Messenger to Macbeth – As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I look’d toward Birnam, and anon, methought, The wood began to move. Thailand and Mali – countries that have had coups in recent times with several others showing remarkable potential. If you’ve wondered whether we had the potential to go that...
Not often does an individual’s attending a gathering of writers make so much news as the Salman Rushdie saga has over the past week. Salman Rushdie’s presence at the Jaipur Literature Festival has suddenly become an issue of national importance even bigger than the dress Katrina Kaif wore at her latest public appearance. But...
Two days ago I was in a hospital waiting room when they flashed news on the TV about a bomb blast outside Delhi High court. Over the next few hours as I watched more coverage of the event, I felt a crazy anger simmering within. I wanted to get a butter knife and slash...
The anti corruption movement is gaining pace. People are getting involved and doing all they can to get rid of corruption, such as watching news coverage on TV and writing energetic articles on blogs etc. However, all does not seem well. We are not totally convinced yet. The cynicism just wont go away. And...
You all may have already read the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s letter to the Prime Minister. Hard hitting stuff. We managed to lay our hands on the reply the PMO prepared for him. Dear Mr Hazare, Apologies for not getting back to you earlier. But better late than never, like an Indian mother would...
A Delhi court has passed an order to allow the CBI to withdraw prosecution of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi. Quattrocchi was accused of receiving kickbacks of Rs 64 crores in connection with the purchase of Bofors howitzers back in the 80s. Since then, the CBI has spent Rs 250 crore on the case. They...
A bit unsure whether this should go in as the WTF news of the day, or the mind numbing news of the week. A mob of disgruntled laborers set ablaze a 55-year-old steel factory deputy general manager at Titilagarh in Orissa’s Balangir on Thursday. Radheshyam Ray was going out for lunch when a...
Obama may not promise to blow up Pakistan any day soon, or even to help India get into the UN Security Council, but here’s a few things that could make this trip worthwhile for us Indians. 1. Salaries in India are getting higher, and the attrition rate is a killer. Can we outsource some...
The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games are a mess. Bridges are collapsing all over the place. The Games Village is a stinky public potty as highlighted so aptly by BBC and co. We seem all set for a Dengue epidemic. The dogs may have had a party at the ‘village but nobody else wants to...
The WTFness of our times just keeps increasing. Take this. Maoist leader Kishenji on Friday called a 48-hour bandh from September 13 in eight states to press for a probe into the death of top Naxal leader Cherakuri Rajkumar alias Azad. To be fair, yesterday was Janmashtmi; the day of Kishanji. But isn’t...
Looks like the great Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has some grand plans laid out. No, not the statues. This is even bigger. The state government has plans for several ambitious highway projects, estimated to displace about 23000 of the total 1 lakh villages in the state. Among these projects is the 165...
Actually, a lot of of them deserve to be hit with rocks. Take this. The Uterus Snatchers of Andhra. Rural pockets across Andhra are being taken for a ride by greedy doctors removing women’s uteruses for any and every ailment. All because a surgical procedure would fetch them more money than a mere...
Remember the much acclaimed $10 laptop? The same one that turned out to be a lame computing device? They say - If at first you dont succeed, dont embarrass yourself by trying again. Well, apparently the Indian government hasnt heard that one. They have gone and this time come up with a $35 tablet. Check...
As if Bihar wasn’t already enough entertainment, we now have MLAs flinging shoes, slippers, chairs and tables at the speaker, or anybody else conveniently available. Let’s look at the positive side. This must be a very fit bunch of politicians to be able to carry out this much heavy lifting of chairs and tables....
We all know that Indian hockey is in the crapper. We have gone from the high of Chak De India, to the low of the Phir Dil Do Hockey Ko debacle circa 2010 World cup. But all is not completely unwell. Brave young faces are appearing with a new found zeal for the game. An...
