‘Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains.” Proverbs 14:13. This actually happened after a session with a group of company executives, where I’d spent almost a day training them in the art of being still. “From stillness,” I had told them, “Comes a mighty…
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.
Your Chair and You..!
As a writer and journalist, I often had to visit men and women in different leadership positions at their offices. As soon as I was ushered into their offices, the chair on which they sat told me where I stood. The chairs came in all shapes and sizes. Small made…
The Peepul Leaf and I..!
It seemed like a dance of death as the peepul leaf floated down to me, “You poor leaf,” I cried, “Let me get some glue, you know the quick fix type and paste you back to the branch you fell from!” “No!” said the peepul leaf firmly, “I’m happy on…
The Red Suitcase..!
“Where did you find it?” he asked sharply. “In your mother’s room while we were cleaning up!” his maid said, looking scared as she watched him staring at the suitcase, she was placing in his fancy sitting room. He looked at the red suitcase, “Did she have to choose such…
Killer Rage..!
…When I lose my temper, I lose my reason too; I’m never proud of anything, which angrily I do.. The child looked at his father, who red with rage yelled into the phone. “You idiot, d’you know who I am?” “Dad..” said the little boy. “Shut up son, this idiot…
Dying for the ‘Self-Imposed’ Sinner..!
‘High Court: Can’t endear teen as dad’s illness was ‘self-imposed’ … Times of India, 14th May. “Daddy!” I imagine the sixteen year-old weeping and whispering, “you may be an alcoholic like the high court says, but I want to donate my liver to save your life!” But the High Court…
Thousand Rupees in the Gutter..!
Quite often when I see leaders, both political and corporate, moving around haughtily, looking at the common man with disdain, I think of the thousand rupee note: The thousand-rupee note stared at me from the gutter, its eyes bleak and bleary, “How could this have happened to me?” it cried,…
Today Darlin’, I Didn’t..!
Many years ago, a friend of mine who was planning to get married sat with me one evening and discussed the kind of wife he would like to have. “She should be a working woman,” he said very definitely. “Why?” I asked, “I’m sure you’re doing well, why do you…
Guns and State Warfare..!
Somewhere in the US, arms manufacturers seemed to be throwing a party. There was the firing of cannon, rifle and pistol shots coming from their estates. The local police were baffled and rode over to see what the commotion was all about, “Good evening,” said the sheriff respectfully as he…
Building Statues, Changing Names..!
Empty bellied Indians, poor and impoverished looked up at the platform, where a pre-election meeting was going to be held. They clutched their caved in stomachs and waited with anticipated breaths as the contestant for their area heaved himself on stage, “Bhaiyo aur Behno!” he said, allowing the words to…
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.