Last week I watched spellbound as a cat was chased by a ferocious looking dog; obviously a few other people too were struck by the sight from what I could observe. When I mentioned this to my friend Lina Mathias, she put into words the reason why perhaps the sight had struck me: That in an otherwise bewildering world, something as “normal” as a dog chasing a cat would seem out of place. We then went on to discuss how such a sight was a comforting one in a complexity-ridden world which made me start questioning what constitutes the normal. My mother insisting on my eating an orange just as I am rushing out of the house to make it in time to office is normal. My niece leaving the water tap on and me exasperatedly shutting it is normal.Last-minute panic no matter how well in time one is for the magazine’s deadline is normal.

And then there are times when the abnormal shakes us up into questioning the so-called normal behaviour. Last week Mumbai was shaken by a 57-year old retired customs officer killing his 14-year old neighbour in a fit of rage. He was later shot by the police. Apparently, the noise from the renovation of a flat above his was driving him to distraction as were a lot of things that he found unjust and objectionable. The tragic episode brings so many factors into focus but mainly how people in our cities and big towns are literally living on the edge, even if on the surface everything appears normal.

On a lighter note, I attended the wedding of Sanjiv and Preeti Goenka’s daughter Avarna to Devansh (son of Nandita and Vivek Jain) in Kolkata on February 10. The Goenkas are among the most sought after and prestigious families there but Sanjeev Goenka was like any father of the bride. Tender and anxious to see that everything goes off perfectly-And that too is so normal, isn’t it? The wedding was a dream especially the Goenka hospitality. Everyone, just about everyone was on their toes ensuring all the wedding guests felt at home.

Kolkata always fills me with a sense of contentment with its old world charm and languid air. To add to my feeling of wellbeing, Sanjay & Minu Budhia and Alka Bangur were delightful hosts. Sanjay and Minu piled me with scrumptious delicacies and Alka introduced me to an array of blooms that I have only seen on the screen. The venerable Agri-Horticultural Society of India is an institution to be proud of as despite low funds its office-bearers, members and patrons ensure that its pre-eminent reputation is maintained.

So as we ponder about what is normal and simultaneously prepare for a long and hot summer ahead, we invite our readers to participate in a new column that we have introduced in this issue. It is called ‘First Person’ and will feature the writings of people from the community on a subject close to their hearts. We hope you get motivated into writing to us and suggesting/ contributing after reading these two first-person accounts.



Reshma Jain
Managing editor