My recent trip to India got me thinking about mainstreaming. It began with the hardcore, pendu Punjabi songs which have spread like an epidemic. I wonder how and when people in Delhi became so Punjabi that they started listening to songs that are hard to understand and don’t even sound good. I thought it was … Continue reading Mainstreaming
I first found Thakur at Dilli Haat’s permanent Kashmir store, in 2008. Simple, economical, and totally fit for purpose. It lived with me in Pune and we travelled together across Maharashtra. It was particularly useful during the Srivardhan trip taken in the monsoons. I still remember that leaky state transport bus! On campus in Pune, … Continue reading This is the story of Thakur
I’ve never felt passionate about London because I live with someone who does. I’ll explain how that works. I find it difficult to appreciate anything that I think is over-appreciated by the people around me. The most current example of this phenomenon is that I have got down to reading Shantaram now, 15 years after … Continue reading My London
One could easily miss the sharp and narrow turn in the winding road. In fact, within metres it changed to a gravel path, with sunflower fields on the left and small homes on the right, which seemed like they’d been there for centuries. The sunflowers were a clear sign of the past two months of … Continue reading Dreamy
I was a fussy child who could not develop a taste for any foods. My vegetarian food universe was limited to potatoes, yoghurt and bread. One argument in favour of that is it’s a non-fuss peasant’s meal. But when that’s all you eat, the body (and the mother) cries in ways you don’t want to … Continue reading My understated love for daal (or dahl/dhall as known in London)
Fuchsia 