So justice prevails……
We brought back what is rightfully ours.
Namely, the iconic metal-rimmed glasses of Mahatma Gandhi, and his sandals, pocket watch, bowl and plate for $1.8 million in a controversial New York auction. The man who did it Vijay Mallya, ironically enough, the liquor baron of India. In the past he also brought the iconic ruler, Tipu Sultan’s Sword. How ironic is it that Mahatma Gandhi who was against alcoholism and the person who brought back his iconic glasses is the owner of liquor powerhouse of India. The other irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was against materialism and his possessions are being auctioned and the winning bid is $1.8 million. The legacy continues. Pun intended.
Let’s see beyond that.
It is pride evoking none the less that the items now has an Indian owner and moreover, Mallya has promised to hand it over to the Goverment of India to be put in a museum provided the duty on it is waived(that would be possible provided he has good relations with the ruling political party or other influence). Other notable fact is that of all the Indians bidding at the auction decided that they won’t bid against eachother just to ensure that a non-Indian won’t become the owner of these priceless possessions and that the bid price won’t go up.

Salvage of Gandhism or EMS attempting to keep it alive. you decide….

Go India.

10 am
Dec 05.2008
Hotel Raj Mahal
Ranthambore Park,
Rajasthan
India

It has been a month now, since i left t.o =Toronto and its only now that I have found time to write something sitting here on a swing in Ranthambore, Rajasthan in middle of a Tiger Reserve. I have been away for almost 4 years, coming back to India seems to overwhelm me. Coming to Jaipur from Ahmedabad in Third A/C train and still now trying to be careful not to get mugged or so in the common psyche being handed to me by my parents. Beggars on the street still harrass or how you take it to be(SEE :Slumdog Millionaire You will know what i am talking about).Still feel cheated by the tour organizers whom I paid close to 15500 Rs. i.e. 400 CAD* though i did see the tiger in the wild, my childhood dream for the safari i paid Rs. 650 only to find out the person next to me in the safari paid only Rs. 350. The red tapism and bureacracy is still rampant. Makes me wonder whom should I trust in my own land.

The Car for which i paid Rs. 6800 for 2 days only to find out the driver makes Rs. 2500 a month. Thats ironic but thats the nature of the beast i guess. Still millions or thousands are attracted to this mystical land. Westerners is what I am referring to.
As much as I love India it keeps me asking for more reason to love her. Its like a constant battle or tug of war between my love for India or me against the whole culture I grew up admiring and unknowingly wanting to make a change in it. Behind me is 22 years of life being born and brought up in India and 4 years of longing to go back and now when I am here I am having mixed feelings.

Its also true so many people come to India to do drugs and live freely which is possible coz you get away with anything in India if you pay money for it.

And one of my fellow hotel guest here from England told me its this thrill that we seek and thats what drives us to come to India. The mystery and the madness but one thing which is truly remarkable if you see is that no matter how much chaos and confusion one sees in India there is a certain force guiding everything something which binds all the people here which one can never imagine in the west.

And thats why India is what it is.

*CAD= Canadian Dollars