Sweden, Nobel and India

Last night we drove down our pot holed road to north Delhi, gave biscuits to the poor begging at the window of our car, took deviations to avoid the gridlocks that were forming everywhere because of the heightened traffic for Diwali shopping and made our way somewhat painstakingly to the Swedish Embassy which was celebrating Nobel Memorial Week 2011, a week long fest of seminars ranging from public transport by Volvo to seminars on sustainability, creating innovation and operatic performances. Last night was the party to close the week which was a fantastic lavish affair superbly organised by the Ambassador, his delightful wife and I am sure an entourage of staff.

We were treated to the most incredible laser show, a firework display which was just explosively mind blowing and no less than three bands, including an all female ABBA sound-a-like band who got the invitees dancing to the rhythms of Dancing Queen.There was an ice bar serving cocktails and a man with a power drill forming sculptures from it.

This paralleled with a buffet which had paneer tikka on the one hand and smoked salmon and herring on the other which the guests could eat in the comfort of IKEA furniture while looking at the various pictures of Indians who had won the Nobel prize. Mr Nobel of course having made his money in discovering dynamite all those years ago.

Bizarre, mind blowing, paradoxical - yes, all those, exactly what we have come to expect of India on a daily basis except that there is no system or meter in the expectation - the degree of amazement remains unabated each time.