In a little village somewhere in the country, the village headman and the assistant headman listened to the huge commotion outside their hut, “The people are angry,” whispered the assistant headman, “They want milk powder for their sickness!” “But I gave them one spoon of milk powder!” said the headman….
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.
Shut Up, When Others Grieve..!
The other day I called someone who had lost her husband. After a while I held the phone in silence and let her cry. One of the silliest things I have seen at a funeral is someone going across to the bereaved party, holding his or her hand and telling…
Cheap Car, Cheap Vaccine..!
In our country we love to pay little and get much. The mechanic who repairs my car knows this and was at my house this morning and led me to his own garage: “I have made the cheapest car in the world!” he said proudly. “No, no,” I told him…
Pointing Beauty to a Despairing World..!
Even as musicians carefully wrap their instruments in satin felt, and place them inside cases, I urge them to bring them out. In a despairing world, it is art and creativity that shows beauty that will soon be here again, loveliness, that will bring hope into a despairing world. There…
Right Connections..!
In our great country not many awards are won through merit or hard work, most are won through right connections! The stationmaster of the local suburban station came and stood by me, leaving his office in the capable hands of his assistant, “ There’s an award for the best kept…
Jes’ Keep Playin’..!
Players win, players lose, players prepare, players practise, players get hurt but players get up. No matter what the outcome is, players keep playin’!. After years of hard work, Thomas Carlyl finished the manuscript of his book and gave it to a friend to read. The friend’s housekeeper mistook the…
If Jesus Had a Cellphone..!
And in my mind’s eye, I picture scores of angels, running to Jesus with cellphones in their hands, “Lord!” says an old angel, impatience clearly in his voice, “Shall I tell her you’re busy, talking to a million and more?” “Who’s it?” asks the Lord, even as He continues conversing…
Amazing Spectacles..!
If I’ve started writing late today, it’s because I spent the last hour or two, searching for my writing glasses. Now there’s something about searching for them; you need another pair to search for this pair, and somehow or other, the spare pair which I keep handy for such occasions,…
Green Grass on the Other Side..!
They were quiet as they came back from their neighbour’s house with their little one fast asleep on his father’s shoulder; they’d gone over for dinner, and the husband had noticed his wife growing quiet as the evening progressed, “What’s the problem?” he asked her as they let themselves into…
The ‘Inner Shut Up’ Mechanism..!
Was leisurely walking behind a group of golfers on a golf course, when I heard a putter shout, “Shut Up!” I stopped startled, as startled and surprised as the others were. After all you don’t hear, such exclamations coming in the playing of such dignified a game do you? Maybe…
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.