Confessions of an eavesdropper

I don't do that often, he began, but this amazing thing happened to me yesterday. If I had a blog, I would write about it.

Having had nothing to write about for a while, I was more than just interested.

He went on.

I don't usually take the share auto. Not good for my back, you see. But the buses were so crowded and it looked like it might rain. Anyway, I got into this auto and a stop later, three girls got in. The girls were quite young. Fresh out of college, I'd guess. Working in some software company, carrying laptops, and wearing fancy slippers, vain about earning all that big bucks before they even knew the value of money.

Anyway, you know how girls are? They are gossipy and not really discreet. Even in public. The object of discussion today, was the love affair of one of them, a certain Lavanya. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous, but was quite pretty. I wasn't listening or anything but I understood from their chat that this Lavanya girl was in love with a guy called Dominic. The problem was that not only was he a couple of years younger than her, he was a good-for-nothing loafer who made no attempt to qualify himself for a decent job. This has been the bone of contention for a while now and though they fight often, their love is so strong, it endures all. Of course it hasn't stopped Lavanya from feeling hurt.

One of her friends, the girl in the green salwar, she looked quite sensible, you know; she tried to be supportive. Told her that she must try avoiding him for a while and that only then, he will realise her true worth and return to her a better man. Fair enough, I thought. Lavanya, already on the verge of crying, replied that she couldn't possibly do that. The maximum she has been away from him was a day and a half. "He has other friends and other pastimes. What am I to do without him?", she asked and like a sign the phone beeped. She picked it up and it was apparent that it was from this Dominic fellow. I tell you, her face grew a few shades brighter.

Obviously, I couldn't hear the other end of the conversation but from what I could gather, he wanted to meet her to discuss something and she was trying to tell him that she was halfway home. He convinced her that it was very important. She didn't need much convincing, if you ask me. Anyway she said she would wait near the post office, hung up and requested the autodriver to pull over. The ever supportive friends brigade walked out with her. Moral support, I believe is the word used there.

Anyway, I have been thinking about it all of yesternight. What do you think happened? Are they still together? Has he agreed to make an effort? What was the 'important' thing? I tell you, the next time, I see her or one of her friends in the auto stand, I will walk up and ask. The suspense; it is unbearable.

Wah! Taj!

I know this post has been a little late in the coming... but who cares!

It's been a week since Taj Mahal found its place in the New Seven Wonders of the World and the euphoria has just about worn out. I think it is about time that we took a moment and saw the madness of it.

The mainstream media in India went gung ho with the news of the "voting" for the new seven wonders. CNN-IBN, NDTV, why even SS Music went gaga over the Taj and urged its viewers to vote in favour of Taj. They even opened dedicated lines to sms your vote. A.R. Rahman came up with a song for the Taj and the day the results were declared, saw celebrations in every nook and corner of India.

Perhaps we forgot to ask some important questions. For instance, who is making up this list? Not many know that this was a private initiative by a Swiss concern, who as far as I can see, have no ruddy business or authority to mess up with an established list. UNESCO, which has the official mandate for preserving world heritage, has distanced itself from the campaign. So why do we even bother?

Next, how could a decision on the greatest wonders of the world involve voting from the general public? What are the parameters of selection? Do we have to accept "Might makes right"? With a billion odd population, can anyone even compete with us?

NDTV says, every patriotic Indian is proudly voting for the Taj with a very clear subtext that any one found not voting for the Taj is unpatriotic. And India voted.

One could even ask, why seven? Why not eight or nine or a hundred? Let's accept the "It's a tradition" answer for the moment.

Now that we have the Taj on the list, what next? I suppose it would become a tourist destination and find a place in the 'India Tourism' brochures. Wait a sec; it already is a tourist destination and is the most iconic building in India. So....

I am not an architect and I haven't the faintest clue as to what makes a building a wonder. Mind you, that ShahJahan constructed it for his beloved wife as a symbol of his undying love is no reason for it to be a wonder.

I remember watching a documentary on the 'Thanjavur Periya Kovil' and the filmmaker believed that the reason that the British historians/archaeologists liked the TajMahal better was that it was more closer to their concept of a spectacular building. He pointed out that the prudish Brit could not stand the extravagantly carved Hindu temples with their bare bodied Gods and Godesses. I am not sure how much of that it true. But the least that the Indian media could have done is showcase other architectural wonders of India. My apologies if I had missed such a programme but all I could hear on the tely was what a great wonder Taj is.

I am not against the Taj and please do not colour my views here. All I wanted to point was that we are being brainwashed by the media into believing whatever they dish out. Wake up!