Even as I’m thrilled that Tata’s has bought Air-India, I remember the service I received on the few occasions I flew business class, “Yes sir! Please sir! What can I do for you sir!” “Will you have lobster for lunch sir, or caviar sir?” “Some champagne to go with your…
From A New York Window..!
God willing, Christmas will be with my daughter in New York, which brings back memories of spending many mornings peering out of her Manhattan window. I remember my thoughts, the last time: Armed with a hot cup of coffee and inherent curiosity I love spending time, looking out of my…
The Strong Arm of Peace..!
China has been warning world leaders and politicians against meeting the Dalai Lama, saying it would be perceived as a ‘major offence’! I smile every time I hear this: I’d seen the Dalai Lama many years ago; a man whose very personality exuded such peace and tranquility, one came away…
He Fell and Found A Name..!
He fell! The pavement had been unkind to him, he hadn’t seen the sharp stone sticking out, uneven, arrogant, catching his worn out, treadles soles and throwing him forward with a lurch. He lay quietly on the ground, waiting for arms he knew would come to help him up, but…
Please Take Me Back..!
A team invited me to visit a prison in Mumbai. What I saw that day as I sat with the prisoners was a sense of sadness. I had expected tough gangsters to be strutting around ready to pounce on me and hold me hostage, but instead, all over were men…
Good Enough To Vote, but..!
As state governments in India pass laws on religious conversion, and political leaders create disharmony by talking about allurement and inducement in changing religions, a poor man who had converted from the religion of his forefathers to that of a so called foreign god, stood in front of a judge…
Your Situation Will Change..!
Times will change my friend, and thoughts expressed here today are written for you and you alone. Whatever you are going through now, that situation will change!” These are words of comfort I need to share. Four words, you should engrave upon mind and soul and never, ever forget. Whatever,…
There’s Gold At Your Feet..!
My father was a good, honest man with brilliant plans and ideas, but a poor businessman. Maybe there are some people who shouldn’t get into business, and he was one of them, but he always felt it was the city he was doing business in that had to blame for…
Be A Window Opener-Wallah..!
“Window Opener-Wallah?” you shout across to me, “What exactly do you mean?” “Ah well,” I say, “What happens when you open your windows in the morning after getting up from bed?” “I let the sunshine in!” you say, looking at me hesitantly. “Right! In one movement of the opening, you…
Walk Home and Think..!
As I see people talking about ‘targeting a youngster’ and ‘vindictive government’ I wonder who takes the blame when a boy or girl, maybe a young man or woman, does something wrong? Something, that saddens me often are parents not taking the blame for the deeds of their children. My…
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.