You must have heard the story about the drunk man looking for his lost keys under a streetlight even though he knows he dropped them elsewhere, simply because: "That is where the light is".
Much of Indian news media is like the drunk man. They go after the Opposition and its leaders knowing very well that the problem lies elsewhere, simply because: "that is where where it is safest to criticize and attack."
Finally figured that #notebandi was justified because there was some Rs70,000cr of fake notes at India's borders. Needed a movie to tell me that although said movie is also a complete work of fiction. Ok guys, got it!
because the Pav is culture encoded as bread. The pav was how the East anglos adapted the Goan Poi which was in itself a Portuguese aided adaptation of the yeast leavened bread of Europe. The Konkan birthed the pav and its people build the great cities of the western coast. The Pav is how this mumbai integrates you into its fold.
Ashok Vaidya invented the Vada pav in the street outside Dadar station. The homely Maharashtrian batata vada met chutney and the “Christian” pav and the multitudes of mill workers had a meal on the move. This city wipes your past and eating food on the street touched by people of unknown caste provenance was also an important rite of passage. Bombay (Mumbai to those who built her on their backs) did not care where you came from only that your shift starts in 5 mins and you don’t have time for a sit down meal.
The genius of Ashoka Vaidya was to use the pav to wrap the oily vada. So that his customers could eat without needing to wash their hands. That same logic transfers to samosa and pakoras. It makes sense in mumbai because this city is motion. This city runs on a clock.
I could go on but let me stop. The pav is the symbol of this city. It marks it has different. Of all the great cities in this country this was one built for commerce, by people who did not have time.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family. That was India's trajectory since 1991. An embrace of the world after 44 years of controls. Easier imports, easier investments. An opening up.
But now we seem to have shifted back.
Swadeshi has replaced Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The desire to curb foreign travel, gold, imports. What begins as a speech becomes a diktat. Blamed on the US-Iran war, called "temporary." But things that are called temporary often become permanent.
Gold customs duty raised overnight from 6% to 15%. Overseas remittance curbs likely next. The nation is turning inward — import substitution over export competitiveness, fortress over freedom.
As Churchill said in 1946 - "an iron curtain has descended across the Continent." Another one is now descending. This one of our own making.
I raise a toast, ladies and gentlemen. To our vanishing economic freedoms.
What are engineering college students in India listening to these days?
Do you guys smoke pot and listen to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead? Is that still a thing? Or did it all die with millennials?
Durgapur is an industrial and manufacturing town. If you climbed up to the terrace around dusk you would see the silhouettes of the chimneys of the steel and coal plants looming over the city like the Eye of Sauron.
And as the sun faded away, we would lie on the terrace smoking away and watch the smoke from the chimneys in the distance rise in red billows against the dying Sun, listening to metallic drums and crying electric guitars.
We did not know what lay in front of us and it was a melancholy mix of equal measures of pessimism and unbridled optimism.
What are students listening to these days?
With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.
Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!
@realDonaldTrump@JDVance@SecRubio@SteveWitkoff@SEPeaceMissions@drpezeshkian@mb_ghalibaf@araghchi
My pet theory is that it was domestic tourism that killed international tourism. As long as mainland dehat was too poor to travel anywhere, tourists in a few spots were not harassed. Now everything has changed for the worst.
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
If BMC won’t get you
Utilities must
For this is Mumbai where there’s only rule
Get rich quickly or you are a fool
Keep struggling and keep the romance
For a good quality of life there is no chance
Setu, Coastal, Metro are world class
But trying entering into a Virar Fast
For local trains and BEST get no bhav
But hey as long as we have vada pav
The biggest lie from BMC I borrow
Inconvenience today for a better tomorrow
2022
Tenant: toilets broken
Me: I'll send a plumber over right away! Any other issues?
Tenant: no
2023
Tenant: sink is backing up
Me: I'll send a plumber over right away! Any other issues?
Tenant: no
2024
Tenant: water in bath not draining fast
Me: I'll send a plumber over right away! Any other issues?
Tenant: No
2025-2026:
Tenant: Dear Barry,
I am writing to formally notify you of a serious mold problem in the bathroom my of unit at 1234 Figueroa St, which requires your immediate attention.
The ongoing presence of mold has created unsafe and unhealthy living conditions for my family and me. Members of my family are currently experiencing health symptoms consistent with mold exposure.
As you are aware, landlords are legally required to maintain rental units in habitable condition, and the current condition of the bathroom fails to meet basic habitability standards.
I hope this matter can be resolved quickly and professionally. I expect your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Jimmy