It’s Not About Me, or Is It?
In about 2017, I discovered I had become a German Jew. Now, this is not an easily inherited category, nor an easily-acquired one. It came about quite inadvertently in my case, in a strange set of circumstances, which, in short, included my acquiring German citizenship, surrendering my Indian passport to, and paying to acquire a ‘renunciation of citizenship certificate’ from, the Indian Embassy in Berlin, and discovering that a part-Jewish origin (on the wrong side of the family) was taken quite seriously in Germany, in a way it hadn’t when it had been conveniently assumed I could be classified among the Persons of Colour with sensibilities that could be carelessly called postcolonial.
Photo story: Christmas Market at Marienplatz
The Christmas market at Marienplatz, the heart of Munich, can be dated back to the fourteenth century. Unlike its competitors, it still retains a traditional flavor. From the end of November to Christmas Eve, the place transforms into a winter festival ground. With green roofs and red interiors, the hundreds of neatly decorated stalls look resplendent. Although Bavarian customs, craft, and cuisine rule the roost, you can also find crepes and waffles.
Travel: Potsdam Witnessed the Making of Modern History
Potsdam is about 35 km from Berlin. As I took the train for the half hour ride, I pondered on how history changes course from time to time. Had I wanted to visit Potsdam before the Berlin Wall fell in 1990, perhaps I would have had to apply for a separate visa because it was in erstwhile East Germany.