The headlines screamed that the dollar had breached the ninety-rupee mark! Just a year ago it was around eighty-four rupees to a dollar. Six rupees in a few months. Then my eyes travelled to the next column where the Chief Economic Advisor calmly announced that he was not losing any…
The Redevelopment Dream..!
There is a magical moment in the life of every old housing society when its tired walls suddenly begin to glow like gold. Paint does not do the glowing. Nor does mopping the staircase or replacing the broken tube lights. No, the glow begins when someone whispers the word redevelopment….
Nothing’s Different This Christmas..!
There’s nothing different this Christmas season. Two thousand years ago a baby was born in a stable, wrapped in cloth, placed in a manger. Yet the king trembled. Soldiers were sent out into the night with swords drawn and eyes searching for the child. Babies were slaughtered in Bethlehem because…
Setting Negativity Aside.. !
The Prime Minister spoke a few days ago, standing tall and confident at the start of the winter session, and he asked the opposition to set their negativity aside. It sounded wonderful. It sounded noble. I almost clapped. Almost. Because before anyone can set negativity aside, one must first understand…
The Malabar Parotta..!
Two days ago, my wife and I took a ride on the metro to the city and had our favourite Malabar parottas in a restaurant at Flora Fountain. In the next table a pretty girl, waved her flashy coconut oiled hair, as a guy nearby smiled at her. Since the…
Science, Faith and Language..!
There are times when I wonder how many brilliant minds have been silenced because someone in flowing robes said that science and faith are enemies. I imagine those minds of yore pacing up and down prison floors or waiting for the crackle of flames under their feet, as they were…
Layla the Littlest..!
There is something very special about the littlest one in a family. Today my youngest grandchild Layla celebrates her first birthday, and I can’t help wondering what it means to be the littlest. Is it always an upward journey from here? Will the littlest always be taken lightly, or will…
Welcome Hardships and Challenges..!
How often we long for a life without problems. And what a terrible life that would be in reality. I once read that when people go through depression, psychologists give them activities called problem solving. These tasks may be as simple as untying a knot or solving a small puzzle….
Double-Engined Hypocrisy..!
The last thing I ever want to do is to bring down the name of a film actor who has just passed away. I loved his charisma and admired the powerful screen presence he carried into every role. But admiration does not mean we close our eyes to reality. And…
Start Asking this Question.!
In my soon to be released book Hi Society, which I hope will soon be in your hands, there is a moment that still echoes in my mind. A massive election rally is underway. Loudspeakers scream, banners wave, drums beat with a vengeance, and party workers run around like headless…
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.