I stopped worrying about rapists and other serious criminals in India a while ago. I realise that is an odd comment to make and must clarify that they didn’t exactly occupy most of my waking hours earlier. What I mean is, I used to think about their future at times, and what would happen to them once they got out of jail. If this were another country, I wouldn’t have to worry about them getting out at all, obviously, but we all know how things work in these parts. Who amongst us has watched an election rally lately and not thought about which jail the star attractions have emerged from?

Ours is a magical country where one can be accused of murder and extortion, and still take on the role of a high-ranking minister. You can be accused of murdering your own child but still get bail, sign a book deal with a major publisher, and become a social media influencer, all within the span of a year. It’s also the kind of place where you can be accused of crimes against humanity but manage, within a few decades, to have your face plastered on everything from vaccine certificates to bags of grain. If that isn’t magical, what is?