War in the Delhi Metro: On proximity, privilege, and the illusion of distance
War always seemed universes away. On the 7th of May, I was on my way home after covering a security drill in a residential society in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase 1. It was a routine practice assignment — my first solo coverage as an intern at The Times of India. I remember thinking that it was a political stunt. There’s no way there would be an attack so far from the border, right? I covered the drill, submitted the article to my supervisor, and clocked off work for the day. My sister called while I was on the metro. She told me things were tense in Bathinda. The cantonment was under heightened alert, movement in the cantt. had been halted, and armed men were stationed near our house. I thought to myself, the precaution is great, but again, there’s no way there would be an attack so far from the border, right? On the 8th of May, I went to work as usual. The article I wrote was printed. Page 4. My name, in The Times of India. I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like everything I’d been worki...