Navigating 'we are like that only' India: Complex, curious, and delightful

Our new infrastructure is a definite physical upgrade over the old, but it seems to come with its own challenges

Last week, the “when exactly is Diwali” confusion swept through many parts of the country, with the Amavasya that marks the main day spilling into two calendar days. A charming Diwali greetings video from the French embassy (though who can be sure these days of the provenance of anything digital) was a humorous take on this, with the suggestion that both days be celebration days and the chief of mission saying “whether it’s on the 20??-ʰ or 21ˢ??- of October, the lights of Diwali always shine bright”.

 

This columnist, who has been trying to explain