When I started writing, that was ages ago, I made no secret of my ambition to be a known, recognised writer. Perhaps this was considered as insolence on my part. Nobody said a kind word, in fact, I was sure they were laughing behind my back, “What he? Wants to become writer? Does he know … Read more
The vacation in Kerala was eventful, a revelation of sorts, as it always is. So, here I am with a bag of tales from God’s favourite country. I don’t know who all will read this and benefit, but here it is, my impressions. Firstly, uneducated Malayali men are mostly wild and impulsive. They revel in … Read more
Elmore Leonard advised writers not to open with the weather. However, Melissa Studdard, author of Six Weeks to Yehida goes and does just that. However, in her novel, not only does the opening work for her and her story, but it also gives the reader the feeling that here’s a talent that can do much … Read more
Orfeo by Richard Powers is a novel that combines sci-fi with sheer mundane things like a hobby turning into an ordeal. Els is a chemistry man, a geneticist, and a life-long music addict, who plans to weave music into DNA strands in his hobby laboratory at home. He tinkers with genetic modification using equipment bought … Read more
Indians can’t be lauded for their good manners. I will vouch for that any day. But there are common decencies they can adhere to, like apologising for something done by mistake, or, by oversight. No, they will not, apologise, as you will see here. Yesterday I was on the way to a meeting, and there … Read more
For a long time I have been wanting to read Jeet Thayil’s novel Narcopolis. No, this isn’t a case of hero-worship (Jeet is actually younger than me) for a person from my community, but a frank appreciation of a novel which is set in my urbs prima, Bombay. I know Jeet Thayil as an essayer … Read more
A few thoughts that go out from India in the monsoon season. Well, the monsoon season is about to end and it has been an encouraging time as enough rainfall was received. It means India will have enough grain to feed its people and enough money in people’s pockets. India is primarily an agricultural country … Read more
After all, the rain did come. It was destined to. Thundering over the hills, sweeping aside the heat, turning the earth green, dripping down the eaves, well, turning the world green, as if a carpet is spread.. In my small house in the valley it fell in a cascade down the mountain, filled a dam, … Read more
It’s June and the rains have not come. The wait has been long. The stifling heat sears the skin and we find ourselves sweating more than usual. The rain usually brings some respite from the heat. But this year it’s blistering hot. It’s not advisable to venture out in the afternoon when the sun is … Read more
As I had written earlier (see previous post), Narendra Modi has taken over as the new Prime Minister of India. Congrats! It’s a story of ambition and hardwork as he used to sell tea at a train station when he was young. From this humble beginning he has risen to the position of eminence, to … Read more
India is now undergoing a massive election to its 16th parliament. The facts look humungous, when compared to other nations. India is the world’s largest democracy and there are nearly 814 million voters, of which 100 million are exercising their franchise for the first time. To add to these, is the fact that there are … Read more
Shweta Kesari lives in Indore / Madhya Pradesh. Shweta Kesari is a 2nd year engineering student. She will write for Johntext – literature with purpose to help – on www.madhyapradesh.johntext.de. * * * * * Joygopal Podder lives in New Delhi. Joygopal Podder is a published author of 14 books. He will write for Johntext – … Read more
India is going through a phase which can only be described as a transition period. Politically, the uncertainty has been heightened by the victory of Aam Admi Party (AAP), which had emerged on the political scene only a year ago. The hitherto largest parties – The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – have … Read more
In my days of working in corporations, before facebook and twitter, and, even before the banking crash of 2008, I used to encounter many cases of women being harassed in the office. This was taken lightly by my men colleagues, as if it was the norm. I saw a colleague touch the breasts of another, … Read more
Among my friends in the business world Henry is one who has done reasonably well in field of freight forwarding, which is really a big business in India. He came as a migrant to Bombay and today has a business, an office, a home, among many other comforts of life. Henry hails from Kerala as … Read more
In the northern state of Bihar, India, 26 school-going children died when the government-provided food they consumed were later found to be contaminated with pesticides. Several children are still in hospital. This tragedy assumes a lot of significance because it highlights cynicism from school authorities as far as school lunches subsidised by the government is … Read more
We sometimes wonder how India manages to survive one blow and goes on to the next. You say this is part of life? No. we don’t agree. We think a lot can be done to improve the roads, the infrastructure, the very elementary things of our social and economic life. We observe this when we … Read more
There’s an environmental tragedy that taken around 1000 lives in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. Heavy rains led to landslides and big boulders and soil being rained on the low-lying pilgrimage centres of Bdrinath, Kedarnath and Rudraprayag. The people killed were mostly pilgrims who visited temples in the area to pray for redemption. The … Read more
This is a solution to the banking crisis in Cyprus. However, it might be termed as daylight robbery by some. What else can a bankrupt nation do? Go the Zimbabwean way and change to US currency? That would be too extreme. Plus you are disrupting the sovereign composition of the country. Woe to anyone who thinks about … Read more
Kerala is a tropical paradise that lies to the south of Indian peninsula. It has green vegetation, plenty of sandy beaches, natural beauty, and an educated citizenry. Every year it sends thousands of skilled manpower to the Persian Gulf for employment and thus received billions of rupees as remittances. Of late, tourism has been the … Read more