The Delhiwalla - Blog on Delhi

    Hindustan times started a new section online called the "Blogs". Here the Hindustan Times reporters write their views about a certain topic on a regular basis. I was a regular reader of Vir Sanghvi and Khushwant Singh's articles in the past. Vir Sanghvi's "Counter Point" has been replaced by his blog called the " Medium Term". One blog in particular really caught my eye, "The Delhiwalla" by Mayank Austen Soofi. He writes about the soul of Delhi.

    We always take, the place where we live, for granted. I never really appreciated or rather gave it a thought to the place where I was born and grew up, Delhi, for its beauty and historical significance. Now, when I read about Delhi, it brings lots of nostalgic feelings and also I learn about so many aspects about Delhi which I never knew about.  

    The other day I was reading the "Delhiwalla" and learnt about a canteen tucked inside the teen murti bhavan. Immediately it brought back the days when I used to take the bus which used to go past teen murti. It was as if I was transported back to Delhi.  Obsession to know more about Delhi came up (keeps coming back now and then) last time when I visited India in 2008. I bought a book "The Last Mughal" which gives the description of Delhi, specifically old Delhi, during the 1700-1800 A.D. Ever since, I was looking for a nice book about Delhi, not a guide book but more on the lines of Mayank's blog. I found one (I hope it is a nice read) and have saved under my Google books selection, I intend to read it some day.

    One more posting, that I remember, of his was about the old Delhi and the surrounding area of Ballimaran. I felt so proud to have been born in the Ghalib's playground. I had gone to Nai Sarak (neighborhood of Ballimaran where Ghalib lived and breathed his last) without realizing that one of the world's greatest poet lived there. Nai Sarak is new only by name otherwise it is pretty old and congested. So many different types of business like books stores, garment shops, eateries, handicrafts etc, all coexist. Hindu-Muslims have lived and worked side by side with out any problems for so many years. It is a great example of communal harmony for the whole country.

    I remember during one of my outings in 2004, when I went to Nai Sarak to buy a Urdu to Hindi dictionary, so that I could better understand Ghazals (form of poetry) and ended up buying 6-7 books on poetry including "Madhushala" by Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Shopkeepers may not be learned in the typical sense but they know so much about their books that they can put Borders and Barnes & Noble to shame. Nai Sarak is a congested little booketeria.

    There are many such things about Delhi. Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, used book market at Daryaganj . "Delhiwalla" also had a posting about the Daryaganj book market which the municipality is thinking of dismantling because of "public nuisance". Dilli (native name of Delhi) is the heart (Dil in Hindi) of India, literally. It is the capital in every sense of the word. I hope the essence of Delhi lives for years to come.

Gay and Happy

    I applaud the historic judgment given out a few days back by the supreme court of India on same sex relationships (I am not sure if that judgment also allowed the same sex marriage). All this while, we have been in a denial mode. It is a giant step in making India a liberal society. It might take a while for people to change their attitude and be open towards homosexuals and to accept them as equals. Some of them may never change, but for those we can only feel sorry, who think they are the privileged lot.

    I do not understand why homosexuality should be something to be ashamed of or shunned. First of all, people are wired to be a certain way and second of all, even if it is not true, it is no one's business to interfere in anyone's private and personal matters. I have heard arguments from people, saying that it is against the very nature of life. Every species is supposed to procreate and homosexuality works just against that very principle (and by the way they are the same people who do not believe in evolution and natural selection).

    But who said that homosexual people could not have babies. Moreover aren't there heterosexual people who choose not to have babies and those who cannot have for medical reasons. So, what is so wrong about not having babies. It would only do good, at least for a country like India, to be cutting down on our population. But if someone really wants a baby in the conditions mentioned above they have many ways to do it, adoption, artificial insemination and surrogacy.

    I have also heard the extreme argument that what if everyone turns homosexual. In that case the human race would come to an end. First of all I do not think we are anywhere close to that and secondly, sexual liking and wanting to have babies are two different things. People could still have kids using the methods mentioned above. If the species has to survive then it would find ways to do so if not, we will become extinct but that cannot be a reason to prevent homosexuals from leading a dignified, normal and free life.

    This decision would certainly kick off discussions in the society. This would definitely give the homosexuals a legal recourse. Where countries like US are still grappling with this issue of same sex marriage and equal rights for gays, a conservative country like India, ruling in favor of the gays was really commendable.