March 2016
The Mysterious Makeover of Mr Modi, The Telegraph
As Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi was known to run a tight ship. He was in total command of his Cabinet, and interacted regularly with senior civil servants. He had some special areas of [...]
January 2016
Why The Dalai Lama May Be India’s Noblest Resident, Hindustan Times
Unlike the airport in my home town, Bengaluru, or the airports in two cities I visit often, Mumbai and Delhi, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose airport in Kolkata is run not by a private firm [...]
Can Hindu Liberals Criticise Muslim Bigots, The Telegraph
In March 1937, Mahatma Gandhi published an article entitled ‘Need for Tolerance’. This was in response to a letter he had received from a Muslim friend. This man, a liberal and sceptic, wondered why, when [...]
A Slogan With Substance, The Telegraph
Our Prime Minister likes coining slogans and acronyms. There was Swachh Bharat and Make in India, then Beti Padhao Desh Badhao. Now there is Start up India, Stand Up India. The Planning Commission has become [...]
Searching For Saints In Songs And Pictures, Hindustan Times
I have a decent head for names, dates, places, events, but can remember few snatches of poetry. Truth be told, there are only two pieces of verse that I have committed to memory. Both are [...]
December 2015
Why Bengal Is To India What France Is To The World, The Telegraph
In a book published some years ago, the sociologist Rabindra Ray observed that Bengalis were so obsessed with intellecual pursuits that even their swear words reflected this. In other parts of India, the most common [...]