[Reader-list] sting-chroni-city

[Anand Vivek Taneja]

 was there one image that could capture the sting concert, held in the
far north west of delhi two nights ago?

perhaps.

as sting sang 'englishman in new york' on stage, his magnified face
projected on screen for those too far back and the strobe pyrotechnics
of the lightshow dazzled the night, and the silent metro train went
gliding behind, ever ten minutes or so.

one photograph could have captured it all. the global music superstar,
in a world class show (with world class prices), with a world class
metro rail behind it all.
delhi, captured in that photograph, is suddenly a 'global' city.

which feels very good, especially if you, like me swear by public
transport, and have grown up listening to the man, and swearing by his
music. delhi is now a global city, and even the Delhi Police seems to
realise that, and didn't harass people too much at the show.

which all is very heady, and very disconcerting, becuase the slightly
frumpy, down at heel city you have come to love has suddenly become a
high society page three type - and you're not quite sure you like
what's happened, and is happening.

what were the costs, what were the histories, what were the social
forces behind that photograph of global delhi that i just described?
the history of dispossessions, of the reshaping of the city....

-- 
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and
taste good with ketchup.
http://www.synchroni-cities.blogspot.com/