How Indian are you and how Indian is your spirit? Seems that our man AK’s government thinks that you need a reminder of being an Indian every now and then. Why else would the government set aside Rs 45 crores to install high-mast tricolour flags across the city? Why is it that they want ‘at least one flag to be visible every couple of kilometres’? Dilliwalahs are confused at this contrasting politics being played out in the open. One party seems eager to declare you an anti-national at the drop of a hat. The other indulges in reminding you of your being an Indian in India.
Not impressed by AK’s nationalism, the central government still rapped AK on his knuckles. It pushed a bill which qualifies the expression ‘Government’ like never before. ‘Government’ referred to in any law to be made by the assembly shall mean the Lt Governor of Delhi. Now, this wrests extra-ordinary power to an individual who some informed folks refer to as a puppet. And such powers override a legitimately elected government. Dilliwalahs are busy speculating the reason behind this move. Was that 62 to 8 blow dealt by Dilliwalahs too much to swallow for someone flaunting 56 inches?
The month of March is the month of Holi – a festival of colours. In old Delhi, however, there used to be a tradition of celebrating idiosyncrasies during Holi. A procession used to start from poet (hasya kavi) Gopal Prasad Vyas’s residence. It would eventually culminate in to a celebration of idiosyncrasies and satire at Ramlila Grounds. Called Moorkh Sammelan (Conference of the Idiot), it had stand-up comics and satirists poking fun at politicians among others. Memories of that Delhi tradition came to the fore by the avalanche of memes and social media posts this Holi. All triggered by the visit of a Satyagrahyi to Bangladesh. And no, these were not limited to ‘entire political science’ but encompassed just about everything. These ranged from who dropped the apple on Newton’s head to Neil Armstrong being offered chai on moon. From colonies being built in Harappa under Awas Yojna to solutions of moving Ever Given at Suez! By the way, even Google failed to track that Satyagrah. Shall we now call google ‘anti-national?
StateOfDelhi Suggests: Holi means indulging in Gujiyas for most Dilliwalahs. Available at all those Agarwal Sweets shops (every second colony in Delhi has an Agarwal Sweets shop) and the local market halwai – there is still no match the Gujiya at Kanwarji. Yes, you have to venture out to Paranthewali Gali in Chandni Chowk but it will be a trip worth taking. And while gobbling those Gujiyas pick up a book of Gopal Prasad Vyas and you will not regret the investment. Kaho Vyas Kaisi Kati and Ārām Karo are some significant works of this Padma Shri winning author and poet. Not that this Blogger has read these works but then these recommendations come from a very reliable source. The blogger, however, has witnessed the Moorkh Sammelan as a child and has gobbled lot of Gujiyas.
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