Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
About cognac for Mint Lounge
Sat, Apr 06 2013. 12 12 AM IST A very nosy memory Blending great cognac is all about olfactory memory Shoba Narayan Pierrette Trichet, the cellar master of Rémy Martin. Photo: Courtesy Rémy Martin. What did you drink this morning—coffee or tea? What did your tea smell like? What did your coffee taste like? If you are stymied for words, you are not alone. Humans are very good at remembering and describing what they see but ask them to describe smells and taste and they become quiet. Wine writers and perfume “noses” (professionals who mix and create scents) are [...]
For Destinasian magazine on Chennai
About my hometown for Destinasian magazine's April issue. PDF below Chennai
Space of her Own
I am reading an interesting book called, "A Space of her own: personal narratives of twelve women." Link here It is edited by a friend, Leela Gulati (who by the way, was the one who brought the music ustad to sing for us). I am enjoying Zarina Bhatty's descriptions of growing up in Lucknow and the whole Urdu tehzeeb.
NDTV
Some time ago, when my book was published, I sent the following email to NDTV. From: Shoba Narayan Subject: Immigrant angst, NRIs, diaspora Date: October 7, 2012 11:13:23 AM GMT+05:30 To: [email protected] Dear NDTV newsdesk: I am sure you get a lot of requests from people wanting coverage on issues. Let me add one more. In case any segment producer is doing a story on immigrants or NRIs, or the Indian diaspora, I would like to submit my second book, "Return to India: a memoir," as a good fit. I'd be delighted to send a copy of the book in [...]
Wealth is important, but it doesn’t build a child’s character
Wealth is important, but it doesn't build a child's character Shoba Narayan Mar 24, 2013 Save this article The number of "super rich" people in the UAE will increase by 53 per cent over the next decade, The National reported last week. This news produced in me a deep strain of geography-envy. People who live in the Gulf states can take comfort in the fact that they are in the right place in the right decade. You may not all end up multimillionaires; then again, you might. Here, then, is an uncomfortable question that comes from a transparent desire to [...]
Champaca and the global perfume market: Mint Lounge
I'm crazy about perfume. In one of my favorite books of all time- Gerald Durrell's My family and other animals, the mother goes around looking for suitable burial sites for her when she dies. I know it sounds morbid, but I occasionally want to tell my family to bury me with mounds of fragrant flowers when I die. The Indian concept of perfume is more encompassing. Flowers in hair and scent all over, including in the home with incense. This appeared this week in Mint Lounge's luxury issue. Read Rajeev Sethi's piece on luxury as 'pehchaan.' Loved it. The man [...]
Male Feminist
Feminism is important to me, but my stance as a feminist is quite confusing, even to me. I was raised to compromise and many times, I do. What is the difference between compromising and copping out? I am still figuring out stuff. A group of friends and I had a dinner conversation once. If you spouse cheats on you, would you walk out? To my surprise, one of the most intelligent and articulate woman in the group said that she wouldn't-- walk out, that is. She is quite famous in India and widely respected. My point is that she is [...]
The Art of Throwing
Do scientists do research on throwing and running? I didn't know this before I interviewed this man. It was heartening to hear his views on scientific research in India and the funding that is available. My friend, Srikantan, who is in California, once tried for a faculty position in the IISc and mentioned that it was tough to crack. Since then, I have wondered about luring scientific minds back to India-- and whether Indian institutes have the ability to do this. Nowadays, I hear about more and more Indian-American professors who are returning to India to take up jobs. My [...]
Healing music
Today, a Hindustani musician came home and sang for us from 5 to 7. He is a student of the late great Bhimsen Joshi, originally from Pune and belongs to the Kirana Garana. His first rendition was in Raag Basant and he sang a beautiful Khayal on Lord Shiva. He voice was deep and loud-- "Mann Kholke gaana," he said. "Open your heart and sing." This is the power of chamber music. To sit in a confined space and listen to a musician is a powerful experience. A CD, however loudly you play it, can never offer the same experience. [...]
Hollywood’s power couples offer twice the envy
Hollywood's power couples offer twice the envy Shoba Narayan Feb 28, 2013 Save this article Now that the Oscars are over, the usual lists of Hollywood (and other) power couples are making the rounds. There is something about the notion of power couples that makes you want to sneer, mostly because they appear to be irrationally exuberant. While the rest of the world is barely managing to have dinner with their spouses, these power couples seem - like Energizer bunnies - to keep going. They are super-achievers; tender spouses and red hot lovers to boot. Heck, what's not to hate? [...]