Walking Along The Ganges
I was born in a city situated on the banks of the river Ganges even as my grandfather was, in those very moments, paying obeisance at the source of the river – at Gangotri [praying, surely, in the interest of his grandchild’s gender selection]. The name he wanted for me had the river in it but that idea flowed, turned and dried up in a few family discussions. Millions of infants are delivered in cities along riverbanks - but you haven’t heard of Thamesson, Rhinebanker or Seineboy, though a few Hudsons do exist! This story runs a different course, though. I was born within smelling distance of the Ganges. Even then the Ganges had a strong smell but our family home really was quite close to the river. I am sure there exist words in holy tomes that certify that bathing in the Ganges cleanse you of sins of a thousand lifetimes but to be born on those banks, ah – that would cover for killing a 100 Brahmins and a minor genocide on the side. As I grew up, on our annual 30 day vacation vi...