Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
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.
Hindustan Times: Beyond Bangalore Startups
How is Bangalore is different from the events that he has organised in Delhi and Mumbai, I ask Raihan Vadra. Well, for one thing, Bangaloreans actually listen, he replies, echoing what Akhila said. In Delhi, young people quickly lose interest in hour-long panel-discussions.
Poem: The turtle widow: in Lucky Jefferson
The turtle widow was published in Lucky Jefferson 365 collection. I think the images come from majestic turtles who hold ancient secrets from within them and the real fear that we all have of falling-- in this case, falling down a waterfall.
Poem: When the body becomes all eyes: in The Rogue Agent Journal
This is the first poem of mine that got published in October 2023 in Issue 103 of the Rogue Agent Journal.