Just read the news that a businessman lost fifty-eight crores through a clever “digital arrest.” Fifty-eight crores! But before we rush to blame the scamsters, maybe we should look at the man in the mirror, because only those with guilty consciences fall for people pretending to be the law. A…
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.
Facing Your Little Goliaths..!
In Chicago last month, I spent a lot of time with little Emory, my granddaughter. Every morning, before breakfast, she would climb onto my lap, point to my iPad, and insist, “Goliath!” That was her favourite video, the story of David and Goliath. And so, every day, there we were,…
Trump, Peace and Us..!
There are many who have misgivings about Donald Trump, his hair, his handshakes, his habit of speaking louder than the microphone, and his tweets that could give missile launches a run for their speed. But today, as I watched scenes of hostages returning to their homes, families breaking down in…
Clean Up! Clean Up..!
Every evening, as the sun used to dip and the day sighed its last breath, I used to hear little voices singing in chorus at my daughters’ homes: “Clean up! Clean up! Everybody, everywhere!”It’s a charming scene — toys being gathered, books stacked, dolls gently tucked back into boxes. Tiny…
Taliban as a Friend..!
Now we have a new friend. The Taliban! Yes, the same Taliban once described in international forums as terrorists, medieval-minded extremists, and enemies of women’s rights. Suddenly, they’re on our guest list, sipping tea, holding press conferences (without inviting women, of course), and flashing diplomatic smiles—is it because we want…
Tear Your Clothes..!
Tear your clothes today — not in anger, not in fashion, but in shame. Yes, tear them, because what we see unfolding around us is not persecution from outside the Church, but corruption within it. I am not speaking now about the “Guruji” of Delhi who violated the sanctity of…
My Proud Index Finger..!
Suddenly my very humble index finger has started getting proud. All these years, it’s been an obedient little fellow — pointing out directions, poking elevator buttons, stirring sugar into tea, and occasionally wagging at my dog when he chewed my slippers. But this week, with the Bihar and Mumbai municipal…
Death in the Skies..!
It was with deep sadness I read of the death of an aged Indian cardiologist while flying on Qatar Airways. A man who had spent his life saving hearts, lost his own somewhere in the sky. The reason? A meal mix-up. He had pre-ordered a vegetarian meal — something most…
Balance Your Work and Fun..!
What I love seeing in the U.S. is the Friday afternoon traffic. No, not the angry honking, or the rush-hour jams we see here—but a parade of joy! Cars streaming out of town with bicycles hanging on their backs, boats being towed behind, and inside each vehicle, laughter bubbling like…
I Take the Blame..!
Today, the Prime Minister lands in Navi Mumbai to inaugurate a gleaming new international airport. Cameras click, drones hum, and television anchors shout themselves hoarse describing how “under his leadership” a dream has taken flight. Later in the day, he descends into the city to inaugurate the new underground metro…
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.