I WAS A young assistant superintendent of police in 1973 when the Banka by-election was announced. The Lok Sabha constituency was a part of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district and the district magistrate (DM), Bhagalpur, was the returning officer. One morning, Wati Ao, the DM, curtly called me to his office. “Jaldi ao,” he shouted in his heavily Naga-accented Hindi. I scurried over to the DM’s office which was just 50 yards away.
A bizarre sight met my eyes in the DM’s chamber. There was a sizeable crowd in the room and the DM sat in a corner with a resigned expression. Sprawled on the large office table was an unkempt man with a green bandana on his head! I was about to scream at the kurta-pyjama-clad man, but Ao’s expression made me hesitate. Politely, I asked the man what he thought he was doing. He said he was on satyagraha.
This story is from the May 12, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 12, 2024 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lessons in leadership
When I began my career at Hindustan Lever (as HUL was then called), I was deeply inspired by our chairman, Dr Ashok S. Ganguly.
Political colours
One of the greatest fashion statements of recent times was made in the Parliament's winter session by Rahul Gandhi and some opposition colleagues. India's most news-making politician (since his landmark Bharat Jodo Yatra) gave up his signature white polo T-shirt for a blue one.
Chat roam
Vox pop content is seeing an uptick in India, with creators making conversations on current and social issues fun and funny
Back home with BANNG
Michelin star-winning chef Garima Arora, who recently opened her first restaurant in India, on all things food and family
One supercalifragilisticexpialidocious New Year
Once Christmas is over, tension mounts in our home as the little woman and I start ticking off the days. We both remain on edge because we dread the coming of the New Year—a time when the whole world goes crazy and adopts resolutions. We, too, make New Year promises and our ‘list of past resolutions’ is very long and impressive. Unfortunately, we are complete failures at keeping them and our ‘list of resolutions not kept’ is equally long and equally impressive.
Six or out?
Cricket is a quasi-religion in India. And our pantheon of cricketers is worshipped with a fervour bordering on hysteria.
DOWN AND UNDER THE WEATHER
After their flop show in Australia, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have to live on current form rather than past glory
The new in news
THE WEEK and DataLEADS partner to revolutionise news with fact-checks, data and Live Journalism
Hello Middle East
Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation, inaugurates a special Middle East section on THE WEEK website
BAIT CLICK
Dark patterns fool millions of Indians every day. The government is finally acting, but it just may not be enough
