Gujarat floods and madness

Spending much time cursing Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh and the television news mongrels over complete apathy to floods in Surat. Let's see them releasing more water from the Ukai dam into an already flooded area if it's their families stuck in Surat.

Best of all, the newsreader in Delhi asks the reporter on the ground AFTER he says that more helicopters and army people are needed:
'Has the government started any Relief Camps?'
She actually said 'relief camps'. People can't MOVE to camps- they need boats and helicopters to deliver food to them. Does she think this is an earthquake?

Very reminiscent of U.S. news channels, and no, I don't think CNN is a liberal or moderate news channel by any means, and netiher is NPR on the radio.

And, you won't get THIS on the news channels- Modi was pelted with stones and chappals when he went to survey the damage- the Gujjus told him to get out of his truck and wade through the water to see what it was really like.

Life in small-town Gujarat

This one is especially for Francesca, Natasha and Mathieu.

1. The neighbour's kids barge into your house to watch Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Sometimes Joy, Sometimes Sorrow) on TV on Sunday afternoon, the one day in the week you want to yourself.
2. The neighbour's husband leches at you because it's a national past-time.
3. The neighbour's husband goes into hiding forever after you stare back and call out 'Hello?' loudly from the middle of the street.
4. You are expected to make the acquaintance of Usha-ben ('ben'= 'sister'), Nitaben, and Ramaben across the street and next door within a week of moving.
5. As the only single working woman from a 'big city' in the street, you are asked to teach their children English :).
6. In return, you're invited to frequent cups of tea and snacks on days you return late from fieldwork.