The Christmas tree is now up

It must be December ‘cos the Christmas tree is now up in the apartment:

A bit of Movember action at the High Commission

Every year, the Social Committee runs a Movember fund raiser where men grow a mo to support men’s health issues.

On Friday night, the Henry Lawson Club hosted a Mr Movember parade where we chose the best mo of the year.

Here are some photos from the evening:

And the winner of Mr Movember 2013 is....Alex !!

The caste system in India

Now here’s a topic that you could spend hours on.

This post is not meant to be a definitive account about the caste system – there are many more people who have devoted their lives to studying this subject.

I’m just trying to give you a brief overview.

Basically, the caste system is broken down into four main groups:

Brahmins

Are those engaged in scriptural education and teaching, essential for the continuation of knowledge (ie: priests, teachers, and judges)

Kshatriya

Are those engaged in all forms of public service, including administration, maintenance of law and order and defense (mainly known as the warrior caste)

Vaishya

Are those engaged in commercial activity (ie: businessmen, skilled farmers and merchants)

Shudra

Semi or unskilled workers

There is one more caste known as the untouchables (referred to by Gandhi as the Harijan, or "Children of God."). Today, they are known as the Dalit, a term that can be translated as “oppressed.”

The Dalit are those that perform the most menial of labour.

The census of 2001 showed that the proportion of Dalit population was 16.2% of India's total population at that time.

There is extremely limited mobility and interaction between castes.

Members of a caste are regulated as to who they interact with and can only marry members of their own caste.

The designation of caste overshadows any and all religious distinctions and is a powerful influence in a Hindu’s life.

According to Hindu doctrine, the only way to change castes is to be reborn into a new caste after death as a result of good or bad karma from you previous life.

Thus ends the (very) brief lesson on the caste system.

A visit to Gandhi Smitri and Indira Gandhi Memorial

The other day, I visited Gandhi Smitri and Indira Gandhi Memorial here in Delhi. Both are memorials to Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.

It is also where both leaders were assassinated.

Gandhi Smitri

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948, on the grounds of what is now called Gandhi Smitri.

He was walking to a prayer meeting when an assassin pulled a gun and shot Gandhi at point-blank range.

He died on the spot.

The grounds have now been transformed into a memorial of his life. The path he walked to his assassination is marked by stone footsteps.

I found the place quite tranquil yet sad.

Why was he assassinated ?? He was killed by a Hindu radical who saw the creation of Pakistan during Partition as a sell-out and a weakening of India.

The partition enforced by the British in 1947 resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in human history and sectarian killings on an unprecedented scale.

Even before Partition, the violent reaction against it generated immense tensions.

The thing was, Gandhi was against the creation of Pakistan on sectarian grounds. He probably could see what was going to happen.

The path Gandhi took to his death

The spot where Gandhi was assassinated

Gandhi's worldly possessions

His famous glasses

Indira Gandhi Memorial

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 on the grounds of her house as she walked to an interview with Peter Ustinov.

As she approached a guard post, two of her Sikh bodyguards (one being her favourite who she’d known for 10 yrs) opened fire – one emptying his entire magazine into her body.

Her assassination was in retaliation to Operation “Blue Star” – the Indian Army’s assault on and damage to the golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the most sacred sites for the Sikh religion.

Both assassins made no attempt to run and gave themselves up immediately.

Both were taken away and within minutes, one was killed “while trying to escape”.

Why her Sikh bodyguards were allowed to stay on and guard her has never been adequately explained.

An enquiry into the assassination (the Thakkar Inquiry) pointed its suspicions towards the personal secretary to Mrs. Gandhi (Rajinder Dhawan). He had overruled the concerns of intelligence and security officials who wanted the removal of Sikh policemen in her security detail.

As a result of the assassination, anti-Sikh rioting broke out which resulted in over 8,000 deaths.

It is thought that the acts of violence were organized with support from Delhi police officials and the central government headed by Indira Gandhi’s son, Rajiv.

Rajiv was made Prime Minister soon after the assassination.

The sari Indira Gandhi was wearing when she was assassinated

Indira Gandhi walked down this path towards the guard post in the distance...

...and was assassinated at the spot where the clear glass is 

Rajiv Gandhi memorial

The grounds also contain a memorial to Rajiv Ghandi’s life.

He was assassinated in 1991, in the southern of Tamil Nadu while campaigning for an upcoming election.

He arrived at a political rally where he was due to give a speech. As he made his way the dais, people placed floral wreaths around his.

His assassin, a woman, approached him, greeted him, bent down to touch his feet and then detonated an explosive vest she had hidden under her sari.

His assassin was a female LTTE suicide bomber.

The LTTE was a Sri Lankan separatist organization fighting for an independent Tamil homeland. They were also known as the “Tamil Tigers”. They were wiped out when the Sri Lankan Civil war ended in 2009.

The remains of the clothes Rajiv Gandhi wore on the day of his assassination

A great day for a wedding

So you’re in India with your partner, you’ve had such a great time here and you decide what would really make the trip is if you got married – Indian style !!

That’s what happened yesterday: Jennie’s aunt and uncle decided they’d get married Indian style with the works – saris, kurtas, a band and an elephant.

It was a lovely day for a wedding.

As with any wedding, it was running a bit late – courtesy of the elephant !!

Hope you like the photos:

Classy !!

The Bride

Waiting for the elephant

The elephant: 1&1/4 hrs late !!

The band

The groom and best man

CJ: Master of ceremonies

Another ride of the elephant

Don't ask !!