PHOTOGRAPHBY^ANAND^GOGOI,^HAIR&MAKE-UPBY^ROLIKAPRAKASH,^ILLUSTRATION:^ SIDDHANT^JUMDESend an email to
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any years ago we had left our
home in Kolkata to go to a
friend’s lunch near Gariahat, a
15-minute walk away. A bit late, we
rushed to a black-and-yellow taxi out-
side our gate. The driver was resting on
the front seat—he lifted his head with
great effort and looked up.
“Gariahat? You want to take a taxi
to ... Gariahat?” he asked, scowling.
“Yes, will you drop us?”
my husband asked.
“Young people these days, I tell
you. It’s around the corner—
walk!” And he went back to
sleep, leaving us stunned.
Let this be clear: I will rage,
angst or laugh at my home-
town, but I will have no one
else mock it. Ditto for this
country. There are any num-
ber of situations in India
that leave us with our
hair standing on end,
like that ‘Shock
laga’ ad, too many
things thatdon’t work, or won’t work; people who
will be flaky, rude, fib casually, break
queues and the law. But ultimately we
desis are known for our dil and sense of
humour; we will poke fun at ourselves,
but won’t hear of it from an outsider.
We celebrate August, and laugh at
ourselves a bit, in ‘Incurably Indian’
(p 50). ‘India’s Greatest Givers’ (p 58) is
our tribute to a handful of extraordi-
nary Indians. In ‘Mightier than the
Sword’ (p 84), I meet an exceptional
man—a warrior–survivor—who has
risen up in challenge against
extreme injustice and oppression.
While ‘The Right To Education’
(p 68) focuses on an important
issue, ‘The Road To Lahore’
(p 92), full of love and nostal-
gia, is a must-read.
Let’s raise a toast to
freedom!DEAR READER
Sanghamitra Chakraborty
editorSorry, Not
Sorry
Reader’s Digest16 august 2019