Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
NPR/ The Takeaway Show
Love NPR. Still listen to it. They called from Boston to interview me about this. As always, I won't listen to it (prefer to listen to something other than the sound of my own voice) but in case anyone wants to, here is the link. Also embedded below.
New York Times: School Poisoning Deaths
As a columnist, I don't get the high of newsrooms very often. But this was one instance where it worked. My editor at the New York Times and I were wrapping up an essay that I had written for their mother load blog. It was about 9 PM last night and we had deemed the piece ready. Then she suddenly sends an email telling me about the Bihar midday meals scheme tragedy and asked if I could write a piece on it within an hour. I did, and then went to watch Scandal! Here it is below.
Solar Energy
An article inspired by the zero carbon house of my friend, the mathematician, Sujatha Ramadorai. The National Conversation How solar energy is shining new light on this country Shoba Narayan Jul 17, 2013 Sometimes the solution stares us in the face, to the point where we have to wear sunglasses. I speak about solar power, of course, and the recent news that Dubai International Airport's Terminal D is going to use solar power to meet part of its energy requirements. Abu Dhabi too has ambitious plans to continue its policy of installing solar panels in the desert to harness the [...]
What to eat at an airport for Mint Lounge
Airport tales as different as night and day Airports are happy places at 8am on a Monday morning. The lines are short. People are civilized Shoba Narayan First Published: Sat, Jul 13 2013. 12 18 AM IST A sparrow is eating a masala dosa in Bangalore airport. It doesn’t even bother to lift up the remains of the dish and fly off like a furtive crow stealing a vada. Rather, it hops on the white melamine thali-plate that is neatly divided into sambhar, red chutney and white chutney; and picks on the turmeric-yellow potato filling. I half-expect it to [...]
Fibs and love
If I had read this, I would have called it a 'cute' piece and that really is what I was attempting. Inspired by the Huff Post divorce columnist's list of what makes a successful marriage. The National Conversation The little fibs we often tell to those we love the most Shoba Narayan Jul 10, 2013 Recently, I read in an article that it is OK for spouses to have secrets from each other. This pleased me because my husband and I keep secrets from each other even though we consistently pretend that we don't. It didn't start out this way. [...]
Freaking out with Instagram
Thank you iPhone 4S. What would I do without you?
Kerala Men
As a nominal Keralite, I feel that I can comment on Kerala with impunity. This piece was written after a visit to Trivandrum. I was attempting humour but someone from Kerala told me that I just came off as insulting. Oops! Sat, Jul 06 2013. 12 43 AM IST Of ‘mundus’, moustaches and massages There are three things that are important to a Malayali male—mundu, meesha and murukkaan Dhara is a deeply relaxing procedure that should be undertaken for at least five days. Photo: Thinkstock It is easy to fantasize about men in Kerala because there is just so much [...]
Why women don’t work? for The National Abu Dhabi
Thanks to this forum for discussing feminism. Specific thanks to Naina, Vinay, RG, NS-- and even though others have a view on him-- Krishna. This appeared in The National, Abu Dhabi. Caught between traditional values and modern ways Shoba Narayan Jul 2, 2013 During a recent trip to Dubai, I caught up with some old friends. Renu and Sid Shah met as students at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), arguably India’s top management school. They’ve lived in Dubai for many years and were part of a vibrant IIM-A alumni network. Many of the couples in the group had [...]
Spelling Bee
I wrote this right after the Spelling Bee. It came out in The National How do you spell English expert? With I, N, D, I, A and N Shoba Narayan Jun 26, 2013 Every week I go to my local grocery store in Bangalore, called Thoms. After I pick up my milk, eggs and vegetables, I typically have to ask the salespeople about the week's specials. Like most Indian retail outlets, Thoms is staffed with young people who look 16 but are probably 21. "Excuse me, but has this week's organic tea delivery come in?" I'll ask - in English. [...]
Grief
Writing a column a week is proving to be tough. I told Seema, my editor, that I had no ideas. I was desperate. This is the result. Not happy with it. Feel that I should have provided more value-add; more insights. What is a fresh insight on grief? Answer that question for me. The grammar of grief Grief, I believe, is universal; and arguably unique to humans Shoba Narayan First Published: Sat, Jun 29 2013. 12 48 AM IST A couple console each other after being evacuated from Uttarakhand. Photo: AP Last week, I attended the funeral service of my [...]