Comment Essays for The National Abu Dhabi
Reduce transactions
I am speaking at The Bangalore Club on November 20th. The title, which I suggested is "Returned to India: now what?" I am sorta freaking out because I want to make it funny. Debut stand-up act and all that. The [...]
Garlands as a national emblem: The National Abu Dhabi
I didn't set out to link flowers to culture, but there they are. A simple garland of flowers is a powerful cultural emblem. Dutch people stick tulips into vases. Brazilians arrange flowers on little pots that they hang all over [...]
Feasting and fasting
I am writing this as I face laddus, barfis, badam chocolates, and mixture. Oh, the irony. Denial is good in principle, but is it better than an extra cup of coffee? Shoba Narayan October 19, 2014 Updated: October 19, 2014 [...]
Old age
What’s the best way to navigate your way through old age? Shoba Narayan October 15, 2014 Updated: October 15, 2014 06:31 PM My mind has recently been full of sobering thoughts about death, taxes and ageing and the question of [...]
Procrastination
I have learnt how to procrastinate with furious efficiency Shoba Narayan October 7, 2014 Updated: October 7, 2014 05:40 PM It began innocently enough and took a fairly standard trajectory. Prodded by stray comments from the spouse, a sibling, a [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on Pittsburgh
This steel city has a lot going on in food, shopping and culture.
Perfectionist children
Of course, the below can be seen as a long-winded excuse from a non-perfectionist. :) Failure is an important stopover on the road to success Shoba Narayan August 19, 2014 Updated: August 19, 2014 05:49 PM Are children these days [...]
From thin to fat
Both my brother and I were painfully thin while growing up, which in Chennai was a bad thing. My Mom gave us strange concoctions to fatten us up-- raw eggs with milk was the worst-- to no effect. Now I [...]
Short working hours
I honestly don't think shorter working hours are going to work. People want to work more because they like it. All work and no play is no way to spend the rest of your life Shoba Narayan August 9, 2014 [...]
For The National Abu Dhabi on Turkey
I love cheese. I wish I knew more about them. But to eat a Manchego in Spain or a Brie de Meaux in France, a Stilton in Britain, or Gorgonzola with Barolo in Italy doubles the pleasure. The same goes [...]