At JFK in New York he stood in line like everybody else. Getting into the aircraft, he moved aside to let a lady pass, even giving her a courteous nod. At Paris, he arrived late and found the line to India lengthy, but here, instead of joining the queue he…
Losing Control of Ourselves..!
We hear of accidents happening because a car, bus or truck went out of control right? Maybe brakes failed, or too high a speed or a sudden pothole! But when men and women go out of control, all we can cry out is why? “Why?” we cry out to rape-…
Wearing a Professional Mask..!
There are so many religious leaders today, who have huge followings, but quite often what is missing from their lives and from their teachings is compassion. I have seen religious leaders, so good with their sermons, later going back to their ashrams or offices and shouting and yelling at their…
Horse Trading and Smoke Signals..!
In a little while, as soon as election results are announced, political floor crossing and horse trading will start and I envisioned myself a waiter in one of the resorts that our elected representatives will soon be bundled off to: “It must be quite traumatic for you all?” I asked,…
Panic and Your Golden Calf..!
In those times we panic, how quickly we toss our faith away: “Our little boy’s fever is not coming down!” whispers the terrified mother. “Wait, I’ll be back in a moment,” shouts the father as he runs to the window and tosses his Bible out! Sounds like a joke, isn’t…
The People’s Bullet..!
The nervous politician hastily drew the curtains in his house, and looked out furtively through a small opening in the folds, “What’s happening husband?” asked his troubled wife, running to the window, and nearly drawing the curtains open, “Are there assassins outside? Murderers who want to get your blood?” “Don’t…
Glib Talkers..!
It was at my cousin’s office years ago that I met him. He was, according to my cousin, a star salesman, “Hear him Bob,” said my cousin, “He has the gift of the gab!” Which meant he could talk fast and easily as words came out of his mouth faster…
Put Your Load Down..!
As a little boy, I used to wonder about some tall stone platforms that looked like ancient Druid structures just next to a railway crossing we had to pass, and had asked my dad what they were. “They are platforms built years ago for villagers coming into the city to…
Using Showpieces for Funds..!
She was pathetically thin. The jeans she wore faded, cast offs maybe, the top cheap printed kurta also from an orphanage pool basket. She stood against the other well- dressed children on the stage, a contrast really. She was blind. The spotlight was focused on her, and the audience wiped…
Such Simple Solutions..!
Life’s problems aren’t as complicated as we make them out to be. Most have very simple solutions: A large truck attempting to go through a railway underpass found itself stuck between the road and the girders above. The emergency crew sent out by the truck owners tried without success to…
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.