There are many slips between the cup and the lip

We wanted to submit Reshma's papers by April end. This is urgent because her fellowship can be extended only if she has papers. So we made plans. These many experiments, these many days, I start writing simultaneously...

First, it took us three weeks to get the reagents to do Real Time PCR. This is a technique by which we can quantitate the amount of a particular protein made in a cell at a given time. We ordered the reagents in March 2nd week and it came to us yesterday.

Second, the machine we use to do real time PCR conked out on 26th March. It needs some parts to be replaced. It will take us 10 days. So they say. Maybe, maybe not. Then there will backlog bookings and my student will have to squeeze in time. So now we are looking at some where around April 15th if all goes well. The experiments that we need to do will take at least 3 weeks if every experiment works. We are now into May.

Third, we need to do some imaging. We need reagents again. We called up the agency to find out the pricing. He has not called back. So we have to chase them, place the order, and then wait. At least 3 more weeks. Meantime, the confocal microscope that is required for imaging has stopped working. They are promising repair but no time frame has been fixed because the part needs to come from Germany. We also need the engineer to come and fix it. Last time one of our machines failed it took us 3 months of persistent nagging to fix things up.

Deadlines never work in research. I know. My students know. But still one hopes. And one gets frustrated! Especially when one is so close and yet so far...

Hindutva

The past week belonged to Varun as he shot into 'limelight' with his election speech. As I do not have television I did not watch the televised speech. But from what I read in the newspapers it appears to be an immature, rabid, hate-mongering speech. Of course he is still standing from Pilbhit.
I think I have written this elsewhere too. My problem with the Hindutva is: Who has appointed you as the spokesperson of Hinduism? The brand of Hinduism you practice is not the one I recognize or practice. My brand of Hinduism tells me that all men and women and children are one. It tells me to treat everyone with respect. It tells me not to divide people into religion and caste. So does that make me a non-Hindu? Hinduism after all admits that there are many paths to God and you can choose any one path.
I am not sure what was Varun's motive behind the stupid speech. Was it to gain publicity? Was it to proclaim that he was a Hindu? (If God exists then does God need to know whether a person is Hindu or Muslim or Christian? Surely if he is all pervading, all knowing, He would automatically know what you are?)
Oh, then there is a piece by Nayantara Sehgal in Outlook. One sentence caught my eye:

"The difference between Varun and his cousins, Rahul and Priyanka, is that while they were nurtured on the family's secular ideals, he was simply not there. He may have kept up with his cousins and his aunt, Sonia, but having not been brought up within the family, he lost out on his family inheritance, both the ideology and the training."

I have no idea what to make out of it. My first feeling was: What nonsense. Varun is an adult and he should know, by now, what is right and what is wrong. As for the family inheritance the less said the better.

PS: My right arm is still out of action though I can use it for limited purposes. I am figuring out how to do things with the left arm which is partially functional.

Chain snatching

Yesterday I went with appa to Munirka to pick up my shoes from the cobbler. As we walked back, I was engrossed in telling appa about the results we have obtained in the lab, I felt claws on my neck. I thought it was a monkey and put my hands to remove it and simultaneously turned sideways. That is when I saw a man, short and stocky, wearing a striped cream coloured shirt and brown pants, running towards the motorcycle. I ran towards them but they revved up the motorcycle and turned into an alley. I threw the bag of shoes at them but I was never very good at throwing things. All I ended doing was tripping over and falling on the road, scraping my elbow and hands and breaking my glasses.
Oh never mind the trip to the doctor to get it dressed and get a shot of anti-tetanus injection, what bothered me most was the situation. There were two girls watching the whole scene from a balcony on the fourth floor, there were couple of workers walking down the street, there were sundry other people. They must have noticed the robber sneaking up behind me. Not a shout was raised, not a person tried to stop the robber, the girl in the balcony was busy describing the scene to her boy friend on the cell phone. Sheesh!
Anyway, this is the last time I wear gold chains to please my mother!
Oh, before I conclude I must say that the police were polite and helpful. They made me sit down, they went through my statement, and they promised to do something. Whether it would translate into action is debatable but at least the trip to the police station was not nerve racking as it is usually assumed to be.

Delhi Public Library

After a long time, twenty five years to be precise, I became a member of the Delhi Public Library once more. The library membership is free but one needs to show identity proof as well as residence proof. I lacked both because I do not have a ration card, my passport has Colorado address, andI do not have a driver's license. The officials asked me about my voter's ID card but I did not have one as I have not till now registered as voter anywhere. It was an impasse till the elections were announced. Then there was a drive to get voter registered, which is when I got registered and got my Voter ID card. Ha, that also means, hopefully, if my name is on the voter's list, that I get to vote for the first time in my life.

The library is now a mess. Though they have got computers and we can borrow DVDs, there are hardly any English books. I was told that they have all been borrowed. I have to check out the Hindi section. The librarians can hardly be bothered to keep the place neat and tidy. The books are put on the racks higgeldy-piggeldy.

Why cannot we be bothered with libraries?