NB: I had posted this in November 2022, and am reposting it today because of its prophetic quality. Apologies to those who have already read it. DS First posted January 31, 2015 यह चिट्ठी महात्मा मोहनदास करमचंद गाँधी को पहुंचे. महात्माजी, मैं न संसद-सदस्य हूँ, न विधायक, न मंत्री, न नेता. इनमें से कोई कलंक… Read More हरिशंकर परसाई: महात्मा गाँधी को चिट्ठी पहुँचे (1977)
Avay Shukla This last week has established that plumbing the depths of the ridiculous and the bizarre is not only our national pastime, it is also now the leitmotif of our society and ruling regime. The other day I decided I needed a “kurta”, not one of those fancy and expensive Myntra creations, but something… Read More Of Shankaracharyas and Cameracharyas
First posted September 13, 2013 Von Clausewitz said that war is the logical extension of diplomacy; Monsieur Verdoux feels that murder is the logical extension of business. It’s all business. One murder makes a villain. Millions, a hero. Numbers sanctify… “By his very existence, Verdoux renders society guilty.” Approaching eternity, the convicted killer subtly reverts… Read More When Charles Chaplin Became the Enemy
First posted December 23, 2013 Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long shot: Charlie Chaplin Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you. He really is an idiot: Groucho Marx My way of joking is to tell the… Read More Lewis Lapham on Mark Twain, laughter and ‘the world’s colossal humbug’
By Alexander Zinoviev, from Homo Sovieticus, a novel that was originally published in 1985 and is included in Boredom, an anthology that was published in January by M.I.T. Press and Whitechapel Gallery. Translated from the Russian by Charles Janson. Soviet people are trained to write Reports about everything. It is an indispensable element of the Communist organization… Read More Lord of the Files (Homo Sovieticus)
William Shakespeare (aka William Sexpeare in Waste Bengal) had got most things right, especially when it came to portraying the seven deadly sins, as per their revised version in India’s Amritkaal. Whether it was “honour killing” in Othello or “love jihad” (by Romeo, naturally, trying to entice a Capulet to become a Montague) in Romeo… Read More Avay Shukla: ‘A rose by any other name..’ really?
Mehrub Moiz Awan. Welcome to the Incel Republic of Pakistan. We have 210 million citizens in our country, and many non-citizens: some men, some women, and some “transgenders.” Previously, we used to call them “shemales,” as that is what porn had taught us. Now, they call themselves “transgender” in English and “khwajasira” in Urdu, but… Read More An uncensored guide to the republics of Pakistan
First posted in 2020 and repeated for the (hic) benefit of leadersh, sorry readers… (With thanksh to my old friend Dilip Hota, who first supplied me with thish recipe) Ingredients: 1 or 2 bottles of rum 1 cup butter 1/8 tsp. sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup dried fruit 2 cups wheat flour baking powder… Read More *Recipe For Christmas Rum Cake*
Sir – In order to discourage confusions which have been constantly occurring, we beg herewith to state that neither of us is the other. Yours & c.,Russell (Bertrand, Earl Russell)Russell of Liverpool (Lord Russell of Liverpool) One of the stranger sights on the University College London campus is the clothed skeleton of the utilitarian philosopher… Read More The delights of mischief
No, sir, these are difficult times. I’m seriously considering two options to hedge my bets. The first is to install pictures of Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah on my front gate. According to a report in the Jansatta of 19th May, bulldozers stopped their demolition of a house in Delhi’s Khichripur when they noticed pictures… Read More Avay Shukla: The Bulldozer Blues
After the truth-shower 