Grains (wheat, barley, rye, rice, etc) are all excellent sources of nutrition. They provide proteins for muscle building and carbohydrates for energy. But these humble sources of nutrition become everyone’s favourites only when they are allowed to ferment, because while stardom, success and happiness do not grace us often, the…
What watching the Cricket World Cup has taught me
A match between India and Pakistan is in progress. Pakistan is well set at 150 odd for 2 and looking set for a 300 plus score. Indian spirits are flagging a bit. Just then our bowler takes a very important wicket. I get all excited and like most cricket lovers…
In the mood for some burglary? Don’t forget commonsense!
I think we can all agree that burglary is a valid source of income. It is egalitarian, redistributes the wealth amongst the have nots, and gives us vicarious pleasure when the rich are its victims. No wonder we all love Robin Hood. It is particularly conducive for making a quick…
Want to become important? Get warned, especially by Apple
You must have heard this joke – An iPhone is so expensive because it replaces many machines – phone, camera, watch, music player, GPS, PDA, voice recorder, gaming console, etc. An Android on the other hand is much cheaper because it replaces only one machine, the iPhone. Maybe this cost…
Ah Trains! Hemkund (the lake of snow) Express. Nostalgia unlimited
At one point in time, trains were an integral part of our formative years; so romanticised by films like Sholay, Aradhana, Coolie and the like. Those of us who have travelled, even once in second class, will surely still have the smell of the train in their nostrils even decades…
Indian Weddings – Drama, Naagin Dances and Embarrassments
I’m limiting myself to middle class India here. Attended any Indian weddings? A colourful and lively affair, yes? Our weddings have everything – melodrama that surpasses anything that Ekta Kapoor can conjure, ear splitting music and embarrassing relatives. There is the jarring shehnai competing with, and losing to, disco jhankaar…
Who has stolen all our childhood games?
There was no Nintendo, PS or X Box for us born in the sixties. Nor did we have Facebook, Insta or Whatsapp. What we did have were a host of delightful, inexpensive and ‘make rules as you play’ games to prevent us from becoming all-work-and-no-play dull Jacks. These games taught…