As fair play evolved and even warfare rules changed from barbaric methods to slightly more civilized ways, certain unsporting practices were frowned on, and finally declared as foul. In sports, one of them, was hitting below the waist, or in boxing lingo, ‘below the belt!’ The term, moved from just…
War on the Cricket Field..!
And as cricket our passionate, frenzied, national sport starts, I know soon there will be an Indo-Pak match to get all our Covid frustration anger out. To most fans, spectators and their countrymen, an Indo-Pak cricket game is like a war on the field. It’s not a cricket bat and…
Breath Of God..!
It was my friend Shree who sent me this wonderful story, and I thank him for doing so. A few years ago in downtown Denver, my friend, Scott, and I saw something tiny and insignificant that changed the world, but no one else even seemed to notice. It was one…
Building Crash and No Room..!
And as I heard about the building collapse in Mumbai, with sixteen dead and counting, and other concrete structures crumbling during the rains, I hear knowing voices asking, “Why do they stay in such buildings after being told it’s unsafe?” And my pen moves, sadly… “You’ll have to move out,…
It’s All In The Eggs You Didn’t Burn..!
The fight had started the night before, and now the next morning, like two animals wary of each other, they went about their morning chores. It had started at a friend’s place, a party………. “You drink too much,” she had said. “Just two,” he had replied, winking at his friend….
Swimming Pool in a Church..!
The busy architect picked up his ringing phone, ““Yes Father?” he asked, “What can I do for you?” “I am in a fix,” said the worried voice of the priest. “Why? Has your church collapsed? Is the roof leaking? Are the walls crumbling?” “No, no, no,” said the priest, “the…
Mission Accomplished Sir…!
And as I hear about our brave soldiers fighting for the country in the cold heights against a brutal Chinese army, I am reminded of a young Indian army officer serving in the dangerous Jammu and Kashmir region who received information that terrorists were firing indiscriminately onto the public at…
Walking On The Inner Side..!
One very frightening sight on our roads is to see grown- ups walking with their children on the outer side. The little child tugs and pulls and skips and hops and sometimes even breaks loose from his or her father’s or mother’s hand and that could spell disaster as the…
Both Oars In The Water..!
The other day there was a friendly debate on a WhatsApp group about building a successful enterprise, where one of us talked about faith and the other that hard work was all that was needed, and finally a third joined in who agreed that hard work was needed in any…
Changing my Watchman..!
The watchman outside my gate was fast asleep. He was old, and wanting to return to his village, “We need to change the watchman!” I said as I glanced wearily from my window at his sleeping form. “What?” shouted the wife, jumping out of bed and staring at me with…
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.