Africa

21st March, '13

A lot has happened since I blogged last...  a few films, a massive feminist movement in Delhi post the rape of Jyoti, new friends found while old ones moved on,new relationships, new lessons in patience, new losses, new skills acquired and  a life changing award.

Much to be grateful for. 

(life in pictures will be posted in the next blog... The current-one is going to be disjointed, I can feel it. Getting the groove back will take a bit of time )

While my laptop has about seven unfinished passionate blog-buds that never flowered, my mind has a hundred.

 My teacher at Adishakti in Pondicherry, Vinay, had once said that the mind is often hyperactive during travel.  So here, after about a total of 16 hours of travel, 10 of which were in air, then first momentous blog post has bloomed...in Durban, South Africa.

 

Awards honouring the South African and Indian Film and Television industries have been organised here.  The grand curtain-raiser was an eye opener in many ways.  Indians Who first landed on the author African cost, as indentured labour, are now steeped in the culture of their new habitat, and something new has been born. 

Here, It's unsafe apparently to step out post  5pm or so. Instances of robbing, mugging, rape and general hostility are fairly common.  A Nordic-looking tall and overwhelming man  with gentle blue eyes has been appointed as security for me.

There's large Indian expat population In Durban. Fourth generation Indians, who trace their roots to Bihar and Gujarat and many other states. their forefathers were perhaps brought as plantation workers with the European colonisers. Culture is carried on with pride- bindis are worn over jeans and a t-shirt. I spotted many strange style trademarks unique to the people of Indian origin.Like wearing a gold cap on one of the front teeth, flashing in a smile, or ladies fashion (lace teamed with velvet and Lycra) from the 80s.

Much of the world was colonised at one point or another. What happened to Africa is well documented. Especially in the recent past, Hollywood has turned its eye  on the continent as well, what with Hotel Rwanda, Invictus and The Dictator. 

 It's a beautiful country...a beautiful continent. Home to Mandela and Maya Angelou, arguably the birthplace of humanity.  Pity that when I look it of the window, the beach is empty. It's not even dusk yet and it looks like Mumbai did when Bal Thakerey died.  I guess violence, in thought and action, carried on over time, becomes behaviour.