It's not just on paper

" Bees ka bolo, bees ka bolo. Hindi mein bees aur English mein twenty bolo. " This is a rather humourous one-sided conversation one hears in the Mumbai local trains. Vendors of all sorts ply the compartments of these trains which run from the city's southern end to its northern end. One is met with vendors selling tooth whitening powder, colouring books, mobile scratch-guards, train schedules, cosmetics, accessories.... the list goes on. Interestingly, people buy unassuming things from these vendors. Let me cite a few examples; night gowns, table cloth and fruits!!!! While travelling back home after college, I was looking out of the window (Mumbaikars prefer a "window seat" because it allows the window seat holder to enjoy fresh... ummm, possibly polluted breeze on warm days) at the familiar route I would pass everyday. Lost in some random thoughts, I hardly took notice of the two vendors who entered our compartment to tap willing customers and force them into i...

Mere Desh ki dharti sona ughle, Ughle hirae-moti, Mere Desh ki Dharti... So goes the famous patriotic song of India. Just imagine if the soil of my land did overflow with gold and jewels, how would life be back in India? THE NEW YORK TIMES India, 2012: Reports suggest that India's stock exchange will soon shut shop. This news came as a shock not only to United States but also to the rest of the world. However, sources in India suggest that this is in the best interest of the Indian industrialists, as they now wish to employ their capital assets in purchase and sale of gem stones and gold, reportedly found unclaimed in many parts of rural India. Within months after the surprising discovery of precious gems and jewels on Indian soil, graphs showing rural development would appear like steep mountains from its valley. People would be paid with gold coins, pearls in oysters and diamonds embedded in platinum rings. Our parliament house in Delhi would become our new Taj Mahal with fine...