The Mark

Last week I cast my vote in the city's assembly elections. Those who say that democracy is dead in India don't know what they are talking about. We were spoilt for choice.

Among the bouquet of worthies we had the option of electing were a significant land grabber, the minority bashers, the bashers of those who migrate from other states, and those who want to pepper the landscape with statues of their glorious leader holding her handbag.

...and these were only the most prominent candidates.

We got our voting cards well in time. Sadly, the meticulous care with which we were expected to fill in the forms was not emulated by those copying the data on to the voter cards.

As a result, someone who's name vaguely resembles mine, who is aged roughly the same as I, and who lives approximately at my address , voted for a candidate who was the best of the worst.

The authorities gave me a black mark on my finger from for my efforts.....thankfully, they blacken faces for crimes they consider more serious.

Having said that, I thank my good fortune that I live in a country where there is democracy, and an electoral process. Think of all those who have no vote, or gunpoint vote, and therefore no hope for change or betterment. Umeed pe duniya kaayam hai!

The Rocking Bard

"Science and Maths I can handle, but this Shakespeare-wakespeare is beyond me. You'll have to teach her all that. "

That, in short, was my sister-in law's strategy for tuitions for her daughter's class 9 exams. I was happy to accept the assignment-I doted on my niece, and, unlike most, was far more comfortable with classical literature than with chemistry or calculus . The challenge, of course, was to get the fourteen year old to understand and enjoy Hamlet as well. She summed up her feelings on the subject in an instant. "Shakespeare is soooooo boring. He sucks !"

How could i get her to truly enjoy all the subtlety, wit, vocabulary and range of expression of this wizard of words, the pasha of prose ? My mind went back to my own class 9 days, and a couple of the bard's finest lines from the opening pages of Julius Caesar :

Caesar: "The ides of March are come."
Soothsayer: "Aye, Caesar, but not gone."

A world of meaning compressed into two sentences--here's how it translates in everyday language:

Caesar: "You geriatric twit--wasn't it you who said that I should be cautious today, because the stars foretell that it's an inauspicious day for me? But here I am, as fit as ever. I am Caesar, Emperor of the known world, and I have nothing to fear. Prophets of doom like you should be gagged or banished from this city."

Soothsayer: "The day is young, and there are another fourteen hours to go today. Long before then, your enemies will have punctured your body like a sieve, skewered it, and dumped it into the river. You may be emperor of the known world, but I have seen half a dozen before you, and will see half a dozen more if you don't quit squabbling with each other, and ignoring the words of those who try to help you."

That took aver 130 words--the master said it all in just eleven!

But I digress....I pored through Hamlet line by line, prayed that i had understood it well enough, and got on to the serious job of tutoring my niece.

My student passed her english literature exams with flying colours. But was it just pure swotting, or was there a longer term impact ? My true moment of revelation came during a casual conversation with her and my nephew four years after the tuition days :

"The only time I've ever seen you serious," she said "is when you taught me Hamlet in class 9."
Serious only once in 18 years ? I was not sure sure whether that was a compliment. I chose to take it as one.

"And you know what," she added, as the two teenagers competed in quoting their favourite lines from the bard's works................................"Shakespeare rocks!"

I felt vindicated!

Turkish Delight

Just returned from Istanbul. It was an in-and-out 48 hour business visit, but the city is so fascinating that it left an indelible impression even in this short time.

For one, Turkey is an Islamic dominated (85%) country that works on Friday, and holidays on Saturday and Sunday. For another, although 90% of the country is in Asia (there's a small portion West of the Bosphorus Straits and The Sea Of Marmara that lies in Europe), the people look, behave and dress European. From a chauffeur or a junior executive upwards, everyone in the business environment is immaculately attired in a suit and tie, dress or skirt. The signs are in the Roman script we are all so familiar with, and the Euro is as well accepted as the Turkish Lira. The message is loud and clear--much as it cherishes its long and tumultuous history, this is a progressive country which wishes to link itself with liberal thinking and the future.

The architect of much of this progressive thinking was Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's first President, who took the country through a series of reforms in the 20s and 30s, after he took over from the defunct Ottoman Empire which had ruled for some 650 odd years, and were under threat from a loose federation of radicals (from where we get the expression "Young Turks").

Istanbul is a heady mish-mash of Mosques and Malls, Shawarma and Pizza, Backstreet Backgammon and Golf, Twisting Alleys and Modern Highways, European Punctuality and Asian Hospitality. The terrain is undulating, and the weather (barring winter) cool, which add to the city's charm. Most people live on the Asian side of the city, and cross the straits to work in Europe every morning, and return to asia in the evening.
Since a lot of Arabic words are part of Turkish vocabulary, I came across references to "Hawa," Nazar, " "Jaam" and other such familiar terms even on this short visit.

Before I left, I made sure I bought some packets of Hazer Baba's Turkish Delight, Turkey's most famous sweet, a few anti evil-eye bracelets, and a bottle of Raki-an aniseed flavoured wine that Turks love.

......................and I'll surely go back.............only this time, for a much longer visit.