Farouk Gulsara's Blog, page 168

The worst of times brings out the best in us?

Neerja (2016)


They always say that we all have that 'selfish gene' in us that helps us and our dependents to survive and continue our progeny. It is our inborn safety mechanism. This 'gene' theory just remains a theory and has never been identified. There are, however, certain chemicals and hormones in our body that are secreted in abundance at certain times to initiate 'proactive' gestures to build that bond that paves the way to the 'protected list'. Progestrogenic hormones during pregnancy, parturient and lactational times ensure the protection of unborn and newborn. Flooding of the blood and brain with feel-good hormone of oxytocin during passionate and intimate moments cements the closeness of two individuals to provide security for one another. To go the whole nine yard, to endanger one's self for someone unrelated for humanity sake is a feat often praised relentlessly. Why do some go beyond the call of duty, risking one's life is anybody's guess? Is it not being alive the most valuable thing in life? Our body is geared with various reflexes to safeguard its internal organs, so the idea of self-sacrifice can be quite unnerving.

Hence, the countable accolades, honours and immortalisation of her name in the airline industry -Purser Neerja Bhanot of Pan Am. In 1986, 5th September, two days short of her 23rd birthday, Bhanot was flying as the head flight attendant on Pan Am flight 73 from Bombay to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt. During their stop-over at Karachi, the plane is boarded by four Palestinian terrorists disguised as Pakistani airport security forces.

The movie builds up showing Neerja as a lovable family girl much loved by her family and friends. She had a failed marriage (dowry is the issue) which is told in instalments as the main story is unveiled. There is also a prospect of a new boyfriend who may be proposing to her soon.

Neerja Bhanot 1963 - 1986.The flight which she thought would be an another routine before she returns home for her birthday turns out to be anything but ordinary. The terrorists had intended to divert the plane to Cyprus to bargain for the release of their friends imprisoned in Israel and Cyprus. Apparently green and ill-planned they fumbled. Bhanot alerted the pilots when they entered the flight forcefully who escaped via the safety hatchet. Stranded on the tarmac with no pilots and engineer to man the radio as the lethargic Pakistani authorities drag their feet to organise things, the armed-to-the-teeth terrorists get hot under the collar. They start brandishing their guns and shooting the passengers to get things moving.

Bhanot role in saving the day is hiding the passengers passports to protect Americans, comforting distressed passenger, trying to reason out with the hijackers and finally helping passengers to slide down the emergency exit in the last part of the story as the armed forces ambushed the aeroplane. She is fatally wounded.

The trend is slowly changing. Gone are the typical story build-up of boy meets girl, songs, obstacles in love and love finally appearing triumphant. This is a venture of realistic movie making with the element of suspense evenly maintained interspersed with flashbacks to put Bhanot's past history in perspective to explain her courage to stand up in the face of adversity. http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

You need tragedy in life!

Inside Out ( Animation; 2015)


Wow, Pixar is going cerebral now, dwelling into the realm of neuropsychology! After telling stories about toys, cars, sea creatures, bugs and monsters, there are literally playing with emotions now. Their latest offering is about the going-ons of traits in the mind, the little voices in the head that control our final action!

It shows this through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl as we see her grow from a baby. Life was bliss, all about joy and learning till her parents decide to migrate from icy cold hockey loving Minnesota to sunny San Francisco. The new environment, school, friends (lack of) and the shoe box townhouse proved too much for Riley, the protagonist, to handle.
We learn that the brain is controlled by 5 basic emotions - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. Then there is core memory which stores up thoughts for the long term. The child’s brain builds islands of personality based on her everyday learning and other life input. Occasionally there is a train of thought. Yes, a train which transports thoughts! 
At that tender age of 11, joy (happiness) seem to be most important thing in her life. So, with the adverse turn of events after their transfer to San Francisco, and sadness takes over Riley’s life, Joy goes into overdrive to save the day.
After a wild ride to the crypts and crevices of the grey matter and beyond and the chance meeting of Riley’s long forgotten imaginary friend, Bing Bong, and Riley almost running away from home, sanity prevailed. Joy soon realised that in order for a person to function at all cylinders, all kinds of emotions need to play its role. Being happy alone is everything in life!http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

I get no satisfaction!

Seconds 1966

Man can never be satisfied with what he has. He is forever yearning for the unattainable and not satisfied with what he already has. If by a twist of fate, he is bestowed with his boon, he would still feel discontented and would crave for what he already had before!

This obscure sci-fi thriller never left its mark on anyone’s list of favourite movies. Nevertheless, it has many meaningful philosophical messages which are relevant to mankind even 50 years after its release.

It follows the mundane life of a middle age banking executive whose purpose in life seems to have been lost along the way. Having two adult kids who could fend for themselves, a predictable routine which gives him a comfortable life and cursory purposeless conversation with his wife appear meaningless to Arthur Hamilton. He wants something else but what is it?

A mysterious phone call from his supposedly dead friend brings him to an eerie clinic which promises him a complete make-over of himself into a new youthful life in a new young body. Using arm-twisting techniques, he is coerced into agreement.

That is life is, isn’t it? We are constantly dragged into situations which are beyond our control. Whether we like it or not, precluding situations tie our hand and we have to cave.

So, Arthur gets a body and a new life as a painter, Tony (Rock Hudson), in Malibu. The clinic stages a hotel fire to ‘kill off’ Arthur. Tony slowly adapts into his new identity, get a new love interest but soon feels out of place with his new found friends. He yearns for his old life and wife.

We seek pleasure that is short lived!He gets drunk at a party and almost blows his cover, only to discover that many around him are actual ‘reborns’, just like him. Upon, Tony insistence of being reborn again, he is actually taken for the process. The only difference is that he will be somebody else’s cadaver!

The soul of modern man is hollow. Despite attaining many feats in his life, he still has that unaccomplished feeling. He is never satisfied. He does not know what he wants in the first place. When opportunities fall at his feet, he is sceptical. He wonders whether his choice is the right one. He is just drawn in by gut feeling or peer pressure. After choosing a certain path, he wonders whether he should have chosen an alternative way especially when his chosen one meets an obstacle. He starts imagining and appreciating all the things that he had before but failed to value. He wishes he could turn back the clock. In spite of what philosophers tell about time being all illusion and McTaggart’s unreality of time argument, we cannot go to a time which we left.

At the end of the day, what are we left with? Unfilled shattered dream. We may not be able to control dream but at least, when we dream, the concept of time does not matter!

http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

We are alone!

The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology (2013)

Most people would go watch a movie, get immersed in its fantasy for a while, forget their daily aches and pains, re-live their fantasies and then come back to earth; but not all. Some dissected, analyse and read the fine prints and between the lines. One of them, besides yours truly is modern day ‘Rock Star’ Czech philosopher Slavoj Zizek.

He glides through some famous and not-so-famous movies to try to read the real messages imparted by them. The films he chose range from famous blockbusters like ‘Jaws’, ‘Sound of music’ and ’Titanic’ to obscure ones like ’Seconds’ and Russian movie ‘Fall of Berlin’.

In his typical engaging hand gesture and tics, he dissects the ideologies behind of some of the most seemingly innocent movies. Zizek himself is the narrator and he tells his story in the background of the movie’s recreated set.

They say that cinema is the alternative platform of reality. We project our inner unfilled or desired feelings on the silver screen.

1998 film ‘ They Live'  shows the real meaning of the ideology of modern living is shown. The protagonist finds a box of sunglasses. When donned, the wearer ‘sees’ the reality of things around him. An advertisement poster depicting a voluptuous model in bikini actually says procreate and have kids. It also shows the mindless attitude of people who want to see the world the way they want to see it and resist any attempts to see the real meaning of things. The invisible order of apparent freedom just suits them fine. We enjoy the illusion. The painful truth, when liberated, can only be done with extreme violence, a revolution.

 1965 'The Sound of Music’ takes a swipe at the institution of organised religion. On one hand, it makes it followers feel guilty of enjoying simple pleasures in life. In a contradictory way, through a song (Climb Every Mountain), it encourages everyone to attain greater heights in everything they do, including having pleasure!

Coca-Cola and many of the commodities of the capitalistic world pushes one to attain the unattainable - the Real Thing. The advertisements put it to us that it is our duty to enjoy. A desire for the unknown, a desire to desire some more!

It is interesting how Beethoven’s 9th Symphony ‘Ode to Joy’ is universally accepted by people of different political ideologies to push their agendas. Hitler, Stalin, China, Guzman leftists in Peru all use this song to promote solidarity amongst its members against the others, inadvertently unifying their select group of people against the people whom they consider enemies! This is all done with self-interest. In ‘Clockwork Orange’ (1971), this song is placed in various bizarre chords to highlight its schizophrenic nature. Interestingly, the second part of this symphony is indeed chaotic in its composition. Ode to Joy became a big boys’ club song to unite a common enemy. Talking about the enemy, ‘Jaws’ (1976) is not just a horror movie but a movie that tells a story of people different ideas (on killing the shark) but a tale of people getting together against a common intruder. This intruder (he metaphor for the shark) can be immigrants, communism, people of different skin colour, belief or even capitalism. In fact, Jaws turns out to be Fidel Castro’s movie.

The delinquents in ‘West Side Story’ (1961) tell their story of how they become trapped in the conundrum of police brutality, poverty and lack of opportunity. The people in the lower rung of the social strata know they are doing it wrong but they are still doing it anyway. Even the powers that be the sociologists are aware of this vicious cycle. Are we simply objects of circumstances? Do we all have the margin of freedom to react and to construct our own fate? Is increasing surveillance, police presence and harsher punishments the way to kerb this problem? Is there a concerted effort to maintain the status quo to preserve the hierarchy? We always these same stories whenever there is a civil unrest.

‘Taxi Driver’ (1976) depicts violence as a symbolic deadlock and fantasy fundamental helps certain deficiencies in our reality. Not everyone who is perceived to be a victim is actually a real victim. Perhaps they enjoy their helplessness and do not want to be redeemed as seen John Wayne classic ’The Searchers’ (1955). How is this related to real life? Look at the American military intervention in Vietnam and Iraq to liberate their population of tyranny. The outcome of these wars showed that the people there did not want to be helped. They were quite happy with their life.

Conflict is said to be the basis of capitalism. The mere fact that there is conflict is a fertile ground for new ventures and moving of capital. Crisis pushes it to revolutionise itself.

Movies like ’Triumph of Will’ (1935), ’ The Eternal Jew’ (1940) and ‘ Cabaret ’ (1972) are overt fascist movies with hate message spewed all over them.

In modern day consumerism, the guilt of over-indulging and over-spending is offset by cleverly justifying their ‘spendthriftness’ by giving away measly sum to ’noble’ charity cause. Capitalistic expansion seems to have taken precedence over ecological awareness. Wastage and thrash are accepted as a necessary by-product of progress.

Walter Benjamin who is often quoted to have said that ‘History is written by the victors’ is also known to have said ‘history is appreciated when we see our stages of waste being taken over by nature’. This is why doomsday nihilistic movies are quite a hit, e.g., ‘I am Legend’ (2009).

‘Titanic’  (1997) in a crude and cruel way reminds on of the suspended grimace in the pleasure of pain. Incidentally, this theme appears more than once in Mahabharata.  Stories of sages taking a form of deer engaged in carnal activity and being hit by a stray or intended shot of arrow are common occurrences. The mammoth unsinkable streamliner built at the height of glitz of mankind’s engineering feats when the world was a peaceful place before it fought its two wars hit a snag on its maiden voyage. It also smells of Hollywood Marxism where fake sympathy is shown to the lower classes. The upper-class members are still seen ruthlessly abusing the latter but the illusion of eternal love is the vanishing mediator.

Many atrocities and unkind gestures are done towards fellow man are justified as being done for 'The Other’, a somewhat vague end towards which everything seems to head. Stalin’s brutal actions ( The Fall of Berlin , 1949) and Czech invasion by Soviet ( Oratorio for Prague , 1968) are justified by this excuse.

You always have explicit unmentionable rules (Bro Code) to keep the group intact ( Full Metal Jacket , 1987). Public life seems democratic but beneath the surface lurks sadistic rituals and victimisation ( If , 1968). Are the actions of the military in Abu Ghraib prison a reflection of the obscenity of the forces?

Our society only can only function in a lie. As seen in ‘Dark Knight’ (2008), telling the truth in the form of Joker is a distraction. Lies are needed to maintain order. The system would actually collapse if the real truth is revealed.

Jean Paul Sartre had apparently said, ‘If there is no God, then everything is permitted’. Religion is said to maintain sanity in a society. If one were to scrutinise daily global, he would not disagree that “if there is God, then everything is permitted’. Many atrocities, murder and heinous crimes are committed by its congregation using religion as its shield. Hence, it does not matter if a person is religious or atheist, man justifies his actions.

Stalinism often quotes ’The Big Other’, a vague entity loosely associating history to help the nation towards success and progress. It is the ‘Big Other’ that we need to maintain our appearance. It is an agency to confess, tell our predicament and justify our actions. Like a rape victim or a whistle-blower who cannot wait to tell his whole story so that his woe would not befall on others, he is hoping for the ‘Big Other’. The truth is that there is nobody out there to listen, like Jacque Lacan, said, “We are all alone”!

For a non-religious secular man in the modern era, bureaucracy is the only contact remotely close to divinity - ‘Brazil’ (1985). People engaged in bureaucracy enjoy positions of divine states doing acts of purposelessness and serving nobody. They decide what is good in an atheist / secular society.

‘ The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988) again debunked the idea of the ‘Big Other’. We are all in subjective destitution as evidenced by the famous line, ‘Why have you forsaken me?’

We are responsible for our dreams but unfortunately, we have to dream the correct dream as we are responsible for our dream and it outcome ( Seconds , 1966). Are we to just make do with what we have and not dream too much? Do we need to change our dreams? (Zabriskie Point, 1970)

Be a realist, the change is within us!http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

In a tragedy, everyone suffers!

Room (2015)

When a tragedy befalls a family, it is not just the victim who has to deal with the brunt of the misery. Everybody in the family also goes through hell and faces stresses on a daily basis. Relationships go sour and bonds break.

The victims cannot be thinking that they can demand special attention for the ordeal that they went through. Everyone else goes through the pain too.

This emotional drama with a string of accolades behind it narrates the story of how a kidnapped and raped young mother with her child adjust to life after escaping their captor.

Jo was kidnapped, trapped and locked up in a shed seven years previously. Jack, the product of rape, grows up cooped up without ever seeing anything beyond the skylight on the ceiling. Their routine is monotonous with repetitive unstimulating activity. Their only connection to the world is a grainy TV. Jack actually grows up thinking that the universe is the shed. Beyond the wall of his room is outer space. Jack celebrates his 5th birthday. Jo is depressed over her situation but is hopeful that things would change for the better.

Joyce and Jack managed to hoodwink the captor, Old Nick, into faking Jack's death. As Old Nick tries to dispose of the body, Jack jumps off the moving pick-up truck to alert a passer-by in a well planned and executed move.

That is when the film gets excited. It goes on to explore Jack acceptance of modern living and interaction with other people. Jo’s parents have divorced, probably related to her disappearance. Her father, however, just cannot accept Jack as his grandchild. Jo finds a TV interview that she agreed to give too overwhelming as the public tend to be judgemental on her method of handling of her incarceration and her child’s upbringing.

After embroiled in a para-suicide, Jo is hospitalised. Jack slowly opens up and blends into society.

An intense movie which would not excite those who treat films as an outlet to relieve one of his stresses and to swim into the ocean of imagination to lands that no man has ever been. Stories like the one above are by far too common in real life. Just that we can appreciate that they may be more one reason why one does get into a mess which seems so plain to us. Who are we to judge in the comfort of cushy lives seated in armed chairs atop the ivory towers!http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

He lived by numbers...

Ramanujam (2014)

Some 2 years ago, my son asked me about the Indian subcontinent's contribution to the sciences in modern times. He told me about accolades conferred to Indians, but scientific discoveries were far too few to enumerate, he said. Besides telling the usual adage that ‘everything comes from India’, pizza (crusted masala thosai) to noodles/spaghetti (idiyapam) to philosophy to NASA scientists and silicon valley geeks, he was surprised to hear about India’s Nobel prize winner and the Quantum Indians of the early 20th century. These three forgotten Indian scientists of Satyendra Nath Bose, CV Raman and Meghnad Saha revolutionised Physics and Indian Science in the early part of the 20th century by giving the world Bosons, the Raman Effect, the Saha Equation and India's first and only Nobel for Science.

Unlike these highly educated scholars, in Madras, there lived a timid Brahmin boy who thought of nothing else by Mathematics. He slept, drank, ate and even dreamt Mathematics. He loved it so much that he never studied other subjects and to be contended with life without obtaining a degree.

Growing under the shadow of his dominant maternal shield, Ramanujam, grew up as a stickler for rules and Brahminic traditions. Probably these age-old rituals may have been the very reason why he developed such an astute arithmetic aptitude. In school, when told by the teacher that '0' had no value, he argued that by simply placing a zero behind a number, its value increases 10 folds. Hence, '0' cannot be valueless. In another scenario at a temple, he commented that the offerings that the priests were to the well-wishers would be enough after assessing the crowd number and the availability of food. He was not-so-politely told to mind his own business and not to tell the veteran priests to do their job. Sure enough, his calculation came out true much to the amazement of everyone.

As an adult, Ramanujam realised that India does not what outstanding people. What they want are mediocre simpletons who do not think out the box. The parents thought that his fate would change with a marriage but life continued its dull path.

Ramanujan (centre) with other scientists at Trinity CollegeThings have hardly changed. Be it 1900s or be it 2015, Asians have to be appreciated by the kwailos and gringos. After a series of dead ends, a letter to a Mathematics Professor Hardy in Cambridge proved to be the turning point. An acceptance to work with the Mathematician eventually led him to greater heights, a degree and acceptance as a Fellow of the Royal Society and Trinity College.

I was particularly impressed with the ritualistic practices that were shown in the film. The devoutly orthodox Brahmin that he is proved to be a scourge throughout his life. First, there was the dilemma of leaving the comfort of the shores of India to go to England. The classical belief is that one who lose his caste and be treated as an outcast by his people. This eventually proved true. After his untimely demise in his early 30s due to tuberculosis, none of his clansmen wanted to attend his funeral. They looked at his death as a sign of wrath of the Gods for crossing the black seas! His particular eating habits, strict vegetarianism, proved self-depreciating. He had to be treated for nutritional deficiencies.

This independent production stars Abinhay Vaddi (the grandson of Gemini Ganesan and Savithri), Suhasini Maniratnam and many famous Tamil movie actors (Sarath Babu, Delhi Ganesh and Radha Ravi among others) appear in cameo roles.

The number 1729 is known as the Hardy–Ramanujan number after a famous anecdote of the British mathematician G. H. Hardy regarding a visit to the hospital to see Ramanujan. In Hardy's words: 

I remember once going to see him when he was ill at Putney. I had ridden in taxi cab number 1729 and remarked that the number seemed to me rather a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavorable omen. 'No', he replied, 'it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways.  Wikipedia 

An equation for me has no meaning unless it represents a thought of God.        Ramanujam Srinivasa

Bose, Raman, Sahahttp://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

The reluctant Man of God?

Grantchester (TV series, Season 1, 2; 2014)


An interesting depiction of a Man of God who seems more like a sceptic. He realises that every action that one does has two ways of looking at it. There are no clear-cut answers to all the queries of life. He sometimes even wonders  whether he could just give a straight answer to anything. At times, his belief is also shaken.

Reverend Sidney Chalmers is a vicar of a small church in a town adjacent to Cambridge. The young clergyman teams up with a policeman in this town to solve many of the murders that seem to be popping up very so often.

Between solving crimes and handling the church matters, Rev Chalmers has to deal with many of his inner demons. There is an unending saga of unrequited love between him and an old flame who is soon to be and later marries off to a man of her family’s choice.

The widow of the murdered that he solves in the first episode is romantically linked to the hero. Even this does not work out after he confesses to the lady of a weak moment when he succumbed to the pleasures of the flesh when he was drunk. Yes, our holy man drinks like a fish! He finds too many common grounds with whisky drinking buddy and comrade in solving crimes, the local police detective, Geordie.

The cast is made colourful with the inclusion of an assistant gay priest and a caretaker who speaks of her mind. The series is set in the early 1950s with a backdrop of jazz music and the slow-paced English countryside.

A recurring theme that emerges in the story is that of his past vocation, as a British officer in World War 2 and the brutal killings and injuries of his subordinates.

Most of the episodes end with excerpts of his weekly sermon at the pulpit. Like the reading of a tarot reader or a newspaper horoscope columnist, his speech seems to make a lot of sense to all the characters in their own way.http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

Everybody is doing it, why don't you?

Panam (noun) பனம் Tamil meaning money. Panama பனமா- expressed as a question or an exclamation of awesomeness. The word Panama is often used in combination with Pasama (love in a question mode) in philosophical circles to ponder upon life - பனமா பாசமா ; whether which one takes the precedence over matters of life. Is it money or love? பனமா பாசமா (Panama Pasama) is also the name of the 1968 tearjerker starring Gemini Ganesan and B Saroja Devi.

In the year 2016, the mention of the word 'Panama' strikes awe in the minds of the plebeians who would hear of the cavalier attitude of leaders who would transfer monies of gargantuan proportions across borders without an iota of guilt or feeling of moral misconduct. If fact, they would claim it to be of their sovereign rights and that no laws were broken in the process. Like the catchphrase of the Little Eva's 1962 hit song. 'Loco-motion', they say everybody is doing it, why don't you? Is it a mere coincidence that loco means crazy in Spanish?


http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy

Is it all about me or about us?

It started with the desire to maintain status quo to eternity, that the descendants of the rulers and their entourage should take charge forever and ever. Ceremonies were organised in their guise of appeasing the divine forces. Who the heck knows whether the celestial bodies existed or not in the first place but it just suits everybody fine. The upper ruling class were on the throne while the working class labouring for them. Nice.

Everyone was told that we live for the society. Our primary aim, our reason for existence is for the continuity and well-being of the community. In that way, everyone was kept contended. Every soul, the weak, the sick, the handicapped were bestowed upon them the title that they hold a special place in the lap of the Gods. In that way, the rest of the living took it upon themselves that the others have their place in the sun.

Soon the ignorant one became wiser as their feeble minds start wandering. They could buy their stories anymore. The fables had more holes than the beggar’s tattered clothes. Then the wise gurus came up with yet another new philosophy. To attain newer heights in human endeavour, the answer is within oneself. The human mind holds the secrets of the universe. After all the blueprint of the near beginning is embedded within us. It is just for us to unravel. Introspection is the answer. It was hoped that by each trying to discover himself, to know thyself, peace can be attained.

Soon everyone became self-centred. They became self-centred. Nobody wanted to miss the boat. All that mattered to him was his welfare, not that of his neighbour. He wanted salvation. He cared less about his fellow being’s suffering. Compassion became a foreign word. In his eyes, he only wished to see roses, not the thorny reality of life. Even the sight of a hungry baby suckling on a nursing breast appears vulgar to him. He talks about his wants, his right, his liberty and his space. Mayhem ensues.

Soon people yearn for the time not far back in the distant past when the powers-that-be thought of an economic plan when equality and social justice was given paramount importance. They promised of a utopia where everyone was appreciated for his labour and is a slave to money. Unfortunately, the world which could satisfy the needs of all the citizens of the world just could not meet up with their greed.

Oh deary, silly me!

Like the Sword of Damocles, it hung over his head. There was a constant nagging heaviness over his temples. He knew it was bad, really bad. He had certain arbitrary lines but this one had crossed it all, imaginary or otherwise. But still, life had to go on. And the show too.
He knew it was a bad idea. With all these problems plaguing him, he thought it was inappropriate for him to partake in this event. But then, it was also a lifetime achievement. A success hailed upon by his kinsmen as the epitome of his checkered life. Akin to a water lily, growing wild amongst the filth of marsh, stench and reptiles honoured to glorify the lotus feet of Buddha, an achievement enviable to some but yearned by all, privileged to a few!
Anyway, the problem is not an overnight one. Like a crystal, the lattice had developed over the years slowly but surely to its full wrathful glory. How could he have been so dumb? Or was it beyond his control and was decided by the constellations and the genetic predisposition?
In other people's faces, he saw joy and happiness. Photograph flashes kept blinding periodically, a reminder for achievers to immortalise and digitise the moment. Unfortunately, for Gus, it was only melancholia. With philosophical rationalisation, he decides to forgo everything.

"Professional studio photography, sir?" somebody suggested, pointing enticingly at the display of families of graduates flashing their enamel possessions as if they were advertising for a tooth care product.
"No, thanks," said Gus as he hurried through the main hall. "What is the meaning of all these?" he thought to himself, "is there is no peace of mind?" His mind wandered through his childhood. He recalled all those seemingly hopeless times when sad songs were the flavour of the day. Happiness was an then unattainable feat. It still is. "Oh, how I had longed for this day!" Gus lamented.
Just as his mind was deeply engrossed in the nostalgia of yesteryears, his daydream was interrupted.
"Do you have any food preferences, sir?" the lady at the reception voiced out, appearing slightly irritated, probably as Gus' appearance did not exude cordiality.
"Pardon ma'm?" Gus replied.
"Do you have any preferences for your dinner, vegetarian or vegan?" the receptionist read out mechanically.
"We are okay," Gus replied in unison, with his wife nodding in agreement.
"As long as there is no beef."
"So, can we serve you vegetarian? Since we are serving deer meat tonight," she replied.
"Dear meat?”
"Yes, deer meat!"
Then it hit Gus and his Mrs. "You mean you are serving venison!"
Gus, chuckling inside, just wanted to see the change in the receptionist's face.
She must be some kind of actress or perhaps a good hand at poker as she never flinched a muscle giving away the clue that she might be embarrassed.
Gus had two minds to start his sermon on how words like mutton, venison, beef etcetera came to the English language to give the feel of bourgeois as these words were French in origin, but against his better judgement, he decided to keep it for another occasion another day.
After all, Gus was a feted guests and guests ought to behave at the highest decorum so as to honour his host. Maybe sweet revenge may come another day….
***
I swear I had seen that surname somewhere. But the name Indie? Surely it must be a shortened version of the name Indiana. Indiana for a British? Strange. Anyway, I never understood why someone who name a child after a state. Saying that, Malaysia was the most popular newborn girl’s name in the USA last year among the black community. The only association between England and Indiana that I remember was the riddle when I heard as a young adult about where Prince Charles spent his honeymoon! Go figure.
In the modern age, when in doubt, what does a sane person usually do? Google of course. Within a fraction of a second upon typing the surname, the whole anthroponymy of the said name appeared in full glory. Now, it made sense. I could not have guessed.



When she offered vegetarian food for the dinner as she thought we did not consume beef as she thought venison and beef were from same cattle of fish (pardon the pun), I was wondering why she said ‘deer meat’? My usually dull grey cells went into hyperdrive. I thought that perhaps she was one of those true blue Anglophile, who was trying to restore old glory in the English language. She was attempting to restore the language to its glory days before it was corrupted by foreign words from the self-appointed bourgeois societies like the French or the contaminations of the returning members of the British Raj office who boast of the world knowledge through logorrhoea and perceived gibberish.
“Jungle, bungalow, khaki, juggernaut, loot, shampoo. We have our own words,” they said just like any hardliner would say. “And we need no ham, mutton and no venison.” We need to keep our language clean just like our bloodlines!
Well, well, well, I did not know. My little research revealed that the ‘deer meat’ lady is indeed a descendant of whom the British Raj tried to abandon in 1947. Her surname was a dead give away, originating from the cattle rearers clan of the Punjab Valley. Her pale complexion and her pseudo-accent fooled me. For all you know ‘Indie’ could have been an abbreviation if ‘Indira’. Gone were the head bobbing and the singsong intonation of speech. “My, my, Oh righty!” she said in a typically British manner.
The same way Farrokh Bulsara became Freddy Mercury to be blended well into the society to become a British icon.

I was telling myself, “Here are we, two descendants of the Indian subcontinent, one displaced away to another colony and another deciding to snuggle up to the masters trying to outdo each other thinking that is more British and know more English than the other!” Interesting coolie mentality.