A fav, non-desi blog of mine, Winds of Change looks to India for a model for Iraq –
When India was trying to fight separatist Sikh terrorists in Punjab, a Sikh police officer named KPS Gill played a pivotal role in giving the anti-terrorism effort legitimacy among Punjabi Sikhs and among all Indians. …Who can play the role of Iraq’s KPS Gill?
Well, a Bollywood Oscar anyway. And the award wasn’t presented in Bombay, but rather in, uh, New Jersey.
Nevertheless, one can only imagine the electricity in the air as hundreds gathered to honor one of the greatest actors of their generation – MSNBC Reports – Apparently, Indians also love David Hasselhoff –
IndiaÂ’s version of the Oscars were handed out at the glittering Bollywood movie award ceremony on Saturday that saw a veteran director sweep the top honors and U.S. actor David Hasselhoff named international star of the year.
Veer-Zaara and Rani Mukherji picked up awards as well presented by… David Hasselhoff.
“The winner is the ‘Spielberg of India,’ Yash Chopra,” said Baywatch star Hasselhoff as he presented the award for best film [to Yash Chopra for Veer-Zaara].
Hasselhoff – so often the butt of late night jokes for his improbably strong European singing career – can apparently count on a billion desi’s within his fanbase. I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that, given his repertoire of 80s personae, Hasselhoff continues to inspire modern Bollywood villains and heroes alike – Continue reading
A Bombay policeman allegedly raped a girl in broad daylight (via India Uncut):
A quiet evening, sitting by the sea at Marine Drive turned into a nightmare for a 17-year-old girl. Priya Ravi (name changed), a resident of Chembur, was just idling at the promenade along with three male friends last evening, when constable Sunil More… approached them… he demanded that they come to the police chowky… Inside, he bolted the door and allegedly raped her…More… was completely nonchalant and allegedly said, “Jo ukhad sakte ho, ukhad lo (do whatever you want)…” According to Kayum Shaikh who was present at the spot, “The constable was drunk and came out of the chowky adjusting his belt. He was aggressive and appeared completely unconcerned with what had just happened.” [Mid-Day]
Police sources said More always got away with rude behaviour and drinking on duty because his brother-in-law, a police inspector in the Crime Branch, shielded him. [Express]
The cop’s been fired and charged with a crime, but only because of public outrage. Says Amit Varma:
I’m just surprised that the boys who were with that girl let the policeman take her inside that chowky. Perhaps they were young and naive. In time, they will learn that the typical Indian policeman is like this: undereducated, overworked, underpaid, sexually repressed, resentful of richer people, and drunk on power. It is a potent combination.
An even worse incident happened in Pakistan:
We never got Indian food at Microsoft, I’m a little jealous.
Want navrattan korma with raita, chutney and naan? $5.29 at Cisco Systems’ [cafeteria.]
The new Whole Foods in NYC’s Union Square serves hot Indian food. And one of the big selling points of London is that you can get mango lassi and 20 kinds of Indian meals at any Sainsbury’s.
Hey, man. You’ve got your reasons, I’ve got mine.
The Daily Show speculates how the Singh-Musharraf man date turned out. Watch the clip.
Yes, that really is the two of them in a hot tub. Like all good Daily Show graphics, it’s completely undoctored.
The Statesman reports that even with two years to go, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is preparing to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Sepoy Mutiny, which he will refer to in a more contemporary fashion:
Mangal Pandey and his men will live again, and not because of Ketan MehtaÂ’s feature film The Rising. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has constituted a Group of Ministers to celebrate the Revolt of 1857. Only, the government will regard it as the first war of Indian independence.
That the Centre has started planning the celebrations a couple of years ahead could be borne out of the concern that the Opposition parties, in power in some states, do not steal the thunder and take over the “nationalist” agenda.
I haven’t seen Fareed Zakaria do explicit shout-outs that often, unlike Gurinder Chadha:
India is still a poor third-world country, but if you read [Thomas Friedman’s] book you would assume it is on the verge of becoming a global superstar. (Though as an Indian-American, I read Friedman and whisper the old Jewish saying, ”From your lips to God’s ears.”)