It was not joyful drumbeats and rhythmic cymbals at the wedding in Alappuzha district in Kerala, no, t’was the sound of huge cooking vessels, dishes, water kettles and serving spoons being brandished and hurled in the battle for the extra pappadam! And at a celebration, generally one of happiness and…
Take Your Eyes Off the Old..!
Leaving your comfort zone is very difficult and sometimes painful. In my book, DARE, I have a chapter, “Dare to leave your comfort zone” but today I’m not going to quote from my book, but from a story, possibly a true one, written by Katherina Seidler: ‘The waves were rhythmically…
Everyone Has A Price..!
A few years ago an acquaintance of mine called me and talked about some work he wanted done with a religious organization, “ Is it all above board?” I asked suspiciously. “Maybe a few things are a little irregular here and there,” he admitted, “but then a little greasing of…
Your Little Girl..!
Very often I sit at home and watch a good Hindi movie. I find nothing has changed in the past few decades; in all the movies the father may be a strict man, maybe a shrewd businessman, maybe hard hearted and tight fisted, but nearly always spoils his daughter. However…
What’s Easy, What’s Difficult..!
How often we pray for an easy path, an easy life without problems and worries, but have we ever thought that so many of the difficult things we go through are what puts spice into our earthly lives? That what we consider difficult is meaningful? That what is difficult is…
Sitting at the Head Table..!
‘But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and…
A Nation that Needs Healing..!
Nelson Mandela taught the world a huge lesson on forgiveness when, emerging from prison after twenty- seven years and being elected president of South Africa, he asked his jailor to join him on the inauguration platform. He then asked Archbishop Desmond Tutu to head an official government panel, with a…
Human Error..!
Indian cricket, I had heard a few years ago, was against modern technology that would reduce human error when it comes to umpiring decisions! Howzat! They would prefer the men in white coats to remain on the field. They would prefer to see his spiraling finger declaring them out or…
Too Short or Too Fat..!
Quite often at different gatherings I meet people who tell me, “If I wasn’t sickly, I would have done well in life!” Or it could be, “I wish I was beautiful then I would have succeeded in whatever I put my hands to!” Or, “Do you know what it is…
When It Is My Own Car..!
Many decades ago my father, a businessman, decided to start exporting handicrafts to the USA. He went to the emporiums and shops which had the items, found out who the people were who were making it, and sent samples to the States. He was soon flooded with orders and asked…
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.