The National Abu Dhabi
Comment Essays for The National Abu Dhabi
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. [...]
Business World review
And a good one here. Business World book review Title: Return to India Author: Shoba Narayan Publisher: Rupa Publications Price : Rs. 395 Most young Indians desire is to go and make a career outside India. Surely, the [...]
The Hindu review
The Hindu review of Return to India here The human mind when faced with criticism reacts in a formulaic way-- which as a lifelong student of psychology-- interests me. There is denial, rejection, scorn, and rationalization. I went through all [...]
Bald Men
Inside the brave new world of the bald Why going bald is an epidemic Shoba Narayan First Published: Thu, Oct 25 2012. 06 45 PM IST Smooth operator: Down south, Rajinikanth’s lead role in the film Sivaji supposedly triggered the [...]
Waiting for the next Zubin Mehta for Mint Lounge
Waiting for the next Zubin Mehta Why haven’t any of India’s great institutions produced world-class Western classical musical talent? Shoba Narayan First Published: Fri, Oct 19 2012. 06 00 PM IST A concert in progress at Mumbai’s NCPA, home to [...]
About aging
Some articles I agonize over. Some are a gift from the muse. This one was the latter. I dashed it off in half hour in the midst of hectic activity. Click here for the piece Life's grandest challenge: watching those [...]