Annie Zaidi's Blog, page 48
November 1, 2011
God (probably) doesn't need your anger
I was too taken aback at first to ask what wasn't right, but he told us anyway. "This thing about gods, insulting god, it isn't right."
What I wanted to do, then, was roll my eyes. Instead, I found myself getting anxious. But I wasn't about to be cowed, of course. So I told the angry young god-defender that this was between us and gods; we'd settle our own scores.
He went off and stood around
What I wanted to do, then, was roll my eyes. Instead, I found myself getting anxious. But I wasn't about to be cowed, of course. So I told the angry young god-defender that this was between us and gods; we'd settle our own scores.
He went off and stood around
October 27, 2011
The songs! Our songs!
The year is 2005. The rain has settled into a sweet Delhi drizzle. Between the bus conductor's lusty cries of 'Gurgaanva!' the radio crackles with song.
A group of college girls boards the bus, arranges itself in the row just ahead. The song changes to the still-popular Bheege honth tere (Your lips are wet). One of the girls begins to sing along, but there is one line she skips: Kabhi mere saath
A group of college girls boards the bus, arranges itself in the row just ahead. The song changes to the still-popular Bheege honth tere (Your lips are wet). One of the girls begins to sing along, but there is one line she skips: Kabhi mere saath
October 25, 2011
A practical guide to impressing good Indian girls
First things first: This isn't really about bad boys (we don't know any; God-promise); this is about good Indian girls. And you should read this if you are the unsuspecting guy who walked up to a sweet girl, but when you asked for her name, she treated you as if you were a pervert. Or are you one of those who gave a girl a fancy present but she was too nervous to accept it? Are you married to a
October 24, 2011
How about a corruption-free newspaper, to start with?
Newspapers, magazines, TV channels, websites — they are supposed to bring you word when things are wrong. But often the media fails. It fails partly because YOU — middle-class, media-consuming citizens — swallow the hogwash about not being interested enough in 'serious' news. It also fails because journalists are controlled by businessmen/women. Right now, there is an ongoing battle for the very
October 20, 2011
"Otherwise we are not so orthodox"
Apparently, good Indian girls don't do serious research in good libraries.
This newspaper reports that undergraduate female students at Aligarh Muslim University are not allowed to enter the better-equipped Maulana Azad Library and that even in the Women's College Library, students are allowed access to the reference section only. And what does the college princy have to say?
"Vehemently
This newspaper reports that undergraduate female students at Aligarh Muslim University are not allowed to enter the better-equipped Maulana Azad Library and that even in the Women's College Library, students are allowed access to the reference section only. And what does the college princy have to say?
"Vehemently
October 17, 2011
Come see me
Friends, strangers, countrymen and townswomen, come! The discussion with Shilpa Phadke promises to be fun. And you can ask all the questions you want.
October 16, 2011
A leisurely stroll to the nearest thana?
At a recent meeting, retired Justice Hosbet Suresh explained Section 151 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure). Essentially, you could be hauled off to the nearest police station if a cop thinks you are going to commit an offense, and you could be kept there for 24 hours.
A lot can happen in 24 hours. You could be forced to perform acts that leave you scarred for life, but which we cannot
A lot can happen in 24 hours. You could be forced to perform acts that leave you scarred for life, but which we cannot
October 12, 2011
City Nights 2 (a poem)
The city comes pouring out
of her mouth like sleek brown rivers
of discontent, her hands flat
against the pink café walls,
the round-faced waiter in his purple apron,
stunned.
The city pours out of her mouth -colour of churning monsoon street,bags under neglected coffee eyes,soles of slippers that have spent the eveningin an old-fashioned cemetery,
colour of guts.
On her fleshy back, a hand
of her mouth like sleek brown rivers
of discontent, her hands flat
against the pink café walls,
the round-faced waiter in his purple apron,
stunned.
The city pours out of her mouth -colour of churning monsoon street,bags under neglected coffee eyes,soles of slippers that have spent the eveningin an old-fashioned cemetery,
colour of guts.
On her fleshy back, a hand
October 11, 2011
Matrimania and more
Found a wonderful, insightful, informative piece about marriage, its past and future, and what it means to be single in our romantically crises-ridden age. The context and a lot of the research is from the USA but what the writer says and experiences will resonate with many of us in developing nations, particularly educated, urban single women.
I'd strongly recommend that all single people (men
I'd strongly recommend that all single people (men
October 9, 2011
Why I support the auto-wallas this time
Auto-rickshaw drivers deserve to live in clean surroundings; they deserve to eat fruit; their children deserve to go to good schools. And it is true that for this to happen in Mumbai, a household needs at least Rs 25,000 a month. So, now that one of the auto unions is demanding that much money, I understand. I even kind of endorse their demands.
... If autorickshaw drivers win this battle,
... If autorickshaw drivers win this battle,
