Letters To Koko

 Hi Koko,  I told you about our second day's experience in the last post . On the third day we were going to the Van Gogh museum , which was honestly the one thing that I was super excited about. You not so much, because - how many museums are we going to see Ma! :(  I mean look at that people pleasing smile of yours - I know it very well, it seems to convey - Ok, I'm here, but I'd much rather be somewhere else. And the museum junkie that I (& your father) am, I wanted to know about everything at the museum so I took up the audio guide. But somehow, within the time that we stepped in and we were at this first painting (The Potato eaters), something happened. Suddenly there was a shift, till now you have seen paintings of kings and queens, in their livery and luxury, and here was someone painting some ordinary people during a very ordinary mealtime. Absolute kudos to the wonderful storytelling and the thrill of finding different paintings on different walls. Suddenly c...

 Hi Koko,  It is no secret that I love Agatha Christie. If someone says they love reading murder mysteries and in the same breath say they do not like Christie, be very suspicious of them. I remember when I was in my graduation days, the prevalent opinion was to look down upon Christie as "not literature". For a while, I swayed and had not read Christie for some time, because I had the morbid need to "fit in" with the elites. But now as I have grown older (and possibly wiser), I have developed the ability to distinguish bullshit from real knowledge and I have little patience for purists who keep harping on what is acceptable as great and trash literature.  Reading is something I enjoy and if it is entertaining, that's good for me.  The year was 2022 and we were visiting Calcutta, and as it happens we raid the old bookshelves to glean something interesting and I picked up a Bangla favorite, while you cheekily picked up an Agatha Christie. I think it was "And...

Hi Koko, Annual exams are coming and I thought it would be a great idea to sit and start revising. As I finally open your books and have a look at the portions I am surprised, nay, shocked. The chapters are getting serious.  I don’t remember learning directive principles in class four. It definitely came later. But here I was making you read about the constitution of India and our rights and duties. Suddenly, you become serious and ask me, ‘so how old do you have to be to be the prime minister?’ I’m baffled, where is this coming from?  ‘Well when I grow up I will go to the top and clean up everything.’ What do you mean, clean up? ‘Well you know here it says everyone should have a decent living conditions. But that’s not happening. Look at that footpath in Agara junction, the one in front of the temple, those balloon sellers live there. There’s no bathroom, or clean water. They don’t have money, it’s so unfair’ So you’ll clean the footpaths? ‘I’ll get hold of all the villas, br...

Hi Koko, I have not been a good documentarian. Every other day something cute or clever just goes by and I don’t end up noting it down and it gets lost. But this one was hilarious and I thought I will just make a note before I forget!  This weekend we went for a play and in typical play watching fashion I thought of wearing a saree. Ok, that’s not true. It’s just exceptionally hot and I wanted to wear something in cotton. That’s airy. And looks good.  So there I was ready before your Baba. I am standing in the foyer trying to close the right footwear. There will be a fair bit of walking so the heels are out of question. I show you a few Pinterest images and ask what do you think of sneakers or boots with this, And part comes the reply: ‘only 19 year old poor grandmas wear that, you’ll not like it on you’ The fashion pundits have declared anything goes, but my pundit knows I cannot be comfortable in something I don’t understand.  Keep dishing stellar advice.  Love, Ma...