In the days when Letters To The Editor were the only way for commons citizens to convey their opinion on various subjects of governance, I often wrote to TOI & Indian Express.
More often it was the latter that published my letters, with name & address as was the norm.
More often it was the latter that published my letters, with name & address as was the norm.
In 1988, the Bofors scam had recently exploded, the vacation onboard INS Viraat was still in the news, the Baba Log as the term was then coined, in office & out were running amuck.
So most disheartened with the Rajiv Gandhi Govt I wrote how it was unforgivable that
So most disheartened with the Rajiv Gandhi Govt I wrote how it was unforgivable that
he had betrayed the mandate of the people.
Mostly, a retired person’s pastime I had several regulars who corresponded with me via post with their own opinions & comments.
This particular letter however, seemed to have touched a chord with the young & old alike as my letterbox
Mostly, a retired person’s pastime I had several regulars who corresponded with me via post with their own opinions & comments.
This particular letter however, seemed to have touched a chord with the young & old alike as my letterbox
was full of inland forms & postcards in response.
One morning, the bell rang long & piercing.
Caught in the middle of my household chores with a baby on my hip I opened my main door to see 3 men at the gate.
One morning, the bell rang long & piercing.
Caught in the middle of my household chores with a baby on my hip I opened my main door to see 3 men at the gate.
~Bacche, Mummy ko bulao~ said the middle aged, seemingly senior one of the group.
When I asked him who he wanted to meet, he replied ~Nandinijee~
When I asked him who he wanted to meet, he replied ~Nandinijee~
Rather taken aback that it was me he quickly recovered to sneer.
~Chitti likhne ka bada shaukh hai ?~
~Thodi si angrezi aagayi toh yeh chitti likne baith jaate hain~he told the other two who nodded their heads in agreement.
Kaunsi chitti, I wondered.
~Chitti likhne ka bada shaukh hai ?~
~Thodi si angrezi aagayi toh yeh chitti likne baith jaate hain~he told the other two who nodded their heads in agreement.
Kaunsi chitti, I wondered.
But truth be told, I was too nervous to ask.
Sensing my discomfort, he left but called out.
~Bacche ka dyan rakho. Saas ki seva karo. Husband kahan hain ?~
Sensing my discomfort, he left but called out.
~Bacche ka dyan rakho. Saas ki seva karo. Husband kahan hain ?~
I rushed in to call my husband at work & tell him of this unexpected encounter but discovered the phone was dead.
Over the next few days, I made several complaints via my neighbours phone.
Then went looking for the street linesman a usually cheerful fellow, who made it a
Over the next few days, I made several complaints via my neighbours phone.
Then went looking for the street linesman a usually cheerful fellow, who made it a
point be seen at Diwali, Holi & every other festival but was strangely reticent & unhelpful now.
On the 6th or was it the 7th day, the phone rang. It already seemed a lifetime !
I sprang up & answered it almost immediately, so very grateful it had come to life.
On the 6th or was it the 7th day, the phone rang. It already seemed a lifetime !
I sprang up & answered it almost immediately, so very grateful it had come to life.
The voice on the other end seemed familiar when I realised it was the same person who had come to my gate asking for Nandinijee.
~Phone theek hai ?~
~Kuch bhi problem ho, humme batana. Bas yeh chitti-vitthi likna band karo~
~Phone theek hai ?~
~Kuch bhi problem ho, humme batana. Bas yeh chitti-vitthi likna band karo~
Still not any the wiser, I wondered if they were reading my letters to my parents at the post office !!
Till a few days later when my husband was called by his boss & told the company phone would have to be removed from our home if Nandini persisted with writing such letters
Till a few days later when my husband was called by his boss & told the company phone would have to be removed from our home if Nandini persisted with writing such letters
to the newspapers.
He didn’t want the company to be connected to me, in anyway.
In that one moment the chitti-vithi & our dead phone episode became clear.
#TheirIdeaOfIndia
He didn’t want the company to be connected to me, in anyway.
In that one moment the chitti-vithi & our dead phone episode became clear.
#TheirIdeaOfIndia
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