Its official name is the London Underground but everyone calls it the tube because that's what it looks like. But actually when you see one of the trains emerge out of ...
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Last week, when the constitution marked its 75th anniversary, there was celebration, pride and satisfaction. Given that the global average lifespan of a constitution is...
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If you’ve heard of 24 Akbar Road in New Delhi it’s probably as the office of the Congress Party. That’s what it was for almost fifty years. But I knew that reside...
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At times the best way to understand the future is to raise questions about it. You may not have the answers but you will, at least, identify the concerns. That should p...
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‘Wild Woodbine’, a cigarette that used to be made by W.D. & H.O. Wills, once issued a handbook with guidelines for British soldiers arriving in India. It was in...
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2025 is a new year and it’s customary to start one either with a resolution or a wish. I’ve had my fill of resolutions. I don’t seem to be able to keep them beyon...
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Of the many things I admire, near the top would be the art of the witty insult or the elegant put-down. It takes restraint, imagination and a certain clever bent of min...
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We all know Dubai and many are keen to visit (and frequently do) but Abu Dhabi, just an hour and half away and the capital of the Emirates, remains largely unknown and ...
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I received a letter the other day raising an intriguing question and I’ve decided to reply in public through this column. “I notice you have different ways of addre...
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To be honest, I’m struggling for the right word. I wouldn’t call it inexplicable because that suggests it cannot be explained. Nor would I myself call it deplorable...
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