Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
Can paradise be regained by arresting development in Kashmir? for The National Abu Dhabi
This one's for you, Mahen-uncle and Vina-aunty. Can paradise be regained by arresting development in Kashmir? I left Kashmir on September 1st after attending a 75th birthday celebration in Srinagar. The event was held near the Dal Lake and the famed Chinar trees (Platanus Orietalis) were resplendent. Kashmiris clad in saris and pashmina shawls gathered to reminisce about the land that they called home. It was raining as my plane took off from Srinagar. I remember worrying about whether that would cause flight delays. The rain continued the next day. At that time, I told my friend that when good [...]
Train Diary 2
Train Diary 2: Easy, artless conversations Train travel has both a created ecosystem and inflection points. The first inflection point is when you walk down the corridor to your compartment for the first time, wondering who your fellow travellers are. They are the people who will share your space for the next six or 36 hours. Their temperament is critical to your well-being. Mine, on this overnight train journey from Bangalore to Kumbakonam, happens to be a nun, an elderly couple and two men. Sister Mary teaches biology at a college in Trichy. She is good looking, with clear brown [...]
Hum Raag in Hyderabad
HumRaag (Chitra and I) will be performing at ISB auditorium on Saturday, September 27th.
Childhood food cravings for The National Abu Dhabi
Wrote this piece on a transatlantic flight. I guess having bad airline food helped kindle taste memories. The best cuisines are those that have the flavours of home Shoba Narayan September 14, 2014 Updated: September 14, 2014 04:59 PM Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/the-best-cuisines-are-those-that-have-the-flavours-of-home#ixzz3DNG69THv Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook How many days can you go before you crave the foods of your childhood? I can last a two weeks, tops, and only if I am stuck in the middle of the Australian outback without access to turmeric or some decent curry powder. When it comes down to [...]
Train diary No.1: we’re all in it together for Mint Lounge
Nothing matches the high drama of a train departure. Where else can you run beside the train, holding on to hand, finger, then little finger, then scarf, before letting go and waving till the train disappears. You certainly cannot run after an airline; and you’d bump into the passing cow if you tried this stunt in inter-city buses. Trains are designed for our sort of goodbye. Everyone is running, sobbing, yelling out instructions, and then frantically waving goodbyes and asking the traveller to call the moment the train reaches destination.
Serendipity
In shrinking urban spaces, there are a few locations that bring together intellectuals and ideas on a daily basis. In Bangalore, Koshy’s, the much loved coffee shop, is one such location. Cobalt Blue, a new shared-office space, aspires to be another. Part of the reason you visit these spaces is because you don’t know whom you will meet or what you will encounter. Of course, some of these encounters can be unnerving—the classic one being when you run into your ex at a location that was special to you.
For The National Abu Dhabi on Pittsburgh
This steel city has a lot going on in food, shopping and culture.
For Silverkris on Aikido
Digital magazines are getting better and better. Silverkris has a nice section called "Been There," which talks about activities and locations. I am working on two pieces for this section. Here is the first one on a martial art that is close to my heart: Aikido. You can read it in the gorgeous magazine here. Or clicking the link below. They have me on the Contributors page here. Been There Aikido
The unfairness of airline food descriptions: for Mint Lounge
This was published in Mint using verb-consonant. An attentive read, said "Surely you mean vowel, not verb." Indeed. ‘Mor kuzhambu’ or ‘kadhi’: the name game Menu descriptions are an art, somewhat like matrimonial ad descriptions Shoba Narayan Travelling without moving The name of the dish matters. Photo: Thinkstock The unfairness of menu descriptions struck me on a recent flight. Here is the menu that was handed out to us on British Airways. “Seared fillet of British lamb with béarnaise sauce, roasted potatoes, runner beans and butternut squash.” I am vegetarian but the sound of this got my saliva [...]
Defending Alia Bhatt
In which I defend Alia Bhatt. Listen here or below