Black money

Black money is generated everytime we bribe out of an inconvenience, big or small. I suspect all of us, including the virulently patriotic, are implicated thus. Then there is the perfectly legal black money, like surge pricing, for example...

Fidel

Fidel Castro: Revolutionary or renegade; Hardly spoken of or enough said ? RIP.

Notes from the hinterland

"The Burning Forest: India’s war in Bastar" by Nandini Sundar is a difficult but essential read. Difficult because in page after unrelenting page the author documents in meticulous detail the grave atrocities committed (as a routine, even boring practice) on tribals in Bastar by state, quasi-state and non-state players, with an astounding and assured sense of impunity and immunity. Essential because even though we really don't care as to what happens to those sub-human poor forest dwellers in distant Chattisgarh, there is half a chance that in some deep recesses of our essential conscience, there may awaken a spark that may light the proverbial fire. The author, however, is not very hopeful. Such are the times...

Demonetisation Blues, Yet Again

There is something terribly invasive and obscene about queuing up for your own money at your very own bank branch (of which one is a 'valued' customer for nearly two decades), and treated as stray cattle being herded with numbered tags. However, while the profanity lasted, enjoyed asking random people about who did they vote for (any guesses?). Thank you Great Leader for small mercies.

Ahmedabad drivers

People with Ahmedabad driving licenses should be banned access to anything moving save their own feet.

Demonetisation Blues

The earth shattering moment when I managed to withdraw my own money from the ATM. Thank you Great Leader for creating new excitements in this relatively mundane existence...

Once upon a surgical strike

Once upon a time a rat entered a house, and was nibbling at its assets. The head of the house, declared so by 30% of the inmates, decided to act decisively and finish the menace once for all. He carpet bombed the house. The rat probably died. So did the inmates.

Selfies for home

Everyone is in a mad rush to go somewhere and away... and post a picture back home.