The Cauvery Bandh

The state-wide strike was a non-event from the perspective of businesspeople holed up in the Le Meridien Hotel, because the gates to the hotel were closed and guests had to obtain the permission of the hotel to leave the grounds. (I stayed in and read 3-4 newspapers.) There was no possibility of watching the events on TV because the channels were suppressed all day. This morning's paper reports that the bandh (pronounced "ban" and a synonym for strike) was peaceful and complete, with only the elderly inconvenienced by being ripped off by the few taxis and pedicabs that were running, and most flights from Bangalore airport cancelled. However, the news reportage on the event was much less complete than it would have been in any US media. In fact, the leading stories in today's papers concern the likelihood the India team will win the world cricket match and upcoming valentine's day gift choices! By 8pm, people were back on the street, the restaurants were open again and one would not have known an entire state had virtually shut down for 12 hours. Dinner with another delightful lawyer in a restaurant known for coastal cuisine of southern India (the Kerala state), featuring various curry and vegetarian dishes served on a rice pancake, with large green banana leaves as plates. Also tasted my first Indian wine, which was not bad at all! Today is a visit to a leading software company reputed to have one of the most beautiful "campuses" in India -- the term campus is used to describe what I take to be an office park.