The National Abu Dhabi
Comment Essays for The National Abu Dhabi
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How did you spend your Sunday? How much time were you on your computer? Like I am now. Did you talk to people? Or did you type at them? It bothers me. Plugged in and 'alone together', conversation is a [...]
Should I stay or should I go? How an Indian family decided to return home
Excerpt in Quartz, the digital arm of The Atlantic Monthly, one of my favorite magazines. EX PATRIA Should I stay or should I go? How an Indian family decided to return home Shoba Narayan November 17, 2012 Dressing up for [...]
Carnatic and Western Classical Part 2
Dear Bijoy: Thanks for your missive on Bach, the fugue and the music of the Renaissance period. I found them to be very interesting. What is mordent? What are grace notes and trills? Is the below one piece or [...]
Conversation between Carnatic and Classical Part 2
Dear Bijoy: Thanks for your missive on Bach, the fugue and the music of the Renaissance period. I found them to be very interesting. What is mordent? What are grace notes and trills? Is the below one piece or a [...]
When the Lotus blooms
Just read "When the Lotus Blooms" by Kanchana Krishnan Ayyar. Loved it. If you want a glimpse of the TamBrahm ethos of yesteryear, read this book.
Navrasa in an ikebana arrangement for Mint Lounge
Thank you, Malathi-aunty. Navras’ in an ikebana arrangement The ladies behind this ancient art Shoba Narayan First Published: Thu, Nov 15 2012. 08 07 PM IST Veena Dass, one of the foremost exponents of the art in India, [...]
How to write
I get so much mail asking for tips on how to write that I decided to make a post of it. Usually, each email sits in my inbox for days. I can't bear to delete them because I've been where [...]
Deepavali feasting (or fasting)
Pulchritudinous? Seriously? Is that a compliment-worthy word? Read on In The National Before a feast goes to your hips, reach for the thesaurus Shoba Narayan Nov 12, 2012 Nowadays, over lunch and dinner, I make my husband repeat a litany [...]
Carnatic and Western classical Part 1
One of the pleasures of writing is to hear back from readers who have views that are opposite your own; and who are able to educate you about their area of expertise. A while ago, I wrote a piece in [...]
Speaking English
I don't like my column in this week's Mint. To do it right, I should have delved deeper into the "personality" of languages; and delved deeper into the notion of mother tongue. But being neck deep in badam halwa and [...]
Mothers and Daughters
I love writing for The National. It is hard for my family to access-- certainly for my kids-- so it is easy to be open. This one is a piece on a topic that is so close to my heart [...]
Review of Return to India in the Deccan Herald
My kids tease me that I am congenitally in favor of the underdog; that I reflexively support, yes, the underdog. This single word has been used as an accusation towards me. For example, I'll say something like, "Oh, come on. [...]