z red-and-white of death. Therestrucare nu“It’s part against of a larger renew 15 lightalong the coastline the first was in- it standard tually running with it. Time hasFort nowStbecome vital as the sun. fortress But when ture merous timelike cycles in nature.

We are simultahouses across India,” says along K Sakthi, deputy di-is a side George,asthe first British looks just I have always remembered concept too vast forofus Lighthouses to know whether you don’t gripthe on time.

You it, neously the trees, rector (Directorate and it it stops, built in India inlose 1644,the while second but nowalive thatin I have seen animals, the insidestones of it, and it runs, gallops, lumbers orof trots.

It is the clock simply outlighthouses of the global system produc- will sand.

Your body may still have the iron that Lightships), in the Ministry Shipping office andfall third were builtofwithin never be the same. the clockHigh has produced for us is an was and in tells to do so, because it re- tion. What once part of a rockisfrom planet at that Deepruns Bhavan theuscity.

“We’re renewing the Madras Court premises.

The Chennai lighthouse openthe from 10amMars. to time to its own narrow categories. industrial measure that suppresses all has other 1pm The squirrel have toMondays. befriend — theduces Mahabalipuram lighthouse as well. The While the Marina lighthouse and 3pm to that 5pm,you on all dayscome except If you reallythough run against the clock, andit’s keep ways to relate to time. in the ample youadults, have once are out of one on Marina is special because changed places down the years, Tickets are pricedtime ₹10 for ₹5 foryou children. for a while, you might reach the The grimwhat tick-tock of industrial time can work, the industrial work that is — might also therunning only inner-city lighthouse in the counhas remained unchanged work but not consciouspre-industrial age whenUnder there was discipline our arasu that iron. Once you align with the larger try,clock-less and the pride of our operations.” is its reflector glassour setup man- sibihave no need to synchronise human labour across ness. Often in the busy clackety machine that cycles of nature, the sun rises in your forehead countries and climates. The Industrial age in- was office, I could hear the faint whirr of my and the evenings sink in your heart. Looking vented the clock to increase efficiency, and the mind working in another time. into the sky, you can realise that clock went on to invent what we today know In this personal time, there were the clock reduces the grand cyno digits that menacingly pointcles of nature to an industrial ed at different tasks and deadroutine where we are only workOnce I left the lines. It was a continuous ers and consumers who are unmachine, I could interplay of past, present and fuable to hear the music in our safely ignore ture that James Joyce and Virgincells, which hum with the heartartificial time ia Woolf had glimpsed a little beat of the galaxy. Just as a tree and the Hindu scripture Yoga has its biological clock written Vasishtha expounds in chardown in rings, every person has ming stories. I could not dive too his own creative clock. Freedom deep into the stream of consciousness for the from the clock is a yearning for a counter-time risk of bringing the office machine to a calam- where your personal work rhythm does not itous halt. have to follow the beat of the global capitalist Once I left the machine, I could safely ignore enterprise. The recent trend of flexi-hours artificial time and its many demands. When points at the growing recognition that many there is no clock to nag you, you can find that people cannot adjust to the industrial time time and space are far more beautifully con- and they can be more productive if given the structed than the clock face would suggest. freedom to follow their own clocks. The preYour inner clock can shrink or stretch time as sent dehumanising work culture is a product the hands of hopes and memories move to the of the cult of growth where we rarely question tick-tock of your breath. In the dark clockwork what and how much of it is enough for us. of your mind, you can even feel realisation Once we draw the line at what and how much glide into perception. to produce, we will have enough scope to conOnce you opt out of the industrial time, you sider the randomness of creativity. can wonder at the non-linear spread of your being. Those who slink out of the cycle of pro- dharminder kumar is a Delhi-based writer

What does freedom mean to urban India? Is it the choice to not check boxes, to not have its ducks in a row? BLink listens in to those who have discarded the shackles of a nine-to-five-job, rejected EMIs, mobile phones and urban life. People who have found the courage to say no to having their own children and those who have pursued adventurous sex.

Q R

Freedom from the clock Dharminder Kumar, 41, Delhi

B

■

On August 22, 1639, two East India Company officials, Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, struck a deal with local Nayak rulers for a sliver of land on the Coromandel Coast. Here, they built a fort (subsequently called Fort St George) and settlements grew around it. In time was born the city of Madras.

■

In 2004, a small group of people launched Madras Day to celebrate the founding of the city through activities ranging from heritage walks and school exchange programmes to talks, music, food fests and photo exhibitions. Over time, the celebrations expanded into the Madras Week.

■

This year it is from August 17 to 24 (themadrasday.in).

shutterstock

The landlubbers A boy plays in front of the lighthouse at Marina Beach in Chennai pti; (above) visitors at the museum inside m prabhu

Q R

CH-X _ A

7 19BL BL

talk takeaway

BL BL 20 4

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

WINDOW OR AISLE

A mile-high threesome dipankar

Even before the flight had taken off, he had broken the ice, and I couldn’t help but tune in

rishi piparaiya

SHOVON CHOWDHURY is chief Truthdigger and author of The Competent Authority

dipankar

I

BIHARI YOUTH DEMAND FULL GIRLFRIEND! I

believe the first to do so will reap rich elec- promote love jihad. Either way, we will be toral dividends, cutting across party lines.” threatening the author.” Meanwhile, the tooed backpackers.

A smartly individ- Congress Sensing opportunity, manydressed politicians hasramen. promised to increase the girlf-Brushthrough He was reciprocating. ual sat nextthe toagitation. me and IRevolutionary returned his sosmile riend to 75 per cent inhis all States have joined ingquota his hand through hair ruled frequently, with the condescending for cen- by the cialite Brinda Karat has look led areserved demonstraCongress. chest puffed out. It was quite fascinating to tre-seatatoccupants.

I don’t really havewas much As the agitation tion Jantar Mantar which watch actually. spreads across Bihar, Enempathy for duffers who while are not industrious lathi-charged repeatedly, AAP Supre- glish-speaking are being airlifted out He: So, do girls you speak Hindi? enough to Kejriwal get a window or an aislea(seat), on a of Patna. mo Arvind has demanded CAG Ingovernment is also planning a She:The Well I can.

Boeing at that. quiry to737 locate the other half. The BJP has widespread publicity campaign promoting He: So say a few words.

As we settled withauthor our respective reading greater demanded thatinthe reveal more social acceptance of Hindi-speaking She (blushing): Well I can’t really speak material, beautiful young has ladybeen murmured “One thing no one has mentioned is about the agirl.

“Her identity sup- girls. shudh Hindi. an “excuse — damn, oneisof those times how this pressed.

Howme” do we know she not Banglasentiments of HinAndbook they hurts both the laughed heartily, like longwhen you wishayou had the centre — and di-speaking deshi?” asked spokesperson, “Orseat worse, girls,” said Msa Kavita Kumar, a lost pals reunited after handful of Kumbhs. we both promptly Others steppedhave aside to let from Moradabad?” taken theher socialAs activist from Champaran the food trolley rolled inDistrict, around “If 30 minpass. As we sunk into our seats,ofI the could all utes theseinto menthe stalk onlyheEnglish-speaking opposite view.

“Theback religious identity flight, introduced himself. haveissworn that hiscould smile be wasanbroader what will happen toPriya.” the rest of us?”visualisboy unclear.

This attemptthan to it girls, “Hi, I’m Suresh”.

“I am I started had ever been. ing ‘Priya weds Suresh’ wedding cards and a And was he smooth? Even before the flight baraat led by a white horse and me. I was payhad taken off, he had broken the ice, and I ing close attention to them by now — this becouldn’t help but hear snippets of their scin- ing far more interesting than the 2011 Costa tillating conversation.

Book of the Year that I was plodding through.

He: So what do you do?

“Sir, will you have the dhokla or She: I’m with (a leading media the keema pav?” said the hostess, house). Heading sales. interrupting our auditory threestorysomeof New are always on the lookout. the eldestas did He: Wow, that’shequite some.

He choseAs the dhokla, And they both today am responsible. thing. You handleDelhi salesresident for the Prabhakar Pat- male member, I. “Do you Ihave fruits,” she asked. laughed heartily, like Twice every day I walk past entire country. wardhan is one “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Just give me long-lost pals oon after Aamir Khan appeared naked shoots, including one involving Sunny LeoneShe: Yes, the whole shop. farpowder I of grit, of courIndia. a few the sachets of So milk reunited after a in newspapers, the government has an- and a bass guitar. “We’re appealing the vernot succeeded, age and dedication.

One business vertical. then.” have “Umm... sure.” And the handful of Kumbhs nounced a series of steps to prevent the dict,” said her agent, “We’re hoping that if sheThe conversation Despite the multiple I remain opti-“I will moved to hostessbut handed out a few. recurrence of such incidents. “From uses a rudra veena instead, the government plasters, thethe I even visitedlater.” education and hedespite had just be backmistic. with tea and coffee now on, all naked individuals will consider her case favouraheadwords bandage, my local seepowder if appropriate of despite admira“No thanks, justMLA, the to milk bly.” Leone dismissed rumours trespassing on railway tracks he could help me. Untion forthe her wheelchair, yadda yaddawhat tale is fine.” that she plans to hold a naked will be promptly arrested by fortunately, the kerosene me strikes one graduate first is in theher family. about being the first We were intrigued — the eavesdropping the Railway Police,” said Railprotest against the decision, al-He: I’mlight of hopeabout shining in his as well. obviously couldn’t fumes display in hisanyresidence passionate education reaction, but though many have gathered way Minister Sadananda Gowwereconstraints. so strong, “Why I fell unconan aluminiIn fact, Ieyes. wantHe toclutches start a venture fund that in- he had no such do you want da, “any musical devices found near railway lines, just in case. um funnel in his hands. It is scious,heafter which bea-increvests in education. these sachets?” asked withIawas flirting In related news, all those in-She: That in their possession will be conten up byfive-year-old his followers.” old is and so battered. noble. You totally should. dulity. “Oh, my daughter loves volved in the infamous photo-He: I will“Itake fiscated. Special signs will be this man his faces never leave ideas fromhome you. without them. MyWill husband and ever I loveachieve to see the shoot debacle have been arrest-She: Absolutely! put up at all railway crossings, it,” he explains, “It’s a family tradidream?

Youstruggles can help with him. the If you Anytime! she makes as she powder ed and charged with outragingThey spoke in Hindi and Sanskrit, prohibittion. In 1963, the yearflights, I was born, information about regular about holidays, upbring- gluinghave her mouth.” ing removal of clothing.” modesty and sedition. “On the my grandfather prosupply of kerosene ration ings, movies, past jobs andBalmukund so on, the conversaMoist as it was, even moreatsoany soaked in chutwhole, we consider ourselves The news has led to mass reshop inchoked the National CapitalHe Re-probacured some keroseneanimated from the lotion getting increasingly as it ney, I silently on my dhokla. fortunate,” said a member progressed. of signations from the Railway Poany other region, please cal I’m ration shop.butHe very no expert shewas was displaybly didgion, too. or Because the conversation ended. the crew. “Originally, Aamir lice, and the cancellation of a line as to this the column. editor, and she excited.

See, see, he indicating told us, who ing textbook body language femi- Quite drop as abruptly wanted to use an iPod.” several upcoming photo will do the needful. says it’s impossible?

Since then, nine interest.

Legs crossed towards him, we shoe dangling, constant eye contact and a finger rishi piparaiya is the author of Aisle Be Damned The Investigator is a fortnightly round-up of all things droll and newsy. All views are personal. Really personal t@shovonc perpetually twirling her hair like a chopstick rishi@aislebedamned.com n news described as ‘reassuring’ by the Left Wing Feminist Forum, several cities in Bihar have witnessed massive demonstrations by youth demanding full girlfriends. This was after the stunning revelation of the plot of Chetan Bhagat’s soon-to-be-published bestseller, Half Girlfriend, in which a Hindi-speaking Bihari youth is refused full facilities by an upperclass English-speaking girl. As a result, he is forced to accept a compromise, the details of which most people have been too scared to inquire about.

“This type of discrimination is totally unacceptable,” said Beni Prasad Sinha, 67, a noted youth leader of Patna. “For many

years, Biharis have been denigrated. For a while, the national acceptance of Sonakshi made way toheroine my usual aisle seat. The Sinha as amy leading had a soothing plane andhave the cabin peoeffect, butwas thispacked, time they gone was too far.” plednews primarily by corporate The has inspired veteranexecutives politicos andPrasad a surprisingly large number of tatLaloo Yadav and Nitish Kumar to join forces. “Each of us had half a party, so it seemed to make sense,” said Mr Yadav, “Now, we will lead the fight against Chetan.

We will also demand special subsidy from the Centre to increase supply of Englishspeaking girls in Bihar.” Political analysts have welcomed the move. “In the post-Nehruvian era, lack of sex has been one of the key challenges facing Indian youth. Yet no political party has addressed this issue. We

GOVERNMENT BANS MAN, 51, REMAINS NAKED PEOPLE ON OPTIMISTIC! RAILWAY TRACKS! Q

S

T

R

CH-X _ A

takeaway talk

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

THE HUNGRY READER

Rhyme and edible reason The real tragedy THE CRITICAL ISSUE

Food poetry evokes images of roasts and pancakes pooled with butter, but it also says more — about of a city, mother-daughter bonds andand changing attitudes When faced the withpace an insurmountable loss, what can a State its people do? towards food Hate not A Palestinian mourner Julia Wendell’s Cheese Souffle reacts after seeing the remains of his 3 tbsp butter loved one in a 3 tbsp flour following 1.5 cups cheddar cheese,morgue shredded an Israeli strike 1.5 cups milk ap/lefteris pitarakis 5 eggs, separated 1.5 tsp cream of tartar

1 In a double boiler, melt the butter. Then add the flour and stir until blended.

2 Add the milk, a little at a time, and stir until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the cheese, stir, and remove from the heat.

3 Beat the egg yolks until light. Add to cheese sauce that has been allowed to cool slightly.

Beat whites until stiff but not dry. Fold in cream of tartar.

4 Blend cheese mixture into whites. Pour mixture into a greased ceramic deep dish and place the dish in an ovenproof pan that has about half an inch of boiling water added to it. Place dish and pan in middle rack of oven.

Cook at 350oC for about one hour or until soufflé has risen and crust has browned and a knife inserted in centre comes out clean.

5 Do not open the oven door while cooking.

Only check at the end of the hour. If the pan runs out of water within the cycle of cooking, open the oven door once to add a little more boiling water.

Parsley. and butter, butter and cheese on Is gharsley. green noodles, Ogden Nash wrote this memorable ode to butter melting in small pools in the hearts the frilly leaf many decades ago. But whenever of Yorkshire puddings, butter better I spot a sprig of that otherwise inoffensive than gravy staining white rice yellow, herb in my food, I can’t help but recall his butter glazing corn in slipping squares, pithy put-down. Just as, whenever I contembutter the lava in white volcanoes plate a plate of bacon and eggs, Howard Neof hominy grits… would make my pimple go away or my hair everalobservation years ago I travelled Israelwith for the is not just about satiny, merov’s floats uptoalong Angelou recalled years later it’s our Alexander’s lives that arepoem at stake. whenstronger,” a rally called by the Association of thewhen a literature festival. I did so with some butter.inIt the is asold much the lost irresistible aroma: sheofbegan writing books sprinkled As sinful we walked cityabout to which pil-art of Parents the Disappeared in Kashmir waswith not nosreluctance and some uncertainty. grimscarefree The chicken contributes, indulgence. changing talgia, food mother’s recipes flock from all partsAbout of thethe world — the relaallowed to comfort take place andand theher security forces Ought I togives go orhis not?

But the pig all. Perhaps this di- largest tionship between women andhave theirbeen food — were a cooked in atobattered numbers in recent times deployed disperseskillet. groups of supportlemma For willthe notfood make much to today’s served up sense in poetry — be it Thois popping everywhere, Julia Wendell’s poems itare fromtheme India —that she pointed to a up large parking lotfrom ers andSimilarly, parents who had come to attend andreally generation, but for those of us the who “fussy, grew up mas Lux’s rant against bitter, self-help chicklit to serious poetry. aboutthe herdisappearance bond with herofmother.

In the cheein front of herbooks home.toDo you know, she said to In to mourn their children. with chaste, a stampclerical” on our passports that or said ‘valid Healeaf of endive, Seamus a poem calledthis ‘Fat’, anotherI used respected Ameri‘Cream of Tartar’, writesthat about the seme, till last week is where to park Whatkywas it about people’sshe sorrow made for allney’s countries except Israel and South Afri- my wonderful verse in which he describes a car. canNow poet,this Janespace Kenyon, about friends who cret ingredient hastalks been designated the State so fearful? that goes into the feted cheese ca’, the question whether to go orhung not was a starmouthful ofof oyster as a “palate with seaweed and vitamin Today, soufflé she and her motherI whip only survive for Jews.onI’m forced milkshakes to use paid parking likethat thousands of others, watchup: in very real one. me,as the decision a cloud light” — isFor often vivid as thewas disheventuon the dinpills, and thenaway. dreamily nearly 10 minutes This discuss is whatsausages, it means purdespairPot-holdering as Israel carries out mass slaughter in ally made after my Palestinian and toasted ing table.

A skilled wordsmith canIsraeli cook up to a live plewith cabbages, noodles of gleaming with in cream the dailyness occupation Gaza — of that smallsoufflé, strip of land which has faced friends encouraged me to so.masterchef.

Come and see your and voluptuous body where essential rameal as tantalising asdo any ownchapatis home. fried in ghee. terribleits attacks repeatedly, for yourself what it is food like, they said. often tastes as Inside billowing overcan the dish, Which is why, in a verse Maya Angelouthings — the were famous African-AmeriRamallah, tions barely make it in, It was inas 2011 that thepan. borders Israel’s withof the we kept its infallible, good any in the Be it—‘The Ballade writer and singer tensecan — poet, the checkpoints were — reacted sharply where water flawless sources secret and elecJordan, Lebanon and Syria — erupted Clearlytricity for Wendell, bitter Glutton’

by Norman Rowland Gale, with in which to this because trend in the hersoldiers, bitingly funny poem ‘The abandoned have beenthe turned off,pinch hos- of demonstrations, shooting tear gas. cream ofpitals tartar ishave a symbol of lifebombed, in a quarrelhe sighs over “sousedand salmon and Paleslamb and Health Food Diner’: young Israelis with guns and bulbeen What was it about tinians everywhere at the No busy Smoking signs, raw mustard greens some, yetshelters loving family, whileSome for generations young duck andgathered green peas”.

Orborder Robertto Southlets, were elsewhere.

Roads destroyed. years people’s sorrow that markey’s Nakba day ofgoose catastrophe, in very zucchini by the ton of Englishmen, cods and halibuts represented ode Day, to a the departed that “wert bordering the walled town held ago a Palestinian doctor living in made the State so 1948,fine/Season’d when hundreds ofsage thousands of Palestiand bodies the comforts home. Just as, across the Atlanwith and onions, and port groupsuncooked of young kale students, black frail Gazaofpoignantly described the fearful? nianswine”. were made homeless. makeand me run tic, for that ardent deaths New York Violi a Or WM Thackeray’s ballad to the fishy T-shirtsare on sure theirtobacks keffipointless of poet his Paul young Standing atop Haifa we could al- or to frenetic daughters sandwich stall the bouillabaisse — a University, “sort of soup, or broth, yehs wrapped around their and captured a niece by anquintesIsmostbrew” see all—the borders this small country, of pork chicken thighs sence of raeli his beloved city. fell randomly on served in aof French eatery.

Or even Leheads, Loins hurling theand occasional bomb that What’lltheir it be?home. I shall not hate, he and it sodelightful strange toditty think this And standing rib, soldiers, so prime wisseemed Carroll’s to —that of all things stone or potato at the Roast beefagain on rye, tomato andI shall mayo. small—piece land had held the world to ran- but forPork and shouted fresh ground round said again greenofsoup! the chops most brown part they slogans and to with the audience, Beautiful so rich green, at the and clutched Whudduhyuh want on it? som, and now itsSoup, soldiers wereand standing (I cravelarge themsegments all the time) of cut onions in not allow myself to hate. in astop hot the tureen! swipe offrom mayo. no salt. But borders,Waiting ready to Palestinian people their hands Irish stews andthe boiled corned beefpervato arrest effects of the BraveA words a Pepper man ofbut courage.

Who for with such sorrow daintiesthe would You got it. Roast beef on . . You want letfrom marking daynot on stoop? which sive tearand gas.hot dogs by the scores how many people can think likerye. this?

Indeed, Soup ofchanged the evening, beautiful on that?that a lone man, faced with their history forever and Soup! they beor any placethings that saves a space Deeper inside, were quiet. In the it is tuce remarkable Soup of in thetheir evening, Soup! tomato mayo. came refugees ownbeautiful land. smoking carnivores marketFor square, a stage had been mounted, the lossNo. of Just virtually hisand entire family, can hold Indeed,tothe best food poetry ablethis to evoke Angelou often spoke aboutsinging, her relationship Tomato andBut mayo.

Youarmed got it.with . . Salt It’s difficult believe if you don’tis know and people sat around on chairs, talk- on to compassion. a State, for- and alluring imagesfriend of glistening and panwith food.

Theof writer famously troubled pepper? reality, a Palestinian who livesroasts in Jerusaing, telling stories that had day along ago when midable military might, and supported by the salt. a little pepper. pooled with coming butter and andforever. was molested by her mother’s lem cakes told me.

Imagine outdrizzled of your with theirchildhood lives changed What was it about powersNo that beJust (including in our own country Sitting in faraway syrup.

Butwith it isguns able aimed to use at these boyfriend at thethe ageIsraelis of eight. manthat was lathomegolden and seeing men you.glorithis day that made so The fearful where our politicians willMumbai, not eventhose allowlong-dead a discodsonand roast ous leaving images to sayhome something — about murdered and the terrified turned Imagine your in the more morning they er were willing to deploy soldierslittle withgirl guns cussion thehastily-slapped-together subject), cannot even hold on beef on ryes, — green soups and fishy bouillabaisse the knowing pace of aif city, the relationship mute almost years.to Inunderstand. the midst of this and not it will still be yours in between the to stop it? Ifor found thatfive difficult to humanity not the humanity of allowing acquire people a strange allure.not Reading poetry can mother and‘settlers’ daughter, changing trauma, was food that held evening because willabout have moved in. attiNo one was it inciting violence, the the day fractured was an occupied to grieve, the humania hungry towards This isnot something I realise together.

It was rich broths and And, tudes she said, these food. settlers are even those aboutfamily sorrow and grieving and that was thenourty of be allowing an business. occupied people to live. This (This is part of a monthly series that follows a revisit that evocative, hungry-makishing stews that healedfor wounds.

“Whenever who whenever carry the Ihistory of the holocaust with predominant mood — except the occasionis the real tragedy. versethey

by Elizabeth Alexander about her something them,ing instead are rich Jews from America al burst of anger.went wrong when I was young — if food trail through the realm of fiction.) blink@thehindu.co.in grease-and-cream-filled childhood: I had a pimpleof or aif time my hair broke — my and Europe who are looking for a new life. And I was reminded many years agomom …Growing up would say, ‘Sister mine, I’m going to make you shabnam minwalla is a journalist and author of The we ate turkey cutlets sautéed in lemon some soup.’ And I really thought the soup Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street

S

Comfort in words Soup was the greatest comfort for AfricanAmerican poet Maya Angelou; and (above) roast beef on rye in New York’s sandwich stalls was Paul Violi’s muse shutterstock

Urvashi Butalia is an editor, publisher and director of Zubaan

Q R

CH-X _ A

5 BL 21 BL

know play

BL BL 222

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

That’s not cricketWho is in your bathtub?

The gentleman’s game is one in which the players mouth obscenities, and glower and fume at each other, all in the full glare of TV cameras

vijay lokapally

Run afoul The skirmish between English cricketer James Anderson and Indian Ravindra Jadeja during the ongoing India-England Test series nearly escalated to the Bodyline level

As riverbeds shrink and migration getty images/gareth copley rises, the human-crocodile conflict intensifies in Gujarat

O

M

On edge The Vishwamitri’s riverbed has depleted, resulting in smaller nesting spaces for mother crocodiles kamlesh surve

CH-X _ A

any cricketers and cricket writers believe that cricket is a reflection of the times we live in. If that were true, then the times have always been rough and controversial for cricket.

The recent Ravindra Jadeja-James Anderson ‘clash’ was but another instance. At one stage, it had the potential to escalate and strain the relationship between the cricket Boards of India and England. Quite on the lines of the Bodyline controversy in 1932-33, when Australia and England nearly severed their cricketing ties due to the unfair tactics adopted by the English bowlers.

However, sanity was restored after Anderson, guilty of pushing Jadeja (if the Indian team management is to be believed), was let off. But Jadeja was let off too, the English camp could have very well countered. Strangely, the India captain MS Dhoni chose to pursue the case merely because it involved his favourite player in the team. In the process, India lost focus and drifted from its main task of playing good cricket. The crushing innings loss at Old Trafford not only caused acute embarrassment but also meant India will not win the series. At best, it can look for a 2-2 verdict if it triumphs in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

For long, cricket has been touted as a gentleman’s game. Nothing can be farther from reality, as incidents of players mouthing obscenities, and glaring and fuming at each other have been captured on television often enough. Some term it ‘aggression’, while others say it’s ‘venting frustration’. Sadly, it has come to be accepted as part of the game, and minor fines are imposed to discipline players.

It certainly doesn’t deter young players like Jadeja and Virat Kohli from antics that show them in poor light. Can they be ideal ambassadors for this so-called gentleman’s game?

Jadeja and his ilk seem to believe that expletives are the best show of aggression on the field. Now that’s a misconception, as the West Indies fast bowlers amply showed in the 1970s.

They let fly not a word, only some gobsmacking deliveries. In stark contrast to Jadeja is the much-talented and appreciated Cheteshwar

n August 3, Thakor Bachu Vasava, yer who had come to India on an assignment, 33-year-old resident of Diver vil- was killed when he went for a swim in the Narlage in Vadodara district, Gujarat, mada at his ancestral village of Bhalod in Bhatook his cattle to graze on the ruch district. In July, a woman in her 20s was banks of the Narmada. Little did he imagine dragged away from the banks of the Dev river. that a few minutes later, he A search party was sent out, but would be trapped in the jaws of a even hours later her body could not be traced. seven-foot predator. A crocodile In the last five months, six huattacked Vasava and dragged A tug of war between man lives have been lost to these him into the depths of the river, rescuers and a predators, with over a dozen atbefore killing him. His body was crocodile lasted fished out rescuers tacks also at being Founda Pujara.

Bothlater play by for the same of Ranji team, but Gidwani by the collar the reported. crease during nearly an hour the State’s forest in the match water bodies of cenhave nothing in department. common when it comes to Ranji Trophy mostly quarterfinal at Faridabad tralfrightening,” Gujarat — therecalls Narmada, VishEarlier inand April, a 60-year-old their game demeanour.

While Jadeja’s be- in 1987. “It was Gidwani. wamitri and Mahi man from Vadodara athaviour clearly showscity lackwas of cricket etiquette, Ahmed was later dropped from — thecrocodiles team for tacked into the Vishit is alsoand truepulled that competitors today rarely ap- the misdeed.have become a nightmare for the wamitri a large Vadodara district.

While thehow Crocodyplaud eachriver otherby in the spirit incrocodile. which the The ‘ag- people Evenof earlier, in 1984, I remember durincident caused much panic fear among ing lus palustris has been a favouriteKotla topicthe forDelregressive’ Australians paidandspontaneous a Ranji match at Ferozeshah the residents every of thetime neighbourhood, as the hi searchers, it has thrown up Surender several challenges compliments VVS Laxman excelled wicketkeeper-batsman Khanna for the administration.

Unsurprisingly, reptile refused let go of the are body. tug of confronted on the pitch.

Thetolikes of Jadeja notAaccordBengal spinner Dilip Doshi on the human-crocodile conflict is no longer warsuch between theeven rescuers the crocodile ed gestures on theand domestic circuit. boundary line, again by holding him byconthe lasted nearlyrefusing an hour. to rationalise bad on- collar, fined to thewith countryside; areas“police, are beHowever, and the latterurban screaming ginningAnd to report In May, Hiteshan Barot, a California-based field behaviour, umpire says, “One getslawput police”. there similar was theincidents. disturbing incident off by their behaviour because they think they in which Delhi’s Madan Lal and Maharashtra’s are above the game. In Jadeja’s case, and oth- Pandurang Salgaoncar pulled off a stump ers like him, playing for the Indian Premier each during a match at Kotla in 1980. But these League becomes a ticket to boorincidents were quickly forgotten ish behaviour. People refrain and the players maintained a corfrom speaking or taking action dial atmosphere during the rest because the Board [BCCI] does of the contest. not back them in cases involving Surprisingly and, as a former In 1984, I remember top players.” international cricketer observed, how during a Ranji To guard against bad behaeven shockingly, the Indians purmatch, Delhi viour on the field, former India sued their case against Anderson wicketkeepercaptain Anil Kumble had offered without an iota of evidence. It batsman Surender to mentor youngsters. “Cricket was one man’s word against anKhanna held Bengal education is a must,” he had as- spinner Dilip Doshi by other. Jadeja is known to irritate serted. His cricket education inopponents with his antics and, the collar, when the cluded teaching youngsters according to some past players, it latter started how to handle their finances is now imperative that the Board screaming “police, and how to conduct themselves introduces for youngsters a police” in public. This is not to suggest course in good behaviour. that past cricketers were exemPlayers adopt aggressive tacplary in their manners. Players tics, sometimes bordering on vihave been known to stir up conolence, in body-contact sport like troversy since the time of WG Grace. But in the football, hockey, ice-hockey, basketball. But modern era, minor arguments have degener- that’s not cricket! ated into physical aggression. Who can forget “Cricket demands dignified behaviour,” as the staggering sight of Australian legend Den- the New Zealand great Richard Hadlee would nis Lillee, bat raised, threatening to pound the advocate. Players like Kumble and Laxman Pakistan great Javed Miandad? The Pakistani brought grace to the middle and left a rich legwas saved by the umpire’s intervention. acy that someone like Jadeja, Kohli or Gautam Closer home, Baroda seamer Rashid Patel, Gambhir should not be allowed to devalue. As stump in hand, chased Delhi opener Raman the former great Mohinder Amarnath once Lamba on the field. It is another matter that told me, if a young cricketer today considers they buried the hatchet later by playing as himself to be a role model, then he should partners in a double-wicket tournament. learn to behave like one.

In yet another incident, Haryana wicketkeeper Salim Ahmed held Bihar batsman Hari vijay lokapally is deputy editor, sports, The Hindu

Q R

Q R

scan know

saturday, august 16,16, 2014 saturday, august 2014

Judge me not Four years later, fake judge nabbed

C

onmen make for good stories. Just a month ago, the tale of the Malayali man posing as a cop with a twin was the talk of the town. Now, here’s the story of a 33-year-old man who was masquerading as a judge for the last four years till the Gurgaon police caught him last week. So credible was his impersonation that he even got the local police commissioner to pose with him. Ashish Sen aka the Fake Judge lived this lie in a grand condo, employed two bodyguards, drove a Toyota Fortuner fitted with red beacons and threw lavish parties. His lordship also found time to dupe people of crores and blackmail women.

But his luck finally ran out when police checked out judiast week, authorities in Paris sent out a message to all love-struck his is a tale that had to go her phone with a little moncial records last Thursday, folcouples strolling in the city — no more love-locks. A few weeks viral. Last week, a man ster of a child yelling ‘I want a lowing a complaint by a female ago, the city’s bridges, including the world-famous Pont des Arts, walked into a Burger King out- F*****G pie’.” His requests to injury. news anchor. Sen has been arfor which to by thethe rivers — toilets, made news for their ruinous state, people weighedturn down thousands let and ordered for every pie in get the child to calm down Attacks on humans intensify during thedevoted rested before, in 2004, for fakwashing and crossingeternal to thecommitment. other side. The of padlocks left by lovers pledging the kitchen, upsetting a were dismissed, and his July period, forestSince officials say.

Mother ing IDs to acquireApril SIMtocards. forest department has apparently civic 2008, when it all first began, couples have visited the asked Pont des bawling kid and headache turned crocodiles, young While the conman has beennesting and hatching to provide these facilities awaytossfrom Arts to seal theirones, love by bodies fixing locks carrying their names and his irate mother. into a migraine. are insecure and, consecaught (his bodyguards are about their theBut riverbed. ingsafety the keys into the Seine. too much love is taking its toll. So red, So he ordered In his version, quently, on high-alert and nervous. Anynotices move-have been still on the loose), the Gurgaon In villages, awareness proheart-shaped put out bycrocodile Paris authorities that read every pie they posted on Redment the river banks, where the nests arelonger police commissioner hasnear come grammes are your beinggestures introduced in schools and “Our bridges can no withstand of love.”

Instead, Unlikely had left: 23 in all. dit titled ‘Am I a visitors The aggravates crocodiles. under the scanner usually for theirlocated, picsafety tips shared through group meetings. saythe it with a selfie! bad guy?’,forest the department’s man Moments later, the Butpeople for people using the banks, it is difficult “‘Magar thi sachavie, magar ne sachavie’ (Keep ture together. “Many warningsby have to an estimate (there offi-withtome. says he stopped thecropped resmom yelled asAccording the kid started entirely ask forisano photo I nevercut-off access to the river. Some safe from crocodiles, keep crocodiles safe) is up everywhere in the city census yet), Gujarat is home to newspapers. taurant in kamlesh Montreal to grab The crocodile man turned wash clothes, others attempt to cross the river. the mission slogan. It has found a connect refuse,” he told surve; (inset) a a screaming. cial around The State one of thewithMany around, pulled out 1,400 a slice,crocodiles. ate burger. “I had a headache and take a plunge for fun. However, accord- with the people,” says Saxena.

Thatisis a selfie a story. crocodile snuck into a bathroom in Sojitrame largest In stark contrast to the incidents reported it and walked away.crocodilian Does this habitats in India after Mad- ing to forest officials, crocodiles have not atit was a long line. Behind village. The five-footer Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra tacked unless they have been provoked or in Vadodara city, a few villages nearby are rewas this woman yapping on make him a hya bad guy? was rescued and Pradesh. Their total population in the country disturbed. “They are not habitual man-eaters. sponsibly preserving crocodiles in their vilbrought to croc-friendly is estimated to be around 5,000. While most Female crocodiles are just more alert when lage ponds.

Malataj afp of Gujarat’s crocodiles are found in the Nar- they lay eggs. And in this period, even a slight At Malataj village in Anand district, a large mada, the Mahi and Vishwamitri rivers are movement can turn into a cause for an at- lake has become a regular habitat for many home to a large number too. Vadodara district tack,” says VK Saxena, deputy conservator of crocodile families. The village, it appears, has is possibly the worst-affected as all the three forest (in-charge), Vadodara set an example for co-existence. rivers flow through it. The Vishwamitri even range. He says it is the increase The lake is home to about 70 mapasses through the heart of Vadodara city. ture reptiles. The people, says in human movement in and During the monsoons, when the rivers get along the rivers that has led to sarpanch Durgesh Patel, remain flooded, mugger crocodiles migrate to small attacks. alert to changes in crocodilian The city is beginning ponds and lakes in villages. In this season, behaviour and adjust accordIn Vadodara, as part of the to feel like a large t room no. 5, located in the parlia- they brieflaynameplate war followed.

TMCponds safety measures, numerous eggs, and hatchlings make the ingly. When asked if their preswildlife sanctuary ment building, a political storm is their members moved In insome on August 6, re- that signboards carrying warnings own habitat. cases, reptiles ence causes a sense of fear brewing. Members of the Telugu Desam move placedinto nameplates andcaptured held a meeting. villages are and released about crocodilian dangers have among them, the sarpanch says, Party (TDP), an ally of the BJP, and the Tri- into Annoyed MPs returned re-install with cropped up over bridges and in otherTDP reservoirs alreadytopopulated there is nothing to fear. “The namool Congress have been quibbling crocodiles. their own. This however, has “Theybickering, are rescued and set free in streets. The city is beginning to women go to the pond every day over the room since last week. The TDP, the notAajwa gone down wellon with president. reservoir thethe outskirts of Vadod- feel like a large wildlife sanctuary, say some of to wash clothes, despite knowing there are which has had possession of no.5 for ara.

“ForTheir god’spopulation sake, behave. youmanifold nohasExcept increased its residents. Forest officials feel that the only crocodiles in it. They have never attacked anythree decades, was appalled that it was in body he’s And reported to havean in- way to mitigate the risk of crocodile attacks is one in the history of Malataj. Crocodiles capthecan last do fewit,” years. that means replaced by the “uncultured” TMC. A creasing said of the squabbling MPs. number of human-crocodile encoun- to make people aware of the behaviour of tured in other villages are also brought and ters,” says Ashok Pawar, corporator at these reptiles. Despite additional glow-in-the- set free in our lake,” he says. The idols of local the recently Def Con, Vadodara Municipal Corporation. The 22-km dark tsignage and concluded a team spearheading an goddess Khodiyaar Ma too depict the deity the world’s largest hacking stretch of the Vishwamitri in Vadodara is awareness campaign, people tend convento ignore mounted on a crocodile — a symbol of their cotion, a new breed of hackers were revealed. existence, say residents. home to more than 200 mature crocodiles. the warnings.

Presenting hackers Kitteh (FYI With the growing number of human-crocoThe city isanimal also seeing a riseWar in migrant pop-kit- In July, when a family in the town of Sojitra, teh is lolspeak formostly kitty) and Denial Service dile conflicts, the State forest department has ulation, in Anand, discovered a five-foot mugger in which is unaware ofof such dan-Dog! Created

by Gene Bransfield, hacking Te- bathroom, forest officials captured it swung into action, spreading awareness gers.

Coupled with the offact that company the their nacity Solutions, the projects attached antennae a about safe practices on the banks of the rivers. Vishwamitri andtobrought it to Malataj. riverbed has been shrinking, re- on cat andthe fixed a mini-computer on crocodiles, a dog. WK was fitted a collar Crocodiles are one of the 24 reptilian species ducing Jigar with Upadhyay, a researcher and activist for nesting space for the thatnumber could sniff out unprotected Wi-Fi networks. one stroll, WK protected under the Schedule I (Part II) of the the theOn conservation of crocodiles, believes that of incidents has only increased. picked up 23 uniquehas Wi-Fi hotspots, which needed no passwords Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Any violation of is the only way to end this conThe Vishwamitri been dividedofinto sev-fourco-existence and the others offereddepartment. little security. experiment wasout of ignorance. Peothe Act can result in up to seven years of im- en flict.this “Crocodiles attack zones by the forest TwoBransfield volun- says meanttwo to illustrate how badly secured are.are Thealso Denial of Service prisonment. Victims of these reptilian attacks teers, ignorant about their behaviour,” guards and one forester havenetworks been ple Dog, on the otherzone. hand, wasjob a real-life troll.loFitted with a kit thatwho could de- know. He has been are given compensation from the State gov- assigned says Upadhyay, should to each Their is to make tectaware the presence of televisions nearbyand andto turnresearching them off, the dog was let ernment — kin of the deceased get ₹1.5 lakh, cals crocodiles for over a decade now. of their reptilian neighbours loose tothat roam streets.

What’sare badinabout and the injured get anything between ₹5,000 ensure allthe safety measures place.that? You should ask the fans whodepartment tried to tunehas into theidentified Argentinathe vs needs Germanyrutam World vora Cup final. and ₹15,000 depending on the extent of the The also

Who ate all the pies?

Say it with a selfie…

One man, 23 pastries and one angry family

Lose the love-locks, says city of love Paris

L

T

Room for protest

Political parties bicker over Parliament quarters, upset the president

A

Revenge of the pets

Cats and dogs are coming to steal your internet, switch off your TV

A

Q R

CH-X _ A

3 23BL BL

HANG

saturday, august 16, 2014

BL

24

cornerstone in-faq by joy bhattacharjya Freedom

I 1 2

t’s the middle of August, and we have a freedom quiz to keep you busy this long weekend.

On June 17, 1885, approximately 2 lakh people lined the docks of New York awaiting the arrival of the steamer ‘Isere’. What was it carrying?

Mahatma Gandhi’s salt march was one of the defining moments of our freedom struggle.

Which compatriot led a parallel march from Tiruchirappalli to the village of Vedaranyam in the Madras Presidency, in support?

3

The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and secret routes, which helped free over one lakh people in the mid-19th century.

In which country and for what specific purpose was this network created?

4

Freedom is the name of an American magazine, which has been published since 1968. The magazine focuses on ‘investigative reporting in the public interest’. It is particularly harsh on psychiatry, which is in line with the views of its parent organisation. Which organisation publishes the magazine?

5 6

Why did George Michael tag the year of its release to the name of his first solo hit Freedom 90?

In August 1941, an RAF bomber was allowed by the Germans to drop a special cargo by parachute over the Luftwaffe base at St Omer for a British POW. The POW returned the favour by immediately trying to escape after receiving the cargo. Identify the POW and the contents of that parachute drop.

the new york times crossword-1124

vowel play

7 8

Which country was created in 1820 with the help of an organisation known as the American Colonization Society?

Freedom from Fear is an award-winning collection of essays by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. From which document or work has she borrowed the title of her work?

9

In 1961, Soviet agent Rudolf Abel was freed by the US government after completing just four years of a 45-year prison term for espionage. Why was he allowed to go?

10

In the 19th century, the Redshirts were at the vanguard of the Italian struggle for independence. Which specific group of heroes in the US inspired Garibaldi to adopt the colour red for the Italian militia?

Answers

1. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France to America.

2. C Rajagopalachari, our first Indian governor general.

3. It was created to help former slaves escape the southern States of America to cross over to the north or escape to Canada.

4. The Church of Scientology 5. To distinguish it from Freedom, which was a hit for Michael’s former group, Wham! in 1984.

6. Wing Commander Douglas Bader, a British World War ace. The cargo was a prosthetic right leg, as he had lost his artificial leg after being hit. German fighter ace Adolf Galland arranged for the artificial limb.

7. Liberia, the only African country to be set up with American help. Small wonder then that they named their capital Monrovia, after American President James Monroe.

8. The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights created by the United Nations.

9. He was exchanged for U-2 pilot Gary Power, who was famously shot down over the former Soviet Union in 1961.

10. The Volunteer Firemen of New York, who always wore red flannel shirts.

Correction: In last week’s quiz, Protests, the film Bobby was shown as a ploy to lessen the attendance for Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Ramlila Maidan rally in 1977 and not Jaiprakash Narayan’s boat club rally in 1975.

Apologies.

CH-X _ A

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

ACROSS 1 Shade of brown 6 Javert’s portrayer in 2012’s “Les Misérables” 11 Rice, e.g., informally 15 Come (from) 19 All-time leader in R.B.I.’s 20 Vegetables also known as lady’s-fingers 21 Common quatrain form 22 Indian tourist destination 23 Paintings of French estates?

25 Spin, of a sort 27 Tanning aid 28 Carrier for Casanovas?

30 Time of one’s life?

31 Thanksgiving, e.g.: Abbr.

33 Having failed to ante up, say 34 Italian tourist destination in the Mediterranean 37 “Anything you can do I can do better” and others 39 Supreme Court justice known for his trenchant dissents 43 Spurs 45 Relative of mono46 Medium for body art 50 Roman roads 51 “So pret-t-ty!”

52 Aid for a submarine séance?

56 Google : Android :: Apple : ___ 57 Quarreled 59 When scores are settled?

60 Cake with a kick 61 “That’s clear” 62 Venus de ___ 63 Post production locale?

65 Kings and queens: Abbr.

66 Achieve nirvana 69 Having little give 70 Skiing maneuver at a bend in the course 72 Like cutting in line 73 Savoir-faire 74 Glorify 75 Navigation hazards 78 Dish Network competitor 81 4x4, e.g.

82 Hawaiian wine lover?

84 Get behind 85 Vice ___ 87 Big name in batteries 88 Substantial shoe spec 89 Figure with horns 91Untrustworthy sorts 93 Odin’s home 95 Time off 96 “That’ll never happen!”

100 Scrape (out)

101 Moo ___ pork 103 Last words from a coxswain?

107American alternative 111 “Stay cool!”

112 Garlicky sauce in central Europe?

115 English princess 116 Food item often seasoned with cilantro 117 Like some patches 118 Sporty car roofs 119 High land 120 6'9" or 72% free-throw avg.

121 Swift composition 122 “Narcissus and Goldmund” author DOWN 1 One side in a computer rivalry 2 Home of the Waianae Range 3 Start of some blended juice names 4 Gunfire, in slang 5 Not far from, in poetry 6 Putsch 7 Studio behind “Suspicion” and “Notorious” 8 “… ___ quit!”

9 Whiskered creature 10 International gas brand 11 Stan Lee’s role in many a Marvel film 12 Skip ___ 13 They come from the center 14 Wee ones 15 Living room?

16 Not supportin’ 17 “Dies ___” 18 Girl in tartan 24 Docs united 26 Keys with tunes 29 Turn out 31 Muscle ___ 32 Extremely sharp 34 Self centers 35 Lariat part 36 All the writings of a Persian faith?

37 Fictional Billy 38 Hit show with many hits 40 “Happily ever after” with Han Solo?

41 2004 movie set in 2035 42 Indian state known for its tea 44 Most reliable 47 Seasonal beverage 48 Small difference 49 Girl’s name meaning

“loved” 53 Word between last names 54 Convinced 55 Wailing Wall pilgrim 58 Got back to, in a way 60 Support 62 Toon with a polka-dot hair bow 64 Goggled 65 New York’s ___ Island 66 Charlatan 67 100 cents 68 “Operators are standing by” and “Call now!,” e.g.

70 Many Eastern Europeans 71 “WWE Raw” airer 73 Up to, informally 76 “Almighty” item: Abbr.

77 Quiet 78 Was mortified, hyperbolically 79 What chopsticks come in 80 Hole in the wall 82 Kind of exam or kit 83 “Is this the spot?”

86 Hot herbal beverage

90 Learned 92 Brown weasels 94 History and biography 97 Pressed charges against?

98 Actress Durance who played Lois Lane on “Smallville” 99 Fancy neckwear 101 “And ___ Was” (1985 Talking Heads single) 102 ___ bar 103 Singer Lambert 104 Cry made while wiping the hands 105 Some stopovers 106 Recess 107 Big Apple sch.

108 Ski-___ (snowmobiles) 109 Challenge for Hannibal 110 Quit lying 113 Sounds by a crib, perhaps 114 Indian tourist destination

By Julian Lim / Edited by Will Shortz

Reach us at blink@thehindu.co.in. Follow us on t@Ink_BL and facebook.com/hbl.blink or log on to thehindubusinessline.com/blink