In Residence

Next in my list of dislikes about Lajpat Nagar is its squalor. I have heard of placesdescribed as ‘God-forsaken’, but considering the proliferation of temples thatadds to the constructed squalor of the locality I do not think this adjective really fits.I take care to skip mentioning Lajpat Nagar when asked my address. I simply mention FerozGandhi Road which, of course, is part of Lajpat Nagar but few have ever heard of it. Forthose who have, I manage to engulf them in an air of splendid suspense. I am also nothappy with the christening of this road after Feroz Gandhi either. The reason is simple. Iconsider my entitlement to a similar honour much more justified since I have to suffer thenullah’s fumes from across the road.

The christening of the road took place much before I moved in, when Indira Gandhi wasPM. But to be fair, it was not done at her behest. During her first visit to my house,when I told her the name of the road, she was caught off-guard. All she could mutter was:"Was he that important?"