A few years ago, I had the privilege of being the MC for the annual Navy Week in Mumbai, and later it was on the lawns of Navy House, I was introduced to the Vice Admiral. “Thank you for your wonderful emceeing you did, and also for the piece you…
Politicians: The Best of The Worst..!
As our newspapers are filled with more and more politicians waiting to be heard, here are a few witty words on politics and the politician: Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other….
Faith, Family and Fearlessness..!
Nearly a decade ago, my dear friend, Father Lancy Pinto fr om St Xavier’s, allowed me to interview his mother who was turning hundred, and today I thought it would be helpful to all of us, recalling the moments I spent with her: I remember the day when Lucy Pinto…
Cutting Off Tongues..!
I looked at the banners I was making: We want Freedom of speech! We want Freedom to Speak! We want Freedom of Expression! All banners for the next march, morcha or protest against the government. Then I heard a sound and from across my room heard muffled sobs and saw…
Looking At Old Photos.!
We all love looking at old photos don’t we? We show our set of old snaps to all and sundry, maybe trying to tell people we were once young and innocent and good looking! The worst is when someone looks at an old pic of you and says, “You looked…
Senior Citizens Are Not Senior Enough..!
Very often nowadays I hear people I know quite well, exclaiming they are senior citizens. It’s as if they have suddenly come to a chasm, jumped the other side, and are qualified to call themselves so. I hear it so often, it has begun to quite amuse me, especially the…
Experience Silence and Feel Alive..!
The other day when I went onto the treadmill, I was asked why I didn’t play music while exercising and realized quite often I prefer silence! The world today hates silence: In fact, I’m beginning to think, people are scared of silence. There was a time I traveled by the…
Living On A Lie..!
As I saw pictures of the nineteen floor illegal buildings in Cochin being brought down after the Supreme Court ordered it, and saw other illegal villas in Alibagh being torn down by the government, I thought of children who know that their parents have usurped land that does not belong…
How Do You Walk?
An old priest once stopped me and said, “I would love to meet your dad!” “Why?” I asked laughing, “I hope you don’t want to complain to him about me?” He smiled, “No Bob, I’ve seen the way you and your brother walk, and am sure you both got your…
Namaste..!
This morning I watched him wish me with a Namaste! I have always been fascinated by this simple greeting, but today looked closer and found it very touching. There was something warm and meaningful in his gesture. He was actually touching his heart with the end of his folded hands….
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.