Holding On For Dear Life..!
One of the most horrifying memories of my early working years was travelling in the Mumbai local trains, hanging on to a metal bar with the desperation of a man who had suddenly discovered how much he liked living. If you have never done it, let me explain. You try…
Science, Faith and Language..!
There are times when I wonder how many brilliant minds have been silenced because someone in flowing robes said that science and faith are enemies. I imagine those minds of yore pacing up and down prison floors or waiting for the crackle of flames under their feet, as they were…
Burning Bibles and Crosses..!
Very often we hear the news of some church vandalised, the altar desecrated, pews overturned and maybe Bibles burnt. Immediately there is a hue and a cry and the noise is as if Christ is being crucified again. There is outrage from the pulpit. There are processions on the street….
The Army We Cannot See..!
Just over two years ago I found myself speaking after three very eminent speakers. They had all painted a picture of our nation that made the audience shift uneasily in their seats. Shashi Tharoor had spoken, another respected voice had followed, and both had highlighted the challenges facing India. That…
After the Prodigal Returns..!
We have all heard the story of the Prodigal Son. The one who left home, squandered everything, and came back smelling of pigs and regret. And we love the part where the father runs out to meet him, hugs him, puts a ring on his finger and throws a grand…
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.