Creating history 1


This is a desperate attempt to create a story where none exists. As a young man who has freshly returned from the United States after announcing his white girlfriend, I expected some fireworks when I got home; but all was calm on the eastern front. I thought, perhaps an announcement that I will be moving to LA with her could create excitement; that did not help. Will it help if the cause if I make it clear that we have not decided to marry? That did not either.

I am sorry to tell you, my reader, that I have no story to offer: no fireworks, no excitement and nothing interesting to share. My grandma in her mid-eighties now demands to see Dr. K on Skype, and my family is preparing to meet her soon. As a demonstration of acceptance, a long list of people are bracing for her visit with a list of ENT ailments, and we are preparing to turn the guest bedroom into a clinic. Some complaints may require surgeries, and the family is considering installing a floodlight, an oxygen tank and a table with the hope of converting the bedroom into an operating theatre; after all, improvisation is a part of being Indian.

All this goodwill is very disappointing, for I have no story to share. I heard that happy people, like happy nations, have no history. It surely feels good to be happy, but the urge to make history is irresistible. Perhaps I should provoke an uncle or two with something really scandalous. The clock is ticking.


About Vivek Srinivasan

I work with the Program on Liberation Technology at Stanford University. Before this, I worked with the Right to Food Campaign and other rights based campaigns in India. To learn more, click here.

Have thoughts to share?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

One thought on “Creating history