Avay Shukla

These days my reading consists mainly of books with titles like TEN SECRETS OF LIVING TO BE A HUNDRED or SEVEN THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE YOU DIE. There was a time, however, when one read more exciting stuff, most of which have now faded into the mists of forgetfulness. But I do remember one […]

I was privy last week to an extended Whatsapp chat between a serving senior IAS officer (let’s call him K) and a venerable retired colleague about the extra-legal execution of the gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed. K, who otherwise plays the victim card more often than the Prime Minister does, was vehement in his support of the

The Bermuda Triangle is an area over the north-western part of the Atlantic ocean where there have been persistent reports of ships and planes simply disappearing without a trace. The phenomenon has baffled oceanographers and scientists for decades and no plausible explanation has been offered so far by science. Answers range from a magnetic black

There are rare occasions in a country’s history when one event, one freeze-frame moment in time, encapsulates and captures its “weltanschauung” and prevailing state of affairs. Two recent examples in recent times are the protests by women in Iran against the mullahs’ hijab diktat, and the citizens’ movement in Israel for the rolling back of

There are rare occasions in a country’s history when one event, one freeze-frame moment in time, encapsulates and captures its “weltanschauung” and prevailing state of affairs. Two recent examples in recent times are the protests by women in Iran against the mullahs’ hijab diktat, and the citizens’ movement in Israel for the rolling back of

Pardon me if I’m sounding like a latter day Cassandra wrapped in a wet towel, but my heart does not leap up in joy, unlike the poet’s, on learning that both Air-India and Indigo have ordered 500 additional planes each for their fleet. Nor did said heart do a backflip when the Civil Aviation Minister

William Shakespeare (aka William Sexpeare in Waste Bengal) had got most things right, especially when it came to portraying the seven deadly sins, as per their revised version in India’s Amritkaal. Whether it was “honour killing” in Othello or “love jihad” (by Romeo, naturally, trying to entice a Capulet to become a Montague) in Romeo

I have no hesitation in confessing that I’m a very confused man these days. It has nothing to do with Mr. Amit Shah’s suggestion of a “middle path” for the BJP and the Opposition to engage in a dialogue, which is perplexing enough. For Mr. Shah’s middle path is not the one propounded by the

In my house in a village above Shimla I am treated to an orchestral performance every evening when it rains. The musicians are a myriad of cicadas who have taken up residence in the lush greenery all around. It is a very choreographed show: first the lead cicada starts clicking his tymbals, a rasping sound,