Comment Essays for The National Abu Dhabi
Obama and Singh
Obama and Singh meet at crossroads Shoba Narayan Nov 7, 2010 Pity Barack Obama. The President of the US is in India for his first visit and expectations, in terms of symbolism and substance, are sky-high. "Great Expectations to [...]
Maids, Mothers in law, Chores
Maids, mother-in-laws and the Zen of housework Shoba Narayan Nov 1, 2010 It happens to me everywhere - from Dubai to Delhi, from Saudi Arabia to Singapore, from Bahrain to Bengal. Wherever I have lived, when a group of [...]
Middle Class Car Buying
India's middle class is entitled to cars its new money can buy Shoba Narayan Nov 21, 2010 Car sales are booming all over India. That's the old news. How to manage the upsurge? That's the future. Before I get to [...]
Spices Pepper McCormic
McCormick must work hard to spice up Indian market Shoba Narayan Nov 28, 2010 next previous Here is how we make garam masala seasoning in my house: we buy the dozen or so spices separately from a variety of [...]
Ratan Tata
The quiet man of Indian big business finds his voice Shoba Narayan Dec 5, 2010 next previous It was a cool day in the middle of last month when Ratan Tata, 73, the chairman of Tata Sons, the promoter [...]
Holistic Health Care
Between nature and the laboratory, a cure for all our ills Shoba Narayan Dec 12, 2010 As healthcare debates rage on throughout the world, a heartening event is occurring in my hometown, Bangalore. Backed by state and central governments, [...]
Savings tips for household help
In the new year, a savings tip for hired help Shoba Narayan Dec 19, 2010 It is that time of year when many of us are thinking about Christmas and year-end bonuses for those who help us. Most of [...]
Energy, Onions, India
All focus on energy for India but no heat to cook curry Shoba Narayan Dec 26, 2010 next previous Horamavu village seems like an odd place to take stock of the year, but it is in this little hamlet [...]
Tourism Bedside Manners
Tourists appreciate bedside manners and smart service Shoba Narayan Jan 2, 2011 next previous So where did you go for New Year's? For much of Asia and indeed the world, it would have been the Middle East. According to a [...]
Collaborative Consumption
The wisdom of collaborative consumption Shoba Narayan Jan 9, 2011 European cities such as London have come up with bike-sharing programmes subsidised by advertisements. BLOOMBERG next previous Go to photo 0 Have you ever opened your wardrobe and [...]
Mother in law
The problem with the mother-in-law Shoba Narayan Jan 8, 2011 Two women who love the same man is hardly the recipe for a friendship. I speak not of extramarital affairs or bigamy, but of the relationship between mother-in-law and [...]
Why do Arabic rhythms sound so sweet to Indian ears? for The National Abu Dhabi
Why do Arabic rhythms sound so sweet to Indian ears? Shoba Narayan Jan 18, 2011 A cousin of mine in Kuwait tells me that Bollywood music is de riguer at her parties these days. Apparently, her Arab friends love [...]