18 Comments
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Firdaus Gandavia's avatar

You seem to be the "elder" brother. Is this the result of being a writer?😊 Does Mumbai figure on your itinerary?

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Hahaha.

I want to come to Mumbai. Next time!

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Angshuman Das's avatar

So glad to see you came to India knowing it would be terribly hot, bracing yourself to conduct interviews like a reporter or nonfiction writer. From your comfortable life in the U.S., you came to your hometown ready for legwork. Glad also to hear you are meeting your classmates after 40 years as I did in 2022. Be ready for surprises: Many of your ex-classmates may be taken by the religious majoritarianism sweeping India.

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Terri Lewis's avatar

Oh, take care of yourself! We need you.

I've been reading about both the heat and the election in India. Both are overwhelming.

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Beth Adams's avatar

Take care, please! I can't even begin to imagine this level of heat.

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Mary MGuire's avatar

The chaos outside your window is disturbing. Do the votes arrive intact? Do they get lost in the shuffle? Do the counters miss any?

A doctor in the family is a gift!

The only one not suffering from the heat is the dog on your tee shirt.

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Writerly eye: you are right about that lucky dog!

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Priya Ramani's avatar

This is superb

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Thank you, boss. I always read your Substack. Here’s an update on the last post from Patna: https://open.substack.com/pub/amitavakumar/p/its-not-just-the-heat

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Priya Ramani's avatar

Stunning. I’ve stopped hanging out with people who avoid discussing politics because that usually means only one thing :)

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Haha. I know, I know!

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Mark Sarvas's avatar

Take care, dear friend. Rest and heal. Much love to you ...

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Thank you, Mark. Already feeling a little bit. My home state is a dry state, so I can't even medicate that way.

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Patricia Wallace's avatar

Please take care of yourself, dear Ami. And I love the way your interviews allow us to feel the humanity of the person you are speaking with. That is such a gift. And there is set fixity for what that humanity will appear as. You are open to however it reveals itself. Please be well

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Patricia Wallace's avatar

I meant "there is NO set fixity"

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

I got it! ❤️

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Amitava Kumar's avatar

Thank you, Pat!

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Nirupama's avatar

Summer heat can take us completely by surprise just when we feel we have overcome it. This has been a harsh season. Please take care.

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