Bandh and Onions

Bandh* and Onions in India are similar in many ways. Both are costly, both bring 'tears' to one's eyes but both continue to be in demand. Onion what appears to be from outside is not what it is when you peel the same.  Bandh is also like that, what seems to be the cause, seldom is the real reason. Onion keeps bringing tears to your eyes till you chop it down.  Bandh keeps us on tenterhooks till the day is over.

As you peel the onion, you may find it to be really fresh. You never know you may also find it to be rotten from inside! Bandh also keeps playing the guessing game. The uncertainty on such days can literally get on to your nerves at times.

As the price of the onion rises, it starts to disappear from the salad plates and menu of restaurants. Bandh has similar disappearing effect on people on the streets. More high profile the bandh, more is the disappearing effect.

Finally, onion is used by different people for different purposes, sometimes as a salad, in burgers, as a culinary accompaniment. Bandh serves different purposes for different people. Those who call bandh, those who oppose bandh and then people like me who have no clue why the bandh has been called for but are forced to stay indoors - all of them are served differently.

All said and done, no matter how you slice onion it still remains ordinary, smelly and never irreplaceable. Bandh is also simply pedestrian.