Had dinner with a top corporate leader of a multinational company in New York last night, and during our conversation I asked him a question that I thought would make me feel proud. “Why are you not investing in India?” I asked. I expected him to look embarrassed and admit…
Don’t Pull Down the Props..!
As a youngster, I loved wandering into religious groups and debating with their leaders. I was not always searching for truth. Quite often, I was searching for an audience. One day, after I had delivered what I considered a brilliant argument against some religious belief, a boy older than me…
New York and the RSS Chief…!
I am in New York at the moment, and so is RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Mr Bhagwat stood before an American audience and spoke beautifully about unity through diversity. He declared that different religions may follow different paths, but humanity remains one. He said diversity must be accepted, respected and…
The British Are Coming Back..!
“The British are coming back! The British are coming back!” The frightened cry travels through villages, election meetings and television studios. “Where are they?” asks an alarmed citizen. “Have their ships entered Mumbai harbour?” “No!” “Have British soldiers landed?” “No!” “Has the Queen returned?” “She is dead.” “Then who is…
Nepal Floods, A Warning…!
The mountains of Nepal have always looked invincible. They rise into the heavens with snow covered heads, staring down at humanity as if reminding us how small we are. Yet, within moments, water came thundering down those mighty slopes, sweeping away villages, roads, bridges, possessions and precious lives. As I…
The God They Cannot Contain..!
Why should anybody be frightened of Christians? We are barely 2.3 percent of India’s population. We do not have the numbers to dominate elections. We do not have armies marching behind us. Most of our institutions are schools, hospitals, homes for the aged and centres caring for those whom society…
A Prize for Gandhiji, but No Place for Him..!
As I travel all over the world, something that those abroad associate me an Indian with, is with peace and Gandhiji. It’s certainly a wonderful association, but I wonder whether the people at home are bent on destroying that image: “Sir, we are giving away the Gandhi Peace Prize!” say…
The Star Who Kept Looking Up..!
Dolly Parton died yesterday at the age of eighty, and I imagine heaven had a small problem receiving her. “Name?” asked the angel at the gate. “Dolly Parton.” “Occupation?” “I sang a little.” “A little?” asked the angel, looking through a very large heavenly file. “You sold more than a…
Taking the Mountains Home..!
“Your suitcase is overweight,” said my wife as we prepared to leave the Poconos. “Impossible,” I said. “I have hardly bought anything.” She looked at the gifts, books, clothes and assorted objects that had mysteriously multiplied during our holiday. “You have packed half of America,” she said. I opened the…
First Teach Potholes Marathi..!
“Bandra,” I told the auto driver. He looked at me suspiciously. “Bandra?” he repeated. “Yes, Bandra.” “East or West?” “West.” And with that, our highly complicated linguistic exchange was successfully completed. No interpreter was summoned. No dictionary was opened. No government officer stood between us translating my desperate request into…
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.