Spider-Man, a contestant in the Indian election

“I’m Spider Man, please vote for me”

In the fictional world Spider Man normally comes to the rescue of hapless victims. In India there is a different kind of Spider Man who has come forward to help victims of corrupt politicians. He appears at the windows or hanging from windows asking people to vote for him.

This self-styled Spider-Man is taking the web slinger’s “with great power comes great responsibility” motto to heart by running for office in India.

The 32-years-old Gaurav Sharma, a former martial arts trainer for Mumbai police, is using his climbing skills to shun the traditional door-to-door campaigning as he pushes for a seat in parliament.

Sharma hopes voters will think of him as a friendly neighbourhood superhero who can solve their problems, like the character in the comic books and films.

“I train myself and I want people to connect with this kind of person who has gone through a lot of training in his life and has never given up, he always achieves success,” he said. He is standing for the South Mumbai constituency, which will vote on April 24 as part of the nine-stage election that started on Monday.

It appears Sharma's novel campaigning style is having a positive effect on some voters.

He said people are “amazed” and added: “They are like this is something happening new in their community and they love watching me climbing from windows and asking for votes.”

According to Mumbai resident Archana Jain: “He goes to everybody's house through the window and is trying to solve the problems of people.

“We would certainly like to give a chance to such a candidate.”

Pianist’s melodies not so sweet for neighbour

The trial against a professional concert pianist is the talk of the town in Catalonia, Spain.

The plaintiff - identified only as Sonia B - claims she suffered from noise contamination between 2003 and 2007 owing to the five-days-a-week, eight-hour practice sessions by Laia Martin, who lived below her in Puigcerda. Her charge against Ms Martin is that her piano practice has caused psychological damage and noise pollution.

The 27-year-old, now a professional concert pianist, denies she played at home that often as she took regular classes in other towns.

According to El Pais newspaper Sonia B told the court she now hates pianos and eventually moved house. A Catalonia Justice Tribunal spokeswoman said the trial continues and is due to end on November 1. If the charge is proved Laia Martin the young pianist will be jailed for over seven years.

Tattooing for love, a risk to life?

A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. As it requires breaking the skin barrier tattooing carries health risks including infection and allergic reactions.

But when in love you don’t know or understand risks and dangers you have to face. Many hard-up Indian youngsters who are deeply in love are risking their lives for love by paying street tattooists to ink their girlfriends’ names on their bodies. A basic design sometimes costs as little as 50p.

Although they run the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such as HIV or bacterial infections from unsterilised needles yet there are plenty of youngsters who provide these roadside tattooists a good income by getting cheap tattoos done. If they have to go to a tattoo parlour for the same, they’ll have to pay thousands of rupees.

Ramesh Kumar, who has been a street tattoo artist for four years, says most of his clients are young people and students who want to get the names of their girlfriend or boyfriend inked on their body. Others want images of gods or will pick a design from the tattooist's own creations.

He says he never gets any complaints from customers regarding infections.

Some of the so-called 'artists' are actually just amateurs who draw wonky designs or misspell names.

Some use acrylic paints which can harm the skin, rather than the specialist ink utilised by professionals.

The tattoo artists line the streets of Delhi's Old Quarter day after day enticing customers with their cheap prices.

But the practice is illegal and they make sure their equipment is easily portable for when the police arrive and give chase.