Besan Ka Halwa

What does the Hyena say? Intolerance needs interlude. Media needs regulation. India needs a sense of humour. By Vikram Grewal Nations mostly need education, healthcare, agricultural and industrial growth, employment and several others of these ‘socio-economic-political’ nuggets to develop. India currently, apart from these vital entities, needs a sense of humour. Although the Indian society is in dearth of the said virtue since a very long time, the grave need has been exacerbated by the ‘intolerance fiasco’ it has been engulfed by. Intolerance became the most ‘googled’ word online in India- which isn’t the issue. Getting the usual meaning ‘unwillingness to accept views, beliefs or behaviour that differ from one’s own,’ and still not realizing it- is the issue at hand! Several so called ‘nationalist’ social groups might have appended ‘use of violent means to make them accept your views’ to their understanding of the buzzword. An even greater issue came up: that ...

Beef Speaks On this strangely hot autumn noon, I lay my pale being. 'Soon I hope this agony would rest.' Moo, the dry teats in pot-holes nest. The left broken horn doesn't hurt anymore. The scar on the neck- the bell I never wore. Masticating on my own saliva I lay on the dingy street. 'Moo, not a Tuesday!' Saffron on the nose is blinding my eyes. Graffiti on my right horn- gheraoed by flies. People with hands joined come and flee. I stare amazed- they let me be. Moo, I wish this futility to end, As I wait on that filthy market bend. Deepen the neck-scar! To the starving poor, feed me. The panacea for both's misery.