Thanks, Admin,
At my office in Dubai–a slender slice of the emirate's multinational workforce–a simple “What a lovely day!” can be confusing.
The Indians among us would take the remark to mean that it’s raining or at least overcast. British colleagues, who have chased the sun that set on their empire all the way to Dubai, would expect to see sparkling sunshine.
On the few rainy days here in late winter, my Indian colleague and I feel an added spring in our steps, a sense of possibilities. We walk into the office, remembering weekend getaways to Lonavala during Mumbai’s monsoons, and say: “Picnic weather!” to grumbles from the I-didn’t-move-from-dismal-old-London-for-this crowd.
Celebrating another Mumbai tradition, we once at that time of year called for hot onion bhajiyas from the food court at the nearby Dubai Internet City, where many information technology professionals from India work. “Too late,” we were told — bhajiyas, pakodas, wadas and the like were long sold out to other exiles who felt the same damp magic in the air.
What reminds me of this now, given that in Dubai the temperature is nearly 40C and feels like 45C? Because since the beginning of June many nostalgic Indians have informed me wistfully: “It’s started raining back home.”
Jamaal, a young expatriate from Kerala working as a janitor, told me he likes to imagine how by now the first rains would have filled the paddy fields around his home and everything would be green and lush. “I look at the dry, hot sand here and wonder why I’m not back at home enjoying the early rains,” he says.
My own memories include rain pelting down on the shuttered shacks on off-season Goan beaches; early monsoon showers, called thulavarsham in Malayalam, over the mountains and fields of Kerala; a misty drizzle on rhododendron bushes on the lower slopes o [...]
Here is a roundup of news from Indian newspapers, news wires and Web sites on Monday, June 13, 2011. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
India to Take up With Pak ISI’s Nexus with 26/11 Perpetrators: India will raise the issue of nexus between Pakistan’s ISI and the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks during the forthcoming talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries. (Source: PTI)
SC Adjourns Kanimozhi’s Bail Plea, Issues Notice to CBI : The Supreme Court has adjourned the bail plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi to June 20. (Source: Times of India)
PM Must Come under the ambit of Lokpal: Team Anna: The ongoing war of words between the government and the civil society activists has just got worse with the latter today claiming that the Prime Minister was afraid of coming under the ambit of the Jan Lokpal Bill. (Source: NDTV)
Maharashtra Govt to File Case Against Lavasa Tuesday: Dark clouds seem to be once again looming large over Hindustan Construction Company’s ambitious Lavasa Lake City project, as the Maharashtra Government plans to file an environmental violation case against the company in Pune court on Tuesday. (Source: PTI)
India Seeks Report on China ‘Diverting’ Brahmaputra Waters: In the wake of reports that China may divert Brahmaputra waters, India Monday said it has sought a report from its mission in Beijing and would take appropriate diplomatic steps after assessing the situation. (Source: Indian Express)
China Confess-a-kickback Web sites Draw Inspiration from India: China’s avid internet users are taking a leaf from India’s anti-corruption drama by opening websites so citizens can confess, sometimes in pitiless detail, to buying off officials. (Source: Times of India)
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Coke Studio, the hugely popular music show that is now in its fourth season in Pakistan, will make its India debut this Friday.
The Coke Studio project started in Brazil in 2007 and then went to Pakistan the following year. The show, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, calls upon musicians from different genres to jam together and records the resulting collaboration on the spot.
But some music lovers must be wondering if, like other television music programs in India, this one too will be dominated by Bollywood's bhangra-pop flavor. Wasim Basir, a marketing executive for Coca-Cola India, says Bollywood will have place at the table—but so will other kinds of Indian music.
Mr. Basir told India Real Time that Coke Studio aims to reflect the "aural culture of the country" by capturing musical traditions from across the nation. Each one-hour episode of Coke Studio features six songs that could be a diverse mix of old Bollywood songs, classical compositions and folk music. The show will also aim to mix-and-match established musicians and up-and-coming artists.
The show's musical director, Leslie Lewis, said Coke Studio will be "another direction for the music in this country." [...]