Anthem is napping. The phone rings. (You know the ringtone.) He picks it up. It’s Flag.
Flag: Anthem, Anthem, wake up, guess what happened.
Anthem: Er, give up. What happened?
Flag: I was on her body. Her body, Anthem. Her body!
Anthem: Wait, hang on here, whose body? Someone has a body?
Flag: I was on Mandira Bedi’s body! She wore me on her saree during Extraaa Innings! On her saree!
Anthem: Happiness explodes! Which part of her saree? Were you on the palloo, draped around her, um, ah? And why do you sound so upset?
Flag: Upset? I’ve been insulted! Here, here’s what Cricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary says:
11.40am We are told that there is a row brewing in India where people are angry because Mandira Bedi is sporting a saree that has different flags stitched on it ... and the Indian flag was near her feet and that is supposed to be an insult.
Anthem: That is monstrous. Sadness implodes! Uproar downloads!
Flag: Wait, ah, ooh, there is an update:
12.10pm Meanwhile, Mandira Bedi has changed her saree ...
Anthem: Ah, that’s okay then, for a moment I was worried about India. This would have damaged our country. Our nation might not have recovered from the blow.
Flag: I know. Back to the cricket now. Sigh.
Earlier: The Anthem and the Flag.
Posted by Amit Varma on 28 April, 2007 in
Dialogue |
Freedom |
India
To my immense relief, I discover that I am male. What about you?
(Link via email from Shruti, who is also male. Hmm.)
Posted by Amit Varma on 28 April, 2007 in
Miscellaneous
... on the blurbs.
When will bookshops learn this?
Posted by Amit Varma on 28 April, 2007 in
Arts and entertainment |
Small thoughts
We could have one if some chappies in our government read this and get inspired. Can you imagine what would happen if Arjun Singh ran it?
(Link via email from Scribbler.)
Posted by Amit Varma on 27 April, 2007 in
Blogging |
Freedom
The most delightful thing about good satire is that a lot of people inevitably don’t get it. Read this piece, and then read the comments. Joy.
It’s especially bracing to discover that humour deficiency isn’t an Indian ailment alone.
(Link via separate emails from Arjun Swarup and Anand Krishnamoorthi.)
Posted by Amit Varma on 27 April, 2007 in
Freedom
DNA reports:
Sources said a gang of women thieves operating at the Thane station area is increasingly targeting, apparently well-to-do people walking out of the railway station and rob them of valuables and cash. According to information, these women after identifying their target deliberately bump into them and begin shouting for help. The police constables present nearby immediately approach them and start threatening the victim. In full view of the crowd that accumulates to witness the commotion, the policemen whisk away the victim and the woman concerned on the pretext of taking action against him for eve-teasing.
However, on their way to the police station, the constables start negotiating with the victim threatening him with police action followed by legal complications.
A terrified victim usually agrees to settle the matter by paying up. After ‘settling’ the matter, policemen and the lady return to the station in search of their next victim.
In an earlier piece, The Matunga Racket, I’d written about similar blackmail carried out by the police in the context of Section 377. But it isn’t only laws against victimless crimes that the police can exploit to harass people, but absolutely any law out there, as this report illustrates. It’s all a revenue stream.
Posted by Amit Varma on 27 April, 2007 in
India |
News
Ullas Marar writes in:
Your comments on the Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding reminds me of a hilarious news item on IBN7 last night… about the couple leaving for their honeymoon, replete with footage of a dramatic farewell.
The funniest part were the headlines which IBN7 kept on beaming:
“Amitabh ne Abhi aur Ash ko gale lagaya”
“Jaya ke aankho se aansoo chhalak gaye”
Seriously, is this journalism?
Heh.
Posted by Amit Varma on 27 April, 2007 in
India |
Journalism
Have you read The 86 Rules of Boozing yet? You must!
Reading No. 24, I realise that I am always six drinks down. Not good.
(Link via email from Shruti.)
Posted by Amit Varma on 27 April, 2007 in
Miscellaneous
Why on earth does DNA consider that a subject that its readers should weigh in on? Why? Why? Why?
But I really want to see Salman Khan post a message there. No?
Posted by Amit Varma on 26 April, 2007 in
Arts and entertainment
