The number of Indians travelling abroad (not all being Indian tourists) has increased from about 4.5 million in 2000 (total departures, not unique travelers) to about 35 million approx, in 2025. If these 35 million were to form a country, 140 countries of the world would be smaller. Effectively, the…
Confessions of an Indian Applying for a Western Visa
One of the abiding humiliations that citizens of the ‘largest democracy in the world’ have to face is applying for a Visa to other democracies in The West, often having the population of Chinchpokli in Mumbai. I am quite sure each developed country, with the US only as an example,…
Naval Hierarchy and the Art of Changing Opinions
‘Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion, without the discomfort of thought’ said John F Kennedy many years ago. At a more earthy level, someone else had said opinions are something (this being a family blog, I am constrained to be abstruse) that rhyme with grasspoles; everyone has one. …
Kolkata by any other name, would still be Calcutta!
Self plus The Wife had made a trip to the City of Joy, Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1994. We adored it. The Victoria Memorial, the KC Das Kachoris (established 1866), the Putiram Mishti Doi (1852). Sigh! Nothing brings memories of our visit as evocatively though, as the Calcutta Ambassador Taxis. …
ECHS and Triglycerides: Life In a Naval Veterans WhatsApp Group
Each Indian is a member of at least five WhatsApp groups – one or two for the family, one for office colleagues, one for close friends, etc. Some, like The Wife, have multiple sub groups too. Her family groups for example include…. Entire family with husband. Entire family minus husband….
Naval Meetings: Where ‘Minutes’ are More Important than Hours
The Indian Navy, like any other governmental organization, loves meetings. So much so that if meetings were ships, we would have achieved Sea Control over lake Baikal in no time. Some naval meetings are aimed at planning campaigns, others at improving logistics. Even others deal with the topic ‘manpower reduction’…
Beauty Queens, Chief Guests and Cliches
Many famous humour writers advise thus – ‘Do not use clichés.’ I say, ‘stuff and nonsense’. Our very existence is clichéd… Please allow me to buttress my argument with two examples. Beauty contests and Chief Guests. Let Us Start With Beauty Contests Most of you dear readers, would have watched…