A little baby in a manger, so calm, so peaceful! And in a million make believe cribs in shopping malls and elsewhere, plastic dolls, with ever so sweet smiles on their plastic lips look up from equally artificial cribs of cleverly crafted wood and smile at passersby, who coo in…
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.
Searching for Joy..!
Here’s a little story today partly made by me and partly borrowed: A sad little princess dreamed of happiness while gazing out of the window of her castle. Suddenly from among the flowers appeared her fairy godmother who said, “Happiness is coming this way and if you get to meet…
Breaking Churches..!
There’s more and more news coming from all over the country of churches being broken and believers thrashed. And from the leadership, a huge silence. I’m reminded of the play, ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ where the knights on hearing King Henry’s explosive words against Thomas Becket the Cardinal, rush in…
Fun Being Myself..!
Quite a few years back, I remember a flag hoisting: I watched as my dear friend slowly made her way across to hoist the flat. She was eighty-four. “Bob,” she used to say, “In Jalandhar where I lived with my husband, I used to be known for who I was,…
Young Big Boss..!
“Bob,” she wept on the phone, “I don’t have a job!” “How’s that?” I asked, very surprised, “You have many years before retirement and you’re good at your work, I thought?” “That’s what I thought too,” she whispered, “But a young boss took over and he felt that I didn’t…
Father Stan, Shepherds and Angels..!
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian author, writes about walking down a street and passing a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but alas, his pocket was empty. Turning to the beggar, Tolstoy told him, “I’m sorry brother, but I have nothing to give!” The…
A God for All..!
Mary was astounded! Yes, she had understood the shy shepherds who came to greet her son in the manger. She must have shook her head in gratitude at the beasts in the stable who kept ever so quiet as her new born baby slept, but a few months later, she…
And the Baby Kicked Mary..!
Mary smiled as the baby inside her gave a kick, “I know you’re waiting to meet the world!” she whispered to the unborn child inside her, “But there’s still a week to go!” “Rest little one inside me, there’s a world of love and hate waiting to meet you! I…
Journalists as Prophets..!
Many years ago, my column was read by a well-known person in Canada, who decided he would write to me in the email address generally carried beneath my column. After a few complementary lines on my article, he concluded by saying “Bob, the journalists of today are like the prophet…
Painful Unhealed Symptoms..!
A few years ago, I experienced excruciating pain one night! I swallowed painkillers, tried a hot massage, placed ice on my shoulder and arm but the ache refused to go. It came in spasms and my wife watched in dismay as I grimaced with every new attack. I hardly slept….
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.