Raja's read only memories

Who says we are a democracy, a state where the voice of the subjects prevails? The international media may wax eloquent in describing us as the world’s biggest democracy. They may marvel at how our elections are conducted under testing situations, and the mass participation in the process. However, truth is, India is a shining example of majoritarianism, i.e. the will of the majority pervades over everything else. General consensus be damned. In fact, our majoritarian streak is such that even the freedom to express allegiance to languages of our choice is, at best, a mirage. Perhaps we Indians could be the template on which the phrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” was modeled on. Nothing exemplifies this better than the strenuous efforts by the Karnataka government on deciding the medium of instruction in schools in the State. The government received a setback on this issue in the Supreme Court. Eager to win a few brownie points when it was in dire need of some, a plea reques...

It is OK to smoke. Yes, you read that right. If you have started pondering over this stupefying declaration, the right side of your brain is functioning well. So raise a toast to yourself. However, before anyone decides to disprove this statement, I urge them to finish reading this piece of literature (if it can be called that). Going by the Supreme Court's not so recent, and much violated, smoking ban in public places, I am supposed to get nothing but clean, fresh air every time I step out. And therein lay the paradox.   I decide to wake up early one day and venture out. However, I realise that I need milk for my morning coffee and head for the nearest shop. “Mornings are ideal to get some fresh air and rejuvenate the respiratory system....” I remember telling myself as I open the door, when cigarette smoke hits my nostrills. I crane my neck to see the offender; it’s my neighbour, his head surrounded by a haze of smoke, just as a halo around a god. Not only has he risen earl...