Leaders across the world have a choice when they come to power, whether to burn bridges or build ones! They watch two communities sparring with each other all the time, and instead of wading in the waters and building a bridge, they decide to further increase the conflict, escalate the…
A Heart On Fire..!
I looked at a motley lot of people who had come to me to learn the art of public speaking. As I began the talk my heart sank; they looked anything but people who would one day get up and wax eloquent. There was a shy school girl who couldn’t…
Bollywood On A Bloodied Chessboard..!
There’s a giant chessboard set up in the city of Mumbai, with only two pawns, both Bollywood actresses scrambling all over it’s surface, even as the two players, one a Central Giant and the other a State Tiger play their moves! Over a billion spectators, tired of listening to only…
Face The Enemy..!
As India and China slowly start recognizing each other as enemies, I think of another enemy. “I’ll have another drink,” he told the waiter. “It’s your fourth,” I said. “So you’re good at counting,” he acknowledged. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” “I know when to stop,” he said, glaring…
Respecting Those Working from Home..!
“You are so lucky Bob!” is something I hear ever so often from friends and relatives, who know I spend the day writing from home, “You can be so flexible with your time!” “No, I can’t!” I’ve been saying for years. “Why not?” they ask. “Because there’s more discipline you…
Lockdown’s Like a Butterfly’s Cocoon..!
How we would like to get out of bed every morning, knowing there was no problem to face, right? Wrong! If that’s what your thoughts are, because those same challenges make the difference between you flying high, and you crawling low! I’m going to use an old example, bear with…
Bachchan’s Bouquet for his Teacher..!
Abhishek Bachchan visited his old school a few years ago. I believe that like a little excited schoolboy he went from class to class, explored every nook and cranny of his former alma mater, smiled at all the present students, and good morning ma’med every teacher he met. While he…
A Prison Story..!
For many years I was part of the Prison Ministry, working with prisoners in jails across the state. A story I used to frequently tell those in jail, was of the prodigal son: A certain man had two sons. When the younger told his father, “I want my share of…
The Election Vaccine..!
In a huge white house somewhere in Washington, a lady walked slowly from room to room, staring sadly at each piece of historical furniture, “Whatcha doing?” asked her husband. “Am gonna miss them table and chairs!” she said sadly, “I feel wretched leaving them!” “Who says, we’re leaving them?” asked…
Bare Necessities..!
I love Jungle Book, especially Balu the bear and his antics. What I love most is the song he sings to little Mowgli: “Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget your worries and your strife I mean the bare necessities Old Mother Nature recipes That bring the…
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.