There is a magical moment in the life of every old housing society, especially in cities, when tired walls suddenly begin to glow like gold. Paint does not do the glowing. Nor does mopping the staircase or repl
Friday, 5th December, 2025
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Bob’s Banter
The Prime Minister spoke a few days ago, standing tall and confident at the start of the winter session, and he asked the opposition to set their negativity aside.It sounded wonderful. It sounded noble.I almost
Two days ago, my wife and I took a ride on the metro to the city and had our favourite Malabar parottas in a restaurant at Flora Fountain. In the next table a pretty girl, waved her flashy coconut oiled hair, a-
How often we long for a life without problems.And what a terrible life that would be in reality. I once read that when people go through depression, psychologists give them activities called problem solving. Th
The last thing I ever want to do is to bring down the name of a film actor who has just passed away. I loved his charisma and admired the powerful screen presence he carried into every role. But admiration does
In my soon to be released book Hi Society, which I hope will soon be in your hands, there is a moment that still echoes in my mind. A massive election rally is underway. Loudspeakers scream, banners wave, drums-
Somewhere in the nineties I bought what I believed was the most elegant machine on the Indian road. It was the Tata Estate and I must say that vehicle looked like a dream. It stood outside my house like royalty
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At a Sotheby’s auction in New York, a golden commode was sold for twelve point one million dollars. Yes, you read that right. Not a diamond. Not a painting. Not even a sculpture made by a genius who starved f
When Ashton, my grandson pointed out the empty bench near the Poconos mountains, I could not help wondering about the countless stories it must have held. And today I decided I would tell the twins just one. No-
There is something amusing about how we view the one who sits a little higher than us.We look at the boss in a cool cabin, or the owner in a comfortable car, and feel that life has dealt them a sweeter hand. Ma
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In my very fertile imagination, I can see it as clearly as if I were sitting in the room myself; a grand hall somewhere in the capital. The opposition parties have gathered once again after yet another round of
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Had dinner with a retired government deputy secretary last night and as we spoke about his years in service, I decided to ask him a question that many powerful people quietly dread. I leaned forward and asked h
It was the most disturbed sleep he had ever had. He tossed and turned as though on a small boat battling angry waves. He felt the vessel shudder beneath him, ready to sink at any moment. The wind howled through
There are two kinds of people who can make or break your creative spirit. The first is the editor who thinks he is a writer because he knows grammar. The second is the piano player who believes he or she is a s
When I heard a few months ago that Pakistan had promoted its army chief to Field Marshal, I could not help but laugh. Not because of any sense of humour the situation carried, but because it reminded me of a pu-
Every morning while in New York I had to walk past the mayor's lovely villa, to get to the riverfront in Manhattan to do my morning walk, and today, as I read about young Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York
Whenever someone talks about their articles being rejected by newspapers or magazines, I tell them that I call this a God given time, the time to prepare for bigger opportunities. I have lived long enough to kn
Again and again, I hear the term “jungle raj” being tossed about like a rotten tomato at a fair, hurled by those in power at the previous rulers of Bihar. Apparently, during Lalu’s time, it was jungle raj-
It happens again. People gather to celebrate, to pray, to watch, or to cheer, and before the sun sets, screams fill the air, sandals lie scattered, and bodies are heaped together. Another stampede.Another trage
My wife gifted me a harmonica for my birthday. Not because she thought I needed a new hobby, but because she had not heard me play for a long time. I had a few harmonicas already, but they had been lent out to
