Now that the monsoons are fast approaching, our authorities have suddenly discovered trees. All year they pass them without emotion. The trees stand there quietly, giving shade, oxygen and free beauty to people who otherwise have to stare at traffic jams and political banners. Nobody notices them. But the moment…
Enquiry into Demographic Changes..!
The government has now announced a high-level committee to scientifically examine demographic changes in the country. The committee is headed by a retired judge, which means somewhere in Delhi, a gentleman who was probably hoping for peaceful mornings with tea and crossword puzzles is now preparing to investigate who moved…
Fuel Hike Solutions..!
Fuel prices are rising so often nowadays that I no longer look at the petrol pump display. I turn my face away respectfully, the way middle class Indians avoid eye contact with hospital bills, school fees, or wedding caterers. The other morning my driver arrived looking unusually cheerful. This itself…
See You Soon..!
I nearly laughed out loud, when I saw headlines screaming that the American Secretary of State had warmly invited our Prime Minister to the US, for another meeting in the “near future.” The way some television anchors announced it, I thought perhaps the entire White House staff had got onto…
The Gift of Being Discerning…!
One of the strangest things about human beings is that we can detect the smell of burnt toast from three rooms away, but cannot detect an obvious lie sitting right in front of us wearing a suit and tie. “Use discernment!” people say, and immediately somebody imagines a suspicious old…
Prayer and Its Aftereffects…!
There is something about prayer we do not fully understand when we begin praying seriously. We imagine prayer is placing an order before God, and then waiting for delivery. Preferably same day delivery. With tracking number. And if possible, gift wrapped. But prayer does not work that way. The Bible…
Don’t Mess with Cockroaches..!
There was a time when the ruling politicians frightened people with enemies across the border. Then they frightened us with enemies next door. Then with enemies from another religion. Then with enemies from another caste. After that they looked around desperately and probably even suspected the neighbour’s Labrador retriever of…
Thinking, Writing and Speaking..!
Very often people come to me and say, “Bob, I can write very well!” I nod respectfully, because one must encourage confidence in people. Then I ask to see what they have written. Most times, what I see is not writing. It is typing with excellent grammar. Now don’t get…
We, A Gullible People..!
We are a gullible people, aren’t we? Not because we are unintelligent. Far from it. Indians can run global companies, head international banks, become scientists, doctors, engineers and professors all over the world. But strangely, when it comes to politics and public life, we often become willing victims of bluff….
A Teleprompter That Answers Questions…!
There was a time when leaders loved press conferences. They stood proudly behind microphones, smiled confidently at reporters and answered questions with the enthusiasm of students who had actually studied for the exam. Today, press conferences have become like surprise dental appointments. Nobody wants to attend them. Which brings me…
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.