For me, 1984 was just an impersonal detail, merely newsprint like Sajjan Kumar's life term might be to many. That is, until the day decades later, the tragedy of 1984’s events came home to me.

I have many mother languages. In my case, these words have an amazing power to arouse, to incite, to communicate – and equally, to confuse and obfuscate.

The loose-wristed, silk scarf-wearing Dev Anand was a constant presence in my father’s life. He modelled himself after the man and constantly dropped lines from Jewel Thief.