Today, political rallies are all about candidates insulting each other. The days of dignified talk seem to be over, and just when I was beginning to feel sad about the bygone days, I suddenly started realizing that even insults could be turned around and made to work for us: This…
Cat’s Milk and Election Promises..!
She greeted me like we were old friends, purring and wrapping herself round my legs, “Hey,” I said, “I don’t know you!” But from her friendly gestures I realized that, that didn’t matter and all she wanted was to know me. She was a stray, and I’d seen her quite…
Putty, Paint and Professional Pretense..!
It was a narrow bridge one climbed, from once a lazy station, onto the road above. Elphinstone Road station in Mumbai was hardly used previously, except by mill workers of old, going to work or returning to their homes. And then in the last twenty years the whole area changed:…
Valentine’s Day Special..!
Here’s something special on Valentine’s Day: We seem to think the best relationships are between like-minded people, but not necessarily at all. Instead of changing your wife or husband to your way of thinking what about trying to accept the difference and harmonize your relationship? A psychiatrist once talked with…
The Silence of the Church..!
The Christian church and many organizations belonging to it in India, have become like the market place-synagogue, Jesus walked into over 2000 years ago, and where with righteous indignation drove out the money changers and others doing business there! What we need is that same Jesus coming into our Church….
Risk It..!
A few years ago a friend came to me with a brilliant idea which required him resigning from his job and setting up business. The scheme seemed well thought out and it was some years later we met again and I found him still plodding on in his old job….
Full Steam Ahead..!
Many decades ago, on long train journeys, my father would take me to the end of the long platform and show me the mighty steam engine which pulled us. “Do you know how it works Bob?” he asked once. I shook my head, “Pressure!” he said. “The steam builds up…
A Head Covering and Sweet Voice..!
In the gigantic auditorium in Manila, in the Philippines, her voice richer than that of a nightingale filled the hall. We singers stood behind her. We were the choir she sang for, and felt proud, as the audience in one accord rose and gave her a standing ovation! There were…
Lone Slipper on the Railway Track..!
He had decided to end his life, and the place he had chosen was the railway track just before the last station, and just after the level crossing. He had given it careful thought, but decided he couldn’t take it anymore. Yesterday, his wife and little son had sat terrified…
Garbage Hacker..!
The scream came from the bedroom, “Lizard?” I asked casually from the sitting room and found no reply, “Cockroach?” I shouted again, and again hearing no answer rushed to where the wife was, “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Look at this!” she screamed shoving the newspaper into my face, “look what…
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.