It’s impossible to get 10 IAS officers to agree on anything except the virtues of the Apex scale, which is why any contentious matter is passed on to a committee of such officers, to bury it for all time. But there is one thing they will agree on: ask them which was the most memorable […]
OF PROBATIONERS, PATWARIS AND PROPHETS. Read More »
I am at a loss these days to decide whether to vote for the Congress, or to vote directly for the BJP. I don’t like middle men. Why should I vote and help a Congress candidate win, only for that candidate to be “bought” in a matter of months by the BJP? Isn’t it a
Election Reflections in a Lighter Vein Read More »
RELIGION IS A PUBLIC BUS: USE IT TO TRAVEL TO THE TRUTH, DON\’T MAKE IT AN IDOL THAT CONTROLS YOUR LIFE Christopher Hitchens, the late atheist author, intellectual, polemicist, and socio-political critic, might have unwittingly but aptly described India’s hapless voters and politicians. Hitchens noted, “Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide
The times they are a-changing – no one makes New Year resolutions any more, except perhaps Mr. Amit Shah and Mr. Adani. The former naturally resolves to fell a couple more Opposition governments in the states, and the latter to double his income yet again in twelve months. They are becoming so predictable I wish
A New Year Resolution – Do not let the book store die Read More »
It is a man from that eastern extreme of our country who is the subject of this biography. His story is outstanding evidence, if any is needed, that India has a talent for ignoring its best sons and daughters. How can it be that such incredible achievements as those of Shri Toy remain unknown, unrecognised
Biography of Shri I. Lanu Toy, “TSÜNGCHI SAMANIR KA” by Repalemzüng Longkümer’s Read More »
In Singing Gandhi’s India, historian Lakshmi Subramanian examines Gandhi’s relationship with music through his letters, significant events and other documents. Leaning on bhajans Subramanian begins by introducing the reader to the early nationalisation project aimed at collating and creating a new ‘classical’ tradition of Indian music: Hindustani classical in the north and Carnatic in the south.
Basav Biradar’s review: “Singing Gandhi’s India: Music and Sonic Nationalism” Read More »
In times of stress, it relaxes the muscles and de-clutters the mind to look elsewhere. So, Hamlet comes to mind. His soliloquy, ‘To be, nor not to be…’ haunts me these days. When anything haunts you, the best you can do for yourself is to modify it. That is the academic’s version of exorcism. I
To Laugh, or to Cry; That’s the question? Read More »
I bought my first car in 1982, a second-hand FIAT, for Rs. 32,000/. It was easy buying a car then: there were no NPAs, and you didn’t have to do multiple KYCs or reveal all the secrets of your life in order to get a loan, which is pretty much the SOP today. Assessing the
A New Tool-Kit for your Car. Read More »
While most people are right now thinking of Pratap Bhanu Mehta, I am thinking of two of my fellow Stephanians: Sanjeev Bikhchandani and Harsh Mander. Let me briefly explain why. I know how much of himself, together with his associates, Sanjeev invested into founding the Ashoka University. Whenever he referred to the institution in the
It’s Sanjeev Bikhchandani, I’m thinking of these days. Read More »
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