The Mandela memorial march just passed by my apartment on the way to the Mumbai mayor's house
I really, really wish I had had my phone charged to take pictures, because that was cool. There was an effigy of him and the float was draped in the African tricolor (red, yellow, green), along with orange (color is a political language in India -- that's a whole post on its own; let's just say that India's flag is similar to Ireland's on purpose, not by accident).
India feels a particular kinship with South Africa because S.A. is where Gandhi found his voice for direct action (which, obviously, in turn inspired Mandela). The march included, surprisingly, both NCP and Shiv Sena participants (NCP is the nominally socialist Congress party, Shiv Sena is the Marathi faction of BJP, a group that makes Ted Cruz look like George McGovern), as well as some Muslim and Sikh parties (I live in one of those melting pot neighborhoods that perpetually reminds me why large cities are awesome).
I'd like to join but I'm off to set up a concert I'm running tonight raising awareness against gender-based violence; I at least hope Mandela would in spirit approve of that excuse. Plus it's in the only operating brewpub in Mumbai, and the brewmaster (a really cool guy from Alaska) has some Masala Pilsner he wants me to try. But really, it's for a higher goal, I assure you...
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