Was saddened to hear that ‘Churchgate’, the most recognised railway station in the country, was being renamed. Churchgate, signified many decades ago, the entrance gate to the Fort of Bombay, where a church stood. So, the gate got to be called ‘Churchgate’ and since the station was built down the…
A Simple Valentine Story..!
Chotu, all of thirty- six sat on his verandah on Valentines Day studying Linda Goodman’s Love Signs. He was sure this was the day. He had read enough, studied much and knew for certain the chemical process would work in his favour today. “Chotu you are thirty six years old, we will get you…
Truth and the Dream Machine..!
It was a little boy, living in Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram, which has India’s rocket base who told me he had seen most of the members of a political party climbing into a Time Machine, which would take them back in time. “They said, there was nothing they could do about…
Dispelling Darkness through Light..!
Many decades ago while in my teens I loved taking the double- decker bus from the city, running up the stairs to the upper deck, rushing to the front seat, and enjoying a glorious ride to the suburbs. As night set in, I would put the front glass pane up,…
Use the Book..!
Last week we celebrated the acceptance of the Constitution of India by the people seventy five years ago. It is because of this constitution that no majority can bully a minority, no one religion can be thrust on another, and that citizens have different freedoms! It is a constitution which people fight…
Handle that Fear Head-on..!
“….Always do well what you are afraid to do..” Ralph Waldo Emerson The principal of the college looked at the little girl admiringly, “You failed throughout the year in Hindi and yet you’ve now come first in that same subject, how?” The little girl looked at the principal and…
Longing to Return..!
There was sadness in his eyes as he looked at me, “I long to return to my native place!” he said. I looked at his son with whom he lived, “Let him return!” I said and I saw the old man’s eyes light up. With a heavy heart, his son…
The Budget Make-Up Kit..!
One very common feature at the presentation of the budget is a photo of the finance minister giving final touches to the budget papers. This is something that takes place every year and for the last many years since independence. “As soon as a new finance minister is sworn in…
The Emperor’s New Clothes and Vande Bharat..!
For the last few months I’ve been curious about the many inaugurations by the Prime Minister of the Vande Bharat trains, and decided yesterday I’d travel in one of them from Goa to Mumbai. The train came in late from Mumbai, and so the cleaners made us wait on the…
Enjoy Your Today..!
A friend asked me the other day, whether I miss my youth, or long for times which have passed, and I told him, ‘no’! I have always loved the present, and while thinking about this and also about ageing I put together from different sources some light lines that could…
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.