The Presidential Circus

6

Must admit that I have never spent much thought on the Presidential elections ever! Having read in class eight civics text books that in the Indian democracy the role of the President is only but ceremonial it never occurred that the choice of a presidential candidate could create such hoopla. Must say that like many others I too was left wondering 'Pratibha Patil' who? Surely, she isn't one of the most well known politicians of our times. But I guess we live in interesting times... and Pratibha Patil is destined to be the President of India. And without going into the intricacies and reasons of her being chosen one (Because she is low key.... that she is a woman? ) what followed thereafter is ceaselessly amusing. Parties like the Shiv Sena have thought it opportune to exploit and espouse the Marathi sentiment thus paving way for petty regionalism....

Caught in crossfire

10

Right now my thoughts are controlled by a visit to Mrs Saha's home in downtown Guwahati. A two room dingy apartment enjoined to the busy streets by narrow filthy lanes. Inside, Mrs. Saha wails inconsolably. Ask her neighbors and they tell you that she has been like this for the past two weeks since Partho died. Partho was her 27- year old son. Mrs Saha isn't well off. Partho would teach neighborhood kids and make sure that modest family wants were taken care of. We saw Partho on TV screens the day he died. His stomach ripped open by shrapnel... his entrails out on the streets.... Working in the Northeast I invariably half-expect a grenade to whiz past my ear every time I go out on the streets. In the month of May alone there've been nine bomb blasts.... Many are dead. But Guwahati lives on.....