Column: The Good Life: for Mint Lounge
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 [...]
For Cathay Dragon Air on Khadi
How Indian designers are reviving an ancient weave
Wimbledon
On Kids Day No kidding, this is Wimbledon The club should ease up and celebrate its youngest patrons like the other Opens Shoba Narayan First Published: Sat, Jun 22 2013. 12 08 AM IST A scene from Wimbledon 2012. The Championships doesn’t exactly welcome children. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images ALSO READ Wimbledon | Get in line or better, online Wimbledon | Ground realities Updated: Sun, Jun 23 2013. 08 13 PM IST It was a sunny day in May last year. My family and I—and what seemed like three million excited children—strolled outside the red clay courts of Roland Garros [...]
Airport mural to celebrate art of India for The National Abu Dhabi
At the new airport in Mumbai. A piece I wrote for The National Airport mural to celebrate art of India Shoba Narayan Jun 18, 2013 A stunning collaboration among Kashmiri artists will soon adorn the sprawling Terminal 2, scheduled to open in September at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. A mural featuring the arts and crafts of Kashmir was previewed in the state capital, Srinagar, last week before making its way to Mumbai to become part of a 1.2-kilometre wall of murals in the new terminal's arrivals corridor. Conceived and curated by the Padma Bhushan award-winner and stenographer Rajeev Sethi, [...]
Father’s Day
I am in large part-- my father. As a child, they say I looked like him. I have his metabolism and constitution. He belongs to the astrological star, Swati, which they say, has a personality called "sabdeekam" or softness. This came in Mint Make your father’s day How will you celebrate your Dad tomorrow? Shoba Narayan First Published: Sat, Jun 15 2013. 12 02 AM IST Tomorrow is a day that will celebrate men who arguably have the coolest jobs in the world: our dads. Ok, that was a lame attempt to link this column to this issue. Dad, Dada, [...]
The Sexes– again for The Atlantic
Are women truly more compassionate than men? In responding to the sexist saga that has Australia all a-twitter, is the Dalai Lama himself being sexist?