Was intrigued the other day to hear that someone was going to speak on how to negotiate to win. I decided to attend: The speaker was articulate, but as he went on, I realized his methods involved using a clever head and not a compassionate heart. As I listened, I…
Robert Clements is a journalist and newspaper columnist. With an estimated 6 million readership, his column, Bob’s Banter is published in over 30 newspapers and magazines in nearly every state in India, as well as in the top newspapers of Bangladesh, London and Dubai and is also translated into Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Dressed up, but Nowhere to Go..!
A few years ago, India witnessed a hanging! Between the hangman and the media, the late Dhnanjoy Chatterjee was made a hero before he died and a martyr after his death. Hangman Nata Mullick who executed the rapist and murderer fell sick after coming out of Alipore Jail and said…
Be A Savior to the Bullied..!
Last week after the Karnataka victory by the Congress, Rahul flew to Bengaluru to meet his victorious team. He addressed a press conference. He was brief, but what he said was what he’s been telling you and me for some time now, ‘Love won against anger and hate!’ Who were…
To Lead, Accede and Succeed..!
The chief minister for Karnataka has finally been chosen, but for a few crucial days after the elections, a tale of two ambitious men holding tightly to the chief minister’s Chair, unfolded! In my wild imagination while their fight was going one, I see these two glaring at each other…
Laughter and Tough Times..!
My father loved cowboy pictures and also enjoyed watching war movies, but the reason he relished them wasn’t so much the action but the humour. “Just watch their one liners in a tough situation Bob!” He used to tell me and we laughed together as soldiers in the thick of…
Politician In a Hole..!
I heard that after the resounding victory in Bangalore, the winner politicians were going to be shepherded into a hotel, so that they would not cross sides! This after the people had put their faith in them? And that’s why I fished out today’s column, an old one, but apt…
Freedom to Disagree..!
The greatest gift a leader can gift himself or herself, is to present oneself with a team who have the freedom to disagree with the leader. “Sir, I don’t agree with your views!” is a statement one should welcome in a meeting, whether it’s government, corporate or religious. Because that…
Lose Gracefully..!
And as I watched the astounding win of the Congress yesterday in Karnataka, and heard the victory slogans of the victors, I also heard here and there the bitterness of the losers. I agree it must have been quite a blow for Modi and his men to lose but many…
Ruth, Naomi and Your Spouse..!
“Wherever you go, I will go!” says Ruth, even as her mother-in-law, with both her sons dead and no money in her name, poverty staring at her, decides to return to the land of her birth. Naomi frees her, tells her to remain in her own comfortable land, tells her…
A Modern Hare and Tortoise Race..!
Ah dear reader, let me refresh your memory. Now sit yourself down and let me tell you Aesop’s fable of the hare and the tortoise! Once upon a time Bro Hare was making fun of Bro Tortoise for being so slow. “Do you ever get anywhere?” he asked with a…
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.