Sunday
The previous post was an excerpt of dialogue from the early part of one of my all time favourite movies starring Ed Norton and Brad Pitt. Please tell me you know which movie I am talking about.
So anyway, yesterday (sunday evening) I decided to go to one of the spots in Ahmedabad where people go for recreation: a small lake. There were loads of food carts with people crowded around tucking in. The lake itself had a boat ride with families queuing up. There was a small ferris wheel and other contraptions to entertain the kids. One thing that struck me above all else though as I observed the people, the place and the atmosphere around me as I walked around the lake/park was...if the BJP and the VHP and the RSS combine dreamt of a Hindutva or Hindu land: this place came pretty close to it
- I did not see a single couple sitting around the lake as couples tend to do in these places. I only saw one such ''couple'' standing afew feet apart discussing something earnestly
- All the people there could be characterized into 3 groups: families, groups of boys/men and groups of girls/women
- As I walked around the lake, suddenly Hindu devotional songs began playing from speakers tied to one of the lamp posts that dot the periphery of the lake. I was stunned and burst out laughing. But then I noticed a temple next to the lake. However, almost every lamp post around the lake had a pair of speakers tied to it and the devotional songs played all around. If I am a Christian or a Muslim, why the hell would I want to hear Hindu devotional songs. But hang on...if I'm at a park on a Sunday evening with my friends, why would I want to hear devotional songs at all?! Regardless of what God/s they are revering?!
There was an air of suppressed emotion in that place...the guys stealthily leering at the girls. The girls trying not to notice the guys. The families acting oblivious to the situation. The elderly glaring at some of the girls wearing ''inappropriate'' clothing...glaring at me at times as I was dressed like a reckless, ''western'' type youth. I could also have been Muslim or Christian too...which might have played its part. I got out of that park pretty soon...bought some oily Gujju snacks and headed for my room and drowned myself in an hour of the Simpsons on my laptop. I still feel a little shaken by my observations...maybe its just the excessive amounts of butter in the food here...maybe something else.
So anyway, yesterday (sunday evening) I decided to go to one of the spots in Ahmedabad where people go for recreation: a small lake. There were loads of food carts with people crowded around tucking in. The lake itself had a boat ride with families queuing up. There was a small ferris wheel and other contraptions to entertain the kids. One thing that struck me above all else though as I observed the people, the place and the atmosphere around me as I walked around the lake/park was...if the BJP and the VHP and the RSS combine dreamt of a Hindutva or Hindu land: this place came pretty close to it
- I did not see a single couple sitting around the lake as couples tend to do in these places. I only saw one such ''couple'' standing afew feet apart discussing something earnestly
- All the people there could be characterized into 3 groups: families, groups of boys/men and groups of girls/women
- As I walked around the lake, suddenly Hindu devotional songs began playing from speakers tied to one of the lamp posts that dot the periphery of the lake. I was stunned and burst out laughing. But then I noticed a temple next to the lake. However, almost every lamp post around the lake had a pair of speakers tied to it and the devotional songs played all around. If I am a Christian or a Muslim, why the hell would I want to hear Hindu devotional songs. But hang on...if I'm at a park on a Sunday evening with my friends, why would I want to hear devotional songs at all?! Regardless of what God/s they are revering?!
There was an air of suppressed emotion in that place...the guys stealthily leering at the girls. The girls trying not to notice the guys. The families acting oblivious to the situation. The elderly glaring at some of the girls wearing ''inappropriate'' clothing...glaring at me at times as I was dressed like a reckless, ''western'' type youth. I could also have been Muslim or Christian too...which might have played its part. I got out of that park pretty soon...bought some oily Gujju snacks and headed for my room and drowned myself in an hour of the Simpsons on my laptop. I still feel a little shaken by my observations...maybe its just the excessive amounts of butter in the food here...maybe something else.
posted by Abs @ 8/21/2006 10:19:00 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
hmmn......freaky..
you have to become a member of this site dude...
http://www.himesh-reshammiya.com/
read most of your rants and raves.. saw the pics on flikr.. well done abhi.. not many people have the balls to quit and do what they want to do...
i've gotten halfway... maybe someday.. but not today.
As a wise man once said "All things come to those who go after it...."
Adi - yeah maybe I sound too paranoid but the general sentiment remains
V - thanks. I think we all (white collar city folks) should take a few weeks off to see what the other 70% of our country is like.
i so get what you are saying. I cn picture the scene, and almost feel my own exasperation if I were there
strong dude!
were all the snacks veg? ... or is this a redundant question in gujarat?
when do you get back? ... thought you said 2 weeks
you forget oh Hawaii man that i AM veg
But actually lots of places that serve non veg here but no chance of you getting a good Koshy's style hamburger for sure. What with the cow slaughter ban!
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