Parde ke peechey…. AI image generated on NightCafe Conditioning, the social nature of our being, pride… something compels us humans to clean up before we have guests - cover the cracks, polish the silver, sweep the floor…. whatever. I shift my perch in the house several times a day, followed by a dust cloud of books, Kindle, lap-top, paper and pen, water bottle, snacks, half-eaten banana, more books. I quickly settle into my new corner, but the dust cloud doesn’t; instead it spreads: a cushion is tried, and discarded by the side; the air conditioner is turned on, and the remote kept close at hand; coffee is consumed, and the mug awaits removal.
I live in the suburbs of Calcutta (yes that decrepit city) and see this tragicomedy play out frequently at a micro scale.
If the king (of India) or the queen (of our state) visits, or if a G20 event or a "business summit" happens, potted plants magically appear on medians and sidewalks, railings are installed or painted, potholes filled (well enough to last precisely 2 weeks), posters of all kinds with the faces that matter hang everywhere, sidewalks are cleared of "irritants".
So far the green screens only cover the grimy landscape pockmarked with garbage vats or construction sites and not people's houses, but maybe this is another (bad) idea whose time has come.
At home, our (my wife is on board) solution is to meet guests outside only, at cafes restaurants wherever we don't have to clean up the mess around us. 🙂
The farce of painting over the cracks makes one laugh, but the indignity of covering up people's existence is a reminder of how unchecked state power is.
Once again, wonderful insights and great writing! Always a fan, Mo!
Very kind of you, Jeremy!
Vanity, thy name is Modi!
Love the image!
Reflections !! Wonderfully worded Big Mo !!
Super.
I live in the suburbs of Calcutta (yes that decrepit city) and see this tragicomedy play out frequently at a micro scale.
If the king (of India) or the queen (of our state) visits, or if a G20 event or a "business summit" happens, potted plants magically appear on medians and sidewalks, railings are installed or painted, potholes filled (well enough to last precisely 2 weeks), posters of all kinds with the faces that matter hang everywhere, sidewalks are cleared of "irritants".
So far the green screens only cover the grimy landscape pockmarked with garbage vats or construction sites and not people's houses, but maybe this is another (bad) idea whose time has come.
At home, our (my wife is on board) solution is to meet guests outside only, at cafes restaurants wherever we don't have to clean up the mess around us. 🙂
The farce of painting over the cracks makes one laugh, but the indignity of covering up people's existence is a reminder of how unchecked state power is.