Ghandi and Restaurant Confusion

Slumdog

I believe Slumdog Millionaire is all the rage in the U.S. (or was) -- it's all over the news here, and our book group is reading said novel. Thus I found it last week at a market and after being chased down by the book seller (I told him I could find it cheaper elsewhere, which of course spurred him to try harder to make the sale) I paid my $2 and am on chapter 2. Has anyone read it and if so, thoughts?

In other news, kids and I went to the Gandhi Smriti museum Friday -- what a great experience.

It is housed in the Old Birla House, where Mahatma Gandhi's epic Life ended on 30 January 1948. (Did you know "Mahatma" means great soul?)

Mahatma Gandhi lived in this house from 9 September 1947 to 30 January 1948.

In addition to a wonderful interactive exhibit upstairs (a computerized timeline screen that actually moves along a wall, walking canes that when touched operate the television screen above, etc.), the museum includes the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived and the prayer ground where he held a mass congregation every evening. (This is where he was assassinated.)

Throughout the museum are pictures and a detailed account of Ghandi's life and his dedication to all persons. The grounds are beautiful with an eternal flame in tribute to this man who is revered here.

A bit about Ghandi per wikipedia:

Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers in protesting excessive land-tax and discrimination.

Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, for expanding women's rights, for building religious and ethnic amity, for ending untouchability, for increasing economic self-reliance, but above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from foreign domination.

Gandhi famously led Indians in the Non-cooperation movement in 1922 and in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (249 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, on numerous occasions, in both South Africa and India.

Gandhi was a practitioner of non-violence and truth, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and social protest.

Dinner with Friends

On Saturday Joe and I met up with some friends at a restaurant recommended by a Delhi food critic -- Cafe de Paris. Upon being delivered to the restaurant by our driver, Ram, we questioned his judgment; there was no sign for Cafe de Paris.

But when we came inside the building (which had signs for at least 3 other restaurants) we were asked if we wanted Italian, Chinese, Indian -- oh and yes, go to 1st floor for Cafe de Paris.

Up we went on the postage stamp sized elevator to 1 (floors start with zero here) and the same guy who directed us up was waiting at the stairwell to escort us further.

The restaurant had an Italian name, then we were ushered into another room -- still no sign of cafe de Paris -- and told this was it.

Our friends went through the same confusing experience a few minutes later and we were given two menus, Italian and French.

We were later told by a waiter that Cafe de Paris is no more. Despite that I had duck in the French style.

So I'm still confused.

But we had a great time with our friends, good food and the best creme brulee I think I've ever had!

I do love the chaos that is India.