Sacred Cows

Happy Birthday India and Pakistan!

~By Anu. Meet Midnight's Twins.

    Zafar Hameed and Azhar Sherwani are identical twins, born on August 15th, 1947--the day India gained independence from Britain. Like so many communities in Punjab and Bengal, their lives were ripped apart when the departing British divided the subcontinent into Hindu India, and Muslim East and West Pakistan.

    As a result, Zafar grew up in Lahore and Azhar in Delhi, their personal lives mirroring the tragic, bitter history of the divided subcontinent. I took this photo ten years ago at a rare reunion in Delhi, when Zafar managed to get an Indian visa to attend a family wedding. On August 15th, 1997, they celebrated their 50th birthdays... as well as 50 years of Independence. I dug this photo out because their story stands out in my mind as the perfect parable for what has happened to India and Pakistan since the Raj. Keep reading to find out more about these real life 'Midnight's Children'.... Happy 60th Birthday Zafar and Azhar!! Hope this occasion brings the two of you together once more.

Back to Blighty

~By Anu. Wow! First the Kohinoor, now the Monsoon! It's been raining so much in England, Gloucester looks like a Bihari paddy field. Luckily, east London is still above water and not only my plants, but several loads of laundry have been well watered!

Meanwhile, it's been a season of setbacks... Ok, just the one. I applied to be BBC India correspondent after a successful stint in the job for three months. The interview was in the middle of June. Like all candidates, I prepared an extensive range of story ideas (investigative, cultural, political), honed my reasons for wanting the job (passion, ten years experience, did I mention passion??) and obsessed day and night for weeks about my chances of getting hired. BBC job interviews are a bit like a Papal conclave: mysterious and awe-inspiring. For a start, every interview I've ever had has been conducted by five people. I'm sure even Saddam's firing squads were smaller. After interviews, I usually plunge myself straight into making a programme, because the wait is as excruciating as having splinters slowly and lovingly eased into the pads of your fingers. I'm sure there is even a system of black and white smoke signals to indicate whether the esteemed panel have reached a consensus or not.... you just can't see it over the enormous satellite dishes atop BBC Television Centre...