Cochin, 1993. I was pedalling along a dark, deserted Shanmugham Road, with the nightly power cut adding to the sense of desolation. My bicycle chain was squeaky enough to spook a solitary man who, on his way back from a local cinema, was relieving himself on the wall of the police commissioner’s office.
In the distance, beyond a bridge, I could see Marine Drive lit up by lamps. The shining promenade made me feel like I was in a rock concert— stage lights streaming into the dark concert hall. I pedalled till I reached a footpath lined with Ambassador cars on Marine Drive. No dark concert hall here, nor any rockers.
There was a behemoth of a building, though—Hotel Sealord. A few cabbies were huddled together outside, smoking a joint and waiting for a drunk patron or five, preferably white, to saunter out and hire a ride.
I stationed myself on the footpath near the hotel and listened. Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven’ wafted out of the Princess restaurant on the first floor. As the song slowly faded, a hand fell on my shoulder. It was a long-haired cabbie, with a weather-beaten face and a beedi between his lips. He wanted to know why, for the past few days, a 16-year-old was waiting outside Hotel Sealord at 9pm.
“Chettah, I’m standing here so I can hear the band,” I said.
His wrinkly face broke into a pleasant smile. People sitting on the pavement, and leaning against lampposts and cars, turned to me. They were complete strangers, but with a nod of their head, they acknowledged me as someone of their kind. The kind that could not afford to pay the cover charge of 075 (fully redeemable) at the restaurant to listen to the one and only legendary band of our times, 13AD.
This was the ‘empty wallet’ brotherhood, and I was part of it.
Denne historien er fra February 04, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra February 04, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock