After the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) asked for 89 cuts in Udta Punjab, the Mumbai High Court told them to do their job (of certifying, not censoring). I wish someone had given the Manager of DT Cinemas Saket the same advice. more “My Udta Punjab moment”
We, as Indians, thrive in a society built on chai. It’s a staple, whether to start, end, or simply get through the day; present to visitors; drink at a roadside dhaba or railway station; or offer in the deadly ‘chai paani’ combination. Masala, green, black, oolong, or the redundantly named Starbucks creation ‘chai tea latte’ – there’s a chai for everyone.
The offer of a cup of chai embodies the very notion of Indian community and hospitality. Having spent the past several months working in the public health space, I have become accustomed to the endless cups of overly milky, sweet chai that are offered by government officials. From the North East to the South, the dialect, dress, and diet may differ, but the offer of a steaming hot cup of chai remains the same. more “The Great Indian Chai Culture”
Written this past summer
My brother leaves Delhi to return to college tonight, and this evening, my very talkative, carefree, chilled out brother sat quietly in the living room with the rest of us. He wouldn’t tell us what was bothering him, or even that anything was, but seeing him like that took me back to the four years that I spent shuttling back and forth between Delhi and America. I still remember the feeling I would get in the pit of stomach for those few hours leading up to my departure. It wasn’t an indicator of disliking college, but merely an indicator of how much I liked Delhi, and how much I disliked the upheaval of leaving it. And today, for the first time, I saw it in my brother. more “Delhi”
This past summer, after his freshman year, my brother interned at one of India’s most esteemed corporate houses. Within the first ten days of the internship, he had fought to get a computer, gone through each text message on his phone, and taken several naps in the library. He was asked the same question daily “you’re an MBA student, right”. To which he had the same response “no, first year undergrad”. He was also told daily “the real work starts tomorrow. Your computer will be here any day now”.
Two weeks into a six week internship, he finally got his computer. He was yet to receive work. more “The Brain Drain”
The nicest time of year to be in Delhi is finally upon us. With that in mind, here’s something I wrote around the same time last year.
I got my first taste of this year’s festive season walking out of Vasant Vihar’s Basant Lok market a few weeks back, right around Dussehra time. The market, despite being well past its glory days of TGIF and Priya Cinema, was adorned with strings of brightly coloured lights, waiting to be lit up as soon as evening fell.
There’s something about October and November in Delhi. There’s excitement and festivities and lights in the air (and on people’s houses). It’s not just the weeks of card parties and colourful, new clothes leading up to Diwali, but also the start of the wedding season. It’s not just one Diwali mela after another, full of chaat, jalebi and shopping, but also the sudden turn of weather, when Delhi’s relentless heat becomes more forgiving after all those months, and people want to be outdoors again. It’s the time of year when my brother, in small town North Carolina, and countless other Delhiites in various parts of the world, miss Delhi the most. more “October Breeze”