Indian in Britain – Independence Day 2015

I woke up questioning my ‘Indian millennial’ self if it is justified for me to be a resident of the United Kingdom. The country India bled out to not very long ago. Fitting question for my first Independence Day here, isn’t it?

One can argue that it is perfectly okay for a millennial – never saw the struggle, nobody cares about it in this time, and we have different issues to bother about as Indians, not who colonised the country in the previous century. 

Or one can let it gnaw at that idea loosely developed during teenage that I’d never want to live here given all the history and so on. It forced me to think beyond my recent London thumakda moments.

So where am I? Post-colonial Britain? Debatable. Anti-colonial society? Maybe. I cannot claim to have learned much about the country in my less-than-three-months here. But I have definitely observed some things that make me believe that the state isn’t necessarily representative of the people even in a democracy. Sounds familiar?

Normal people. Bothered by weather. Rushing to work. Enjoying their food and drinks. Travelling on weekends. Paying a LOT of tax money. 

Standard government. Political battles. Trivial matters. Troubled borders. Vague international positions. 

Of course, one does have better infrastructure here than in India. But that doesn’t mean that public transport doesn’t go on strike or public places don’t leak after heavy rain or streets aren’t littered. It’s the same.  

It’s a Conservative government. The issues are different, but the fundamentals are the same. 

So, what if I extrapolate this scenario to the 19th and early 20th century? I admit I have not read any literature on English people’s sentiments on colonialism but I want to infer that not everyone would have been in favour of what the government did. Just like today. Just like in India. And it is really the people I’m living with now – not the government. 

And I can ignore Churchill’s statues. Just like Mayawati’s. 

Happy Independence Day!

PS - I will not pay to go see the crown jewels. Those are ours. 

The Peepli Weekend

This was a long weekend. Mostly nice. On Thursday, I got the mind-numbingly expensive knee support that the latest doctor prescribed. It is my last hope to save the surgery. It helps me walk. Almost as much as I want to. So, on Friday afternoon I set out for a shopping bonanza to test it. Not only could I walk, I could walk fast (just the way I like to), and I was on my feet for close to two hours. This injury has been one of the many humbling experiences of the recent past.

I bought things that excite me most after silver jewellery. Bags!! Yes, plural. You can consider it a lottery. Moreover, the peace that doing such things alone gives evens out the madness. Therefore the word 'bonanza'. :D

The evening had a Teej-related dinner at someone's place. Highlight of the rather annoying gathering was the fact that an absolutely unrelated oldie located far, far away from here sent me personalised blessings. Felt good.

On Saturday morning I spotted a hot-looking guy at the hospital. Perks of an injury which takes you to places visited by fit people who play sports and get injured too. :P

I got home to learn that family had booked tickets for Peepli Live. What a movie! Beautifully made, edited with precision, awesome details, and a wonderful take on the horrible situation in the country. And of course, God bless Indian Ocean! Never thought Des Mera could also take such a filmi turn.

Saturday also saw my hair looking so killer(!) that I fell in love with it all over again.

On Sunday, Independence Day, I decided to hear what that prime minister had to say to us. It had been several years since I either watched the Red Fort programme or heard anyone give speeches the way it happened in school. It was so unfortunate to listen to the uninspiring Dr. Manmohan Singh use words that were literally used by Hindi teachers back in standard 5th. I say this because the nation is also in not too different a state since 1995 (on several levels). His speech was defensive for crying out loud! It was politics, not nation-building. Previous night's Peepli was flashing in my head as I heard him go on about one yojna after the other. Nonetheless, I still celebrated independence with extended family through rest of the day. Good food, long drive, bowling, camera flashes, and some smiles. :-)

I had followed the first three seasons of Indian Idol and always thought that a singer better than the winner got left out. But justice happened in Indian Idol 5. I am glad. :)

I expect the next one to be The Freedom Weekend. Hope to tell you why.