Having lived in Delhi since 1958, I have watched with increasing dismay and despondency, the growth and proliferation of not just cars but also a new species of drivers, the government drivers. These are persons who drive vehicles owned or rented by the government. They have multiplied like rabbits and pose the same level of
Even at the ripe old age of 75 amongst the many things I don’t understand is the idea of brands. Until the 1960s a brand simply meant the maker of the product. Atlas Cycles. Sunlight Soap. Usha Sewing Machine. And so on. These were just names of products, nothing more. Then in the 1970s a
Last December, as part of our annual cleanup of various things in the house, usually not my thing though, I was instructed by my wife to give away a few of my books because they were now piling up on the floor. How many, I asked. Start with the memoirs, she said. I know why,
Most people drink slowly and read quickly. I am the opposite. I savour the writing and gulp the toddy. As the saying goes, it’s all a matter of taste. And, of course, the two should be done independently, preferably drink in the afternoon and read at night. What else is old age and retirement for?
Looking beyond ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’, particularly with regards to written texts. Where’s it coming from? What is it saying? Before
May we celebrate the 100th article for Wordsworld — strange but true! — with one of my all-time favourite authors?
Read about them in two books that introduce us to persons swept behind personas of history textbooks. Living, loving, breathing,
Integrity and objectivity appear to be deserting the media, but there is hope yet. Some fifty years ago, an Indian
Some scary portraits from real life, a request to bookstores, and looking forward to a new year of great books.
I can’t breathe.” The words may come out jerkily and be accompanied by a paroxysmal cough, followed by a whistling sound. The nostrils may flare due to air hunger. In children, rib retractions may be clearly visible. These symptoms are typical of bronchial asthma. The severity can vary from a
As many as 0.5–1 per cent of middle-aged men wake up in the middle of the night with agonising pain in the big toe, ankle, knee, elbow or wrist. The affected joint may be swollen, warm and red. This often causes bewilderment, as there is no fever and no preceding
Let solar power help you negotiate the ongoing global energy crisis. The energy crisis triggered by the Iran war has set off alarm bells in many quarters, including our homes and offices. More than anything else, a war being fought some 2,800km away has forced us to realise how fragile
Above normal temperatures and heatwaves are predicted. You could play an active role in mitigation efforts. There are too many warnings that summer is going to hit us badly this year. The magazine Down to Earth reports that IMD’s (India Meteorological Department) seasonal outlook for March-April-May has warned that the
Let me appraise you on what’s in store for you and the colony, office space, or society you live in, from April this year. Now, don’t get me wrong. I will not indulge in any crystal ball gazing and make some alarming predictions. In fact, I will only be familiarising
