New Delhi, July 5 -- My friend N turned out to be a mango smuggler. His family owned a mango orchard in Tamil Nadu. The Imam Pasand mangoes from that orchard were the stuff of family legend. But N ra... Read More
New Delhi, June 21 -- With age, my mother slowly started to lose her hearing. A few weeks before she died, she suddenly started hearing songs. Entire songs. "Can't you hear them?" she asked us perpl... Read More
New Delhi, June 6 -- After a great-aunt died, my mother read a little tribute I wrote for her and said wistfully, "You're the writer in the family. Perhaps you'll write something like that for me afte... Read More
New Delhi, May 18 -- As an offer it sounded almost too good to be true. Last month I got a message that said the upcoming issue of De Mode magazine wanted to feature my book in The 10 Best Books of t... Read More
New Delhi, May 3 -- As a child I visited Kashmir on a family vacation. I remember that trip well, the line of houseboats on Dal Lake, a thrilling cable car ride in Gulmarg, the pine trees and green m... Read More
New Delhi, April 20 -- Last week I was looking for fresh peas in my market in Kolkata. "Peas now?" the vegetable seller asked me with a look of surprise. "Peas are gone. It's time for potol (parwal) ... Read More