India, Dec. 27 -- Last week, I attended the first Nalanda Literature Festival at Rajgir, which is close to Nalanda, in Bihar. It is a commendable initiative, and Ganga Kumar, its prime mover, deserves... Read More
India, Dec. 21 -- Those who live in Lutyens' Delhi consider themselves privileged, and in many respects they are-wide, tree-lined roads, better-assured amenities, low population density and an enviabl... Read More
India, Dec. 14 -- Is there something in the Indian DNA that predisposes us to break the law-or at least to bend it whenever possible? At first glance, the chaotic swirl of daily life in India seems to... Read More
India, Dec. 7 -- One of the most brilliant sections of the Mahabharata is the Yaksha Prashna, where the mythical Yaksha asks a series of profound questions to Yudhishthira on life. His answers are equ... Read More
India, Nov. 30 -- While this is perhaps a universal phenomenon, Indians, I suspect more than anybody else, revel in the paraphernalia of power. In my book, Being Indian (2004), the chapter on power be... Read More
India, Nov. 29 -- While this is perhaps a universal phenomenon, Indians, I suspect - more than anybody else - revel in the paraphernalia of power. In my book, Being Indian (2004), the chapter on power... Read More
India, Nov. 22 -- Many years ago, I wrote The Havelis of Old Delhi to document what remained of these iconic structures. The book documented a sad chronicle: neglect, colonial amnesia, and administrat... Read More
India, Nov. 16 -- Recent rumours of cine star Dharmendra's death ahead of his 90th birthday were put to rest by his wife Hema Malini, who confirmed that he is very much alive and recuperating at home ... Read More
India, Nov. 9 -- There is a moment, somewhere between the retreat of Diwali celebrations and the arrival of Lohri's bonfires, when Delhi changes its temperament. The debilitating pollution dispels, th... Read More
India, Oct. 26 -- Why do most Indians retain hope even in the midst of pervasive poverty and deprivation? Does religion or philosophy have something to do with it? After all, Indians love their spirit... Read More