|
|||
|
|
|||
|
January 2002 |
|||
|
HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT | FEEDBACK | WEATHER | BACK ISSUES | ADVERTISE |
|||
|
Letter from INDIA |
|||
The
itinerary of the day-tripper rarely, if never, includes a trip to the
moon but if the day-tripper really knew what it is like to walk the
streets of Delhi, he may just change the deathbed vow made to his dear
grandma. Walk
a few yards, trying to enjoy the sun or the moon and soon, a
conglomerate of irate, hideous sounds will greet your ears. Turning,
you will find it is only a vague vegetable, bursting with unbridled
enthusiasm at the opportunity provided by providence to talk to you.
Taking the elevator of sadness, one can usually travel quite a
distance in life, but not so on the Delhi roads. If a vegetable wishes
to speak to you, you have no option but to let it speak and it usually
speaks without a by your leave, of course. Grilled
beef may land you in jail for being a fundamentalist, as India is a
pious country, is what many foreign tourists are advised, before they
embark on a journey to the land of mystics or so I am informed. But,
my advice to the foreigners, from the bottom of my heart, is - Mind
the vegetable ! It may land you in such trouble that you will go
homeward bound - if you escape - with a conviction that god awful Cuba
or Israel would have been a better proposition and your travel agent
is a nut, to think otherwise ! Because, once caught in the net of the
vegetable's questions, one cannot do anything but stand around looking
like a cross between a stiff in an Egyptian mummy and a wax-figure of
a famous artiste...I forget which. Smuggling
patience from the trigger-happy terrorists in Kashmir has struck my
mind often, but I quickly dismiss such thoughts as fancies too brave
and settle to fielding the questions with a saucy tongue and, if
opportunity gave me chance, with legs and fists. "What
is the time, uncle ?" is usually the opener. I remember, once,
stunned at such gross whatever of calling me "Uncle" in my
own country, I retorted, kindly though, "Don't you have a watch
?". But, the reply, which went on for nearly half-an-hour,
"What is the matter with you, uncle ? Have you fought at home or
trying to pick one with me ? All I asked was the time. What is wrong
in asking time, brother (this to another vegetable)? I don't know why
such men have to spoil other people's moods. What do you think of
yourself, Hein ?", and the situation, nearing some kind of a
climax with a few bruises at random places for me seemed a definite
proposition, I beat a hasty retreat but it has, nevertheless, made me
a wiser man for, I stop not now to answer or to listen to the
vegetables but simply throw a fist or two, in the direction of the
guttural sounds or nonchalantly walk away, leaving the vegetable
fuming to fermentation. Most
humans make frequent, nocturnal trips down the streets of nowhere, in
elation, at having achieved something or in joy, at a job well done.
But not so the many living in Delhi. Not for them, the "Road
taken by successful men" and having not taken the road
themselves, spew spit and betel juice at those who do take "the
road taken...". Trying
to catch such misbegotten skunks by their skunky throats only rewards
you with more nonsense and low grunts of disapproval. "We are
trying to secretly admire you, sir, by spitting on you so that nobody
else gets jealous at your success and spits on you !". I don't
spit and I pride myself for possessing such exemplary qualities but I,
too, have been thinking lately of digressing on such occasions. Once,
when my inside, which includes my heart too, were jumping around for
joy - the occasion being reviewing of my poems by the International
library or congress of poetry and their publication at poetry.com, I
was waylaid by a petty tea-stall owner who was waving some kind of a
pamphlet at me and rudely beckoning me to come near him. The elation,
inside me, vanished like the air out of a punctured balloon and cold
rage gripped my insides in a vice-like grip. Time
for suspense-filled dialogues, I thought to myself. The man,
uneducated and uncouth, thrust the pamphlet at my face and said,
"You think you are an angrez (Englishman)? Why don't you
read this and tell me what it says if you are such an angrez ?
!" At which point, the nut's better half joined in and soon my
mind visioned khaki-clothed men escorting me to dark dungeons, and
spiders crept up my back. I was rescued, of course, by my penchant for
not letting suspense pervade over good humour but, my good humour had
already been rudely snatched away, at least, for the day. So,
think beyond the odd murder with a hatchet or an axe, at some lodge in
Pahar Ganj, before making a trip to Delhi. Life is not all hatchets
and axes, you know, it is also full of vegetables, resembling humans,
who are more dangerous than the land mines in terrified Afghanistan.
Pack a punch or two and stuff a few kicks in your travel kit, and some
Uranium, too, for good measure (you never know bin Laden may have
written "A quick guide to making instant nuclear bombs !"
and you will feel like a duck in a swimming pool with no water, if you
find the book but not the necessary ingredients), if you are really
keen in having a good time in India. Rest,
of course, depends on whether you are asked the time or not ! And
don't miss out on the new Kamal Hassan film, "Abhay". It may
turn out to be your video guide on how to handle loony nuts !
J.V.Ravichandran introduces himself: I am 35 years of age and live in New Delhi, India. I am a software developer, dramatist, poet, artistic director (I have directed 4 English plays). I have developed 4 computer games, GREYcells Ludo, GREYcells Bricks, GREYcells Tic-Tac-Toe and GREYcells Brainvita plus some business softwares namely, plus GREYcells Accounts for manufacturing units, GREYcells instograf, GREYcells Speedsheet and GREYcells Independence. I have dramatised Catch-22, the famous novel by Joseph Heller, which is available on my homepage. I have also written a book on C and C++ called "C+C++=EC" that too is available on my homepage. I have written a few poems too which are available on my homepage. I also write articles on C# (Pronounced C-sharp) at www.csharphelp.com and www.pune-csharp.com.
More
details about me and my career can be found on my homepage at
My E-Mail ID - jvravichandran@yahoo.com.
|
