Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Poem: Primordial Snout: in Marrow Magazine
This poem was published in Marrow Magazine, Issue 16 on June 6, 2025.
Hindustan Times: Cricket, Garbage, Karaga
Is Bangalore the worst municipality in the country? Living in this city, it certainly feels like it. There is so much to be angry about in Bangalore these days. Cricket fans have died in a stampede and still the state government is passing the buck, scapegoating officers so that they can escape blame.
Wisdom Circle: Soul Tribe
A soul-tribe is a close-knit group of people who truly understand and support you beyond superficial connections. In today’s digital age, cultivating these authentic relationships is essential for emotional well-being and personal growth.
Hindustan Times: Kannada language
Let me just come out and say it: Kannada-dalli maathadi. Which is like saying, Hindi mein baath kijiye. Or Tamizh-pesu. I have chosen these three languages for a reason. This week, actor Kamal Haasan offered up a third instance of folks being caught in a Kannada language controversy. The players may be different but the script is the same.
Hindustan Times: Bangalore’s Youth
The humanities humanize us. They make us care. They allow for empathy. If you are sitting in a cubicle, you won’t care about the woman wading through water.
WisdomCircle: Lifelines Part 1
Who are the people you call in a crisis? Not the “car broke down on the highway” type of crisis although that’s bad enough. If something truly awful happened — like your marriage falling apart, or your loved one contracting a life-threatening illness — who would you dial first?
Poem: News: I won a poetry prize!
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to receive the news of my first poetry prize. This is first poetry prize that I have received for my poetry and it is one I will cherish.
Hindustan Times: South Indian food vs North Indian food
Is South Indian food more messy than North Indian food or is it more sensual? Is it because we eat on a banana leaf which is to food what the napkin/plate/tablecloth combo is for other foods?
Moynat | Bloomberg Pursuits
I have known Ted Moncreiff for 15 years. He first assigned a bargaining story to me when he was an editor at Condenast Traveler way back in 1996. He continued assigning longer and longer pieces as Executive editor of Traveler. And sent me to places far and near: Laos (Vientiane and Luang Prabang), Cambodia (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh), Yunnan China (Kunming, Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-la), Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto), Singapore, Malaysia, and much. He assigned me 6000 word stories on Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore. Then Ted left to join Newsweek as Executive editor. When Newsweek was bought, Ted joined [...]
Poem: From the mustache, a moon cloud: in The Seraphic Review
from the mustache a moon cloud, was published in The Seraphic Review, Issue 3. February 2024. I honestly cannot tell where this poem came from. I write in the morning in my notebook and sometimes remnants from the night's dreams will come on the page. I think this came out of that free writing exercise.