War is that strange human hobby in which we destroy everything we have built, and then hold conferences to discuss reconstruction. It begins with speeches. It always begins with speeches. Leaders stand tall, chests expanded like overinflated tyres, voices trembling with patriotic passion. Words like honour, security, destiny and sovereignty…


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.