Anti-nationals, Agitations & a Konkani Indulgence

Blame it on the soil of Delhi (would have said ‘water’ but then the water is borrowed from neighbouring states) or the city’s fate – Dilli has never had longish spells of peace. Without taking you deep in history – a job that’s best left to William Dalrymple, this blogger would like to take you through the city’s journey of the last year or so. We, Dilliwalahs, have had one agitation or disturbance after another rocking the city . First there was the anti-CAA agitation followed by the JNU attack, then the Jamia violence, then the migrant labour chaos and now we have these agitated farmers laying seize on the city. Somewhere in between we also had the Delhi riots which took a heavy toll on lives and property.

The impact that all these events are having on the social circuit of Delhi is worrisome. Dilliwalahs, who only differed with one another on issues such as single malt versus Old Monk or Cholley Bhature versus Poori Aalu or, at best, Virat versus Smith – are now having serious differences. It is causing ruptures within friends, families, neighbours and office colleagues. Surprisingly, the arguments are no longer laced with abuses – a lexicon they are so accustomed and which means so much and yet so little to Dilliwalahs. Today folks point fingers at each other hurling terms such as ‘anti-national’, ‘desh drohi‘, ‘get out of the country’, etc with little concern for age, gender, education or the bonds that they shared. All of a sudden Lord Curzon looks like a sane statesman!

While on agitations and protests – one can’t help but think of our man AK. His political birth took place thanks to an agitation. By the way, AK is at back at his game again. His government is setting up a Konkani Academy in Delhi. That’s because he and his party ‘wants to facilitate the growth and promotion of the Konkani language and culture’ in the capital. No, it’s not that he loves the language or culture – AK simply wants to woo voters in the forthcoming elections in Goa. Dilliwalahs, for a change, will be willing to pardon this blatant use of public funds to fuel AK’s political ambition – as long as AK sets up Feni-vending machines at all the Mohalla Clinics where you could have a swig or two of the Goan spirit at subsidized rates. Dilliwalahs are also optimistic that AK would subsidize the tickets of Goa-Delhi flights and trains heavily once AAP comes to power there – if and when it does. Watch it Thalassa at Vagator – here we come asking for tandoori chicken!

This Republic Day saw the farmers agitation spillover to parts of the city beyond the designated areas. Red Fort, among other places, saw some avoidable action. How and why the farmers, after having spent over two months of peaceful protests, got into this frenzy is something that is worth pondering upon. How did the Delhi cops allow them access to the ramparts of Red Fort is stuff that even Sherlok Holmes will have difficulty in solving. And how come a police force who could not make a single arrest even after a year of the JNU attack get so smart and agile to file not one or two but as many as thirty eight FIRs? And why our man AK, who has openly supported the farmers’ cause (other than Goa he has an eye on Punjab too), has not gone on a dharna seeking Delhi Police’s super-boss’, the Home Minister’s, resignation? Stuff for which we need a Karnal Ranjit or a Feluda kind of a sleuth since Arnab is off-colour after those WhatsApp leaks.

StateOfDelhi Suggests: Nothing works better on a winter morning than the Poori-aalu at Chaina Ram’s (pronounced as ‘China’ Ram) at Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk. The founders apparently had the vision to spell their name with an extra ‘a’. Had they not done that the enterprise would have been Tik-toked under the current regime! Make your way there early for the guys run out of their preparation by about 10.30 am. Standing outside this establishment and relishing this dish made out of desi-ghee is so Delhi! And if there is a Feni-vending machine nearby – Dilliwalahs would be elated.