The law, Charles Dickens wrote in the 1830s, is an ass. But even he would have been astonished to find just how asinine it can be. In fact, in all probability, an honest donkey would be offende...
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On wednesday the cricket team will arrive in Pakistan. Although some of them have been there before, for many it will be their first visit. I envy them. The first time you go somewhere is always...
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To be honest, I rather like Rajiv Pratap Rudi. He’s been good to me and I’ve a lot to thank him for. Perhaps this is why I’m dismayed by his behaviour. But let me be precise : I’m too cy...
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‘R u superstitious?’ read the SMS from Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Her question was justified but it took me aback. I had just forwarded a Sanskrit shloka received with the promise ‘send on to...
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I suppose I should start with hello. Although I’ve been part of this newspaper for six years and more it’s quite possible we haven’t met. Hitherto I’ve lived in a different neighbourhood....
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I doubt if there has ever been a birthday party like Amar Singh’s last week. Jaya Bachchan told me that 1600 people had been invited. I am sure they all turned up. Everyone who is anyone was t...
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The facts are horrific. But even if you already know them pause for a moment to consider them again. Believe me, they bear repetition. According to the latest statistics, one woman is raped in...
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English is a fascinating language. That its spellings are not phonetic and its pronunciation idiosyncratic is well known. But what is less familiar is that the meaning of a word sometimes depends...
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I wonder how often you think of the comma, the colon or the semi-colon? Or, for that matter, the hyphen, the dash and the apostrophe? Normally punctuation is not something we concern ourselves wi...
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In India we don’t pray for our leaders. Or if we do it’s to be relieved of them. In fact the concept of public prayer is alien unless, of course, maha aartis and friday namaz is what you mean...
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