True Blue Desi

I am resolutely restraining myself from commenting on the SRK-Shiv Sena face off. Any polemic with bollywood involved is such a crowd puller. And I am not rushing to join the volley of easy support for SRK. Indo-Pak relations are embroiled in such conflict and I don't agree it is as easy as "These players were coming here to hit balls ... why the ruckus" as Salman Khan voices.

(Shudder! I never would have thought I'd quote Salman Khan on my blog! )

But when I read about Shiv Sena top brass' reference to Rahul Gandhi as the Italian prince and their remark that 'Mumbai' does not belong to his 'Italian mummy', it disgusts me.

It is the feeling I have everytime time someone harps on Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin.

She came to India as a bride and made this country her home for the following 42 years. Who would have faulted her had she gone back to Italy after her husband's death.

But she stayed on and made a reluctant entry into politics a decade later to save the flagging Congress Party.

She went on to be Party President, Leader of the Opposition and finally in 2004 , the priminister's post was hers for taking, but she renounced it. Under her leadership the Party forged on to another win in General Elections 2009.

She speaks hindi, only wears saris and has seeped in the essence of Indian culture and customs.

She has personally lost much to Indian politics but upholds its premier political dynasty with dignity.

As a politicain and an activist against poverty, who can deny she is alive and aware of the country's pulse.

She is, at the least, more Indian than I am.

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