A few years ago, one of our neighbours, Mrs. Meira Bajpeyi, a veritable neighbourhood matriarch (I've never actually SEEN Mr. Bajpeyi - strange - but he's alive that's for sure. She flaunts her marriage symbols with pride) decided to fight the local elections. We were all quite pleased. It would be nice to have someone we know in a position of power. Contacts are so important. It was quite exciting when the leaflets came around with the venerable Mrs. Bajpeyi's face smiling benignly. None of our family got involved with the campaigning but we wished her well of course. I heard Neil, my son, who was very small at the time going around chanting 'Meira Bajpeyi Patang! Meira Bajpeyi Patang!' 'Patang' means 'kite' and it was Mrs. Bajpeyi's election symbol. In India, politicians use elections symbols so that when the voting is going on, the illiterate people who are unable to read will know by the symbol, for whom they should vote. One
An Irishwoman living an East/West Life