The conversation was not about politics. It was about why I was watching Filmfare and not National Film Awards, back in 1999. 

"Both the National Film Awards and the Padma awards were such a joke back then - only for political patronage. No one even read who got these awards. We only followed Filmfare awards. Now I really want to know the work done by Padma awardees because they are real changemakers. But back then we would not even read them for quizzes." 

.. And i paused.

We have gotten so used to living in an India where progress happens, that we have forgotten what India felt like before 2014. Of course, Cockroach Party reminds us once in a while, as do "public" protests. But in general, the experience of India has changed so much that its hard to remember what we lived through. 

Perhaps it is time to take a minute to appreciate how far we have come, India.