A science career in India is like the mad hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland, you cannot find the place in the first instance, when by some chance you do find it the people already at the table shout at you to go away, if you do manage to find a place at the table there is no tea or food going around, your companions think you are an excellent participant if you quietly fall asleep at the table, and occasionally they dunk you in a teacup for no particular reason, just for the fun of it. But it is a living of sorts... Is there any way of improving this situation?