jEDI blogs

Had my final session with the dentist today. I'm happy that I got it done with well in time this time around. Had to wait more than an hour beyond the appointed time though. Do appointments even mean anything in this place when someone's uncle, the doctor's niece, the doctor's mother-in-law's brothers step daughter, or some pitiful old schmuck looking at you with baby eyes are all waiting to jump the queue? Anyhow, its not as if I was getting late for any international conventions.

While sitting in that dreaded chair I realized something. Once you get over that initial fear and once you have been in that position a few times, a dentist's chair can be as relaxing as just about any other place on earth. You just sit back and relax. So there he was scratching, patching and plugging, while I was wandering everywhere around the galaxy in my thoughts. I realized I'd had so little time to myself since I came over. Is this why some people visit dentists so often? Surely there are easier ways..

Earlier in the day I had gone shopping, specifically to buy shoes. My shoes, not surprisingly, wear out so fast that I need at least 3 pairs every year. Just my darned luck that I landed into another one of those hadtaals (strikes).

Apparently, some more buildings were demolished and people weren't too happy about it. These days the Delhi High Court, on behalf of the Delhi Municipal Council (DMC) is on a building demolishing spree. Suddenly the DMC feels the urge to get rid of all illegal constructions by such and such date. Ok, I agree for a moment. But who are they targeting? Poor little shopkeepers and smaller malls. Illegal is illegal but as long as the same rules apply everywhere.

What about a thousand different slums? They're not only illegal constructions, but they also illegally occupy the land, illegally use all amenities like water and electricity, and pay NO land and house taxes. Some of these erstwhile slums have developed into fully grown colonies now. You don't even recognize what lied there before. If the authorities were really serious about it they might have to demolish 10 percent of Delhi. So each time they take their bulldozers and bring down some lesser known Mall somewhere on MG Road, and pose for TV cameras its all but a publicity stunt to me. Its always “safe” to pick easy targets. In other related news I found out that the Delhi Govt. is planning to build some kind of NRI Vihar (what a stupid name) somewhere in the South of Delhi. The colony will be exclusively owned and occupied by NRIs. Isnt it time we put an end to all this farce?

“That's it! You are done for at least one more year. Please remember to use that toothpaste I recommended” he says. One full year, eh? It better be doc. Did I tell you I'm visiting again in April for a few days? And I know where you live..

jEDI