India, Oct. 21 -- As a northerner foodie I prefer meat to fish. I like it fried crisp, whereas those in the south may prefer a curry. Since my wife is more the southern type, whenever she prepares mackerel (aila in Malayalam or bangra in Konkani), she fries the torso crisp and makes a gelatinous curry with the heads. So both are happy.
Why this talk of fish? It is common knowledge that fish begins to rot from the head. In contrast, it gets its power to swim from its tail. This can be juxtaposed on many societies or organizations. The rot usually starts from the top, even though power is derived from the bottom. Let me put it slightly differently. The head has the authority, but the tail has the power, or gives legitimacy to the head; as th...