For The National Abu Dhabi on Bhutan
I am crawling on all fours on a bund between the emerald paddy fields in Punakha Valley, Bhutan. Ahead is the fabled Mo Chu river.
The Indian art market
Indian art market a rosy picture Shoba Narayan Jan 23, 2012 INDIA DISPATCH The Indian art market is bucking a global trend of declining sales and hopes are high some expensive pieces will change hands at the India Art [...]
Senior Citizen Matchmaking
Elisabeth, my Parisienne friend. I am wearing the kurta you got for me in Anokhi. The pink one. I miss you. It has been a while since I posted on this blog. Somehow, writing messages to friends is an [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on London comedy
And I got to interview the legend: Keith Johnstone
For The National, Abu Dhabi on Indian safaris
So every writer aspires to be a photographer or at least I do. Here are the photos I took at Kanha and Pench. You have to be patient and refresh the page many times. On a tiger trail in India [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on Sri Lanka
If there is a takeaway from the below piece, consider this. Watch Mani Ratnam's movie, Kannathil Muthamittal (She kissed my cheek). Read Romesh Gunasekhara's (spelling?) books. Sri Lanka: fantasy island Shoba Narayan January 22, 2015 Updated: January 22, 2015 01:37 [...]
Chennai Music and Women
I thought about this a lot, but cannot come up with any solution. Everyone lays it on the women artistes to get together and fight the discrimination, but that's not going to happen. A note of dismay over inequality [...]
At work, women don’t need to play by the same rules as men: for The National Abu Dhabi
At work, women don’t need to play by the same rules as men Indian politician and novelist Shashi Tharoor. (David Levenson / Getty Images) At work, women don’t need to play by the same rules as men Shoba Narayan December [...]
An all-women’s college changed my life: for The National Abu Dhabi
Inspired by the visit of Sonya Stephens of Mount Holyoke, I began thinking about women's colleges. An all-women’s college changed my life Shoba Narayan November 29, 2014 Updated: November 29, 2014 05:48 PM Those involved in higher education – [...]
Identity and Culture: for The National Abu Dhabi
One more ode to my favorite garment: the sari. How a simple, draped cloth defines a national aesthetic Shoba Narayan November 19, 2014 Updated: November 19, 2014 07:07 PM There are many ways to come at the concept called identity. [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on Bombay
Why does Mumbai inspire so much activism, writing, and imagination? Urbs Primus in Indus: the enduring appeal of Mumbai, India Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in Mumbai. Trains play an important part of daily social life in the Indian city, [...]
Culture and Globalization
The Question of our Time. How can we stay rooted in our own culture in a globalised world? In a globalised world, it's hard to define our respective culture by what we eat or how we dress up. Mike Young [...]