A very close friend messaged me yesterday after reading my column. “Bob,” he said, “your solutions to problems sound like impossible dreams. You paint pictures of a world that can never exist.” Then, in good natured humour, he compared me to the famous dreamer, Don Quixote. Most of us remember…
NEET Justice and Our Mercy..!
The pictures were heartbreaking. Young boys and girls stood outside NEET examination centres with tears streaming down their faces. Some stared helplessly at closed gates. Others pleaded with folded hands. Parents looked equally shattered. Years of preparation, sleepless nights, coaching classes, sacrifices, and dreams seemed to vanish in a few…
His Motivational Speaker…!
The fellow swept into the hotel lobby looking as though he had just bought the place. Immaculate designer suit. Gold watch the size of a wall clock. Shoes polished so brightly I could almost see my future in them. Behind him trailed two assistants carrying his laptop, projector and what…
Which Party Am I in Today?
Don’t be surprised if this is a scene you soon witness somewhere in our country. A huge political rally is in progress. Loudspeakers are blaring, party workers are waving flags with religious devotion, television cameras are focused on the stage, and thousands wait for the newest political convert to address…
Just Walk..!
The disciples were battling a storm on the Sea of Galilee when they saw a figure walking towards them on the water. Terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. Then came the reassuring voice of Jesus. “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter, never one to…
Collateral Damage..!
This morning I witnessed a uniquely Indian engineering philosophy. It is called, “If something else breaks while doing the job, that is somebody else’s problem.” The tree cutters arrived to remove a dried junglee neem tree behind my house. I watched them with interest, expecting chainsaws, careful measurements, helmets and…
Arresting the Rogue Captains..!
Every few months we are treated to the same political circus. A party wins an election. Voters celebrate. Defeated parties lick their wounds. Commentators analyse the verdict. Then, just when everyone thinks the story is over, the real entertainment begins. MLAs and MPs suddenly develop what can only be described…
Hanging Photos and Broken Statues..!
Government offices in one western state in our country have reportedly been instructed to display photographs not only of the Chief Minister but also of his two deputies. I immediately felt sorry for the poor government officer. Where, I wondered, will he put the photograph of his wife and children?…
Air India Building and Government Babus..!
There are some views in Mumbai that should come with an entrance fee. Marine Drive at sunset. The Gateway standing proudly against the sea. And the magnificent view from the iconic Air India building. You stand there, look out over the Arabian Sea, and immediately feel capable of earning another…
Storytelling Competition..!
There is a storytelling competition going on across the world. Not in schools. Not in literary festivals. Not even in bookstores. This one is far more exciting. Because, the prize is total destruction. The contestants are not authors like me, sitting at desks with cups of coffee beside them. They…
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.