Just One Little Fact

I live in a city where, everyday, I walk through crowds of men not knowing how many of them could be criminals.
A Could-Be-Criminal, who might never become aware that his desire to attack with brutality is even a crime. Whose brothers, sisters, mother, father, wife, lovers, friends, neighbours, local politicians and policemen might never realise that his actions are unlawful, inhuman or savage.

I live in a city, where I must assume that I will be raped. 

I live in a country, where I am expected to feel grateful if I manage to live out the rest of my days unmolested.

Political Statement

Went for the South Asian Bands Festival at Purana Qila this evening. 

A special event organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, bringing together musicians from all the SAARC countries.

Lovely music.

Slightly suspicious stage design:

Call me paranoid but there's something ominous about so many Indian flags gheraoing the other SAARC countries' flags.

Maybe I'm over-reacting. I mean, we aren't such bullies are we? ARE WE, BITCH?

Speaking of bullies: 2011's highlights showcased a superb heavy metal band from Myanmar. You have to wonder what they're rebelling against. I mean, Than Shwe did let them out of the country, didn't he?

And then there was this band from Mumbai going to town about smoking ganja, while the Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs sat in the audience, pondering which one of his babus sanctioned a band that yells "Blow YOURSELF UP!!!!" every 6 seconds.

Finally there was Noori from Pakistan. They are gorgeous, they did a kickass version of 'Eik Alif' without Saeen Zahoor and therefore no amount of cynicism will allow me to diss them.
Not even Ali Hamza, who seems to have the same stylist as Ajmal Kasab.

Oh Hamza, you crazy coot you....reminding us how much India & Pakistan have in common. 

If only we'd all just get along.

My Father's Thoughts On FDI

 

Sushma Swaraj: "Will Wal-Mart care about the poor farmer’s sister’s wedding?" 

 

My Father: "Will Sushma Swaraj care about the poor farmer's sister's wedding?"

 

Sharad Yadav: "How will a man on a cycle go to Tesco?" 

 

My Father: "On a cycle." 

Good Genes

I don't want to brag but some of the older men in my family are beginning to resemble the cast of a Wes Anderson movie.

 

Message To Boys Who Are Afraid

See? You don't need to be afraid of loving a smart, independent and liberated woman, who has your back.
If you play your cards right, things might turn out really, really well.

Barack & Michelle Sitting On A Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
(This photograph appeared on the front page of this morning's Hindustan Times. What a visual for us Indians to wake up to. What a visual to announce Obama's re-election as one of the world's most powerful men.)

Yum*

In The Dewarists' Episode 2, Rapper Akala recounts: 

"1997, I was 13 and an album called 'Wu-Tang Forever' came out and this album is definitely the reason why I write rap lyrics today. Here were these guys from the Park Hill projects in Staten Island, one of the worst neighbourhoods in New York. Many of them had been shot, many of them had been to prison, many of them had been through all the typical 'rap things' but they didn't seem to feel the need to sell themselves off of that. They were coming, using words like 'benevolent' or saying things like 'Behold the bold soldier/ control the globe slowly'...you know, just poetry. More than any other rap group, Wu Tang made it sexy to be intelligent. They were from the ghetto but they had an entitlement to knowledge and to me that was just revolutionary."

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* "There are only two mantras... yum and yuk. Mine is yum." 

~ 'Still Life with Woodpecker' by Tom Robbins

The Miracle of Life

I struggle constantly with finding reasons strong enough to have children (besides 'just').

I think I may be getting a clue.

This kid is growing up. Now he walks in straight lines without bumping into stuff or keeling over for no good reason. His mother has brought him up to be a very charming young boy, who knows not to run into oncoming traffic.

Ah, but the miracle of life. Not only can he talk now, he can listen.

"Baby, Mausi ke liye chai lao na please."

And off Baby goes.

Tears of joy & bittersweet quiver of jaw.

http://theawesomer.com/dragon-baby/198135/


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Carl & I? Sameguy.