Category: Blogs

Deepawali (also known as ‘Diwali’) unified my world a few days ago, albeit for a day at least. Many friends and well-wishers from across the planet, belonging to all major religious faiths — Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam (both Sunni and Shia), Jainism and Buddhism — sent me warm, personalised greetings […]

Moon River must have been around 72 years old when she passed away on November 5, 2019, in a hotel room at Mumbai, awaiting treatment to her sickness. She had been an exceptionally sharp, witty and beautiful woman, inherently a thinker by her natural disposition. Coming from a family of […]

I died ten days ago. My name was Flower. I don’t know how I died. I was in my early seventies but I looked at least a decade older. I did not dye my white hair. My eyesight was weak and I looked frail, with a slight hunch. Not long […]

It is already mid-autumn and the old tree is still loaded with fruit. Alas, there are not any fruit pickers around! Winter is looming. The old tree may not survive the winter; it may be destined to wither away. It can do nothing but wait and hope its fruit is […]

Vaali, a white shepherd, is my son’s pet. Born in Perth, Western Australia, about 6 years ago, Vaali lives currently in Auckland, New Zealand. Earlier, he lived in Christchurch for a couple of years. In my book, “A book of random thoughts — conversations with myself” (2019), I wrote about […]

I call my dad a few times every day, via video or audio. Each time we speak for at least half an hour. After exchanging our customary, warm greetings, we usually discuss mundane things, such as weather and food – breakfast or lunch or dinner – depending upon the time […]

What is the meaning of life? Ask Krishna, a Delhi-based, home bound, 17-year old, Year 12 student, nephew of the author, with whom the author caught up, on May 19, 2021, via a video chat. No amount of ‘wise’ words, assurances, reassurances or philosophy could help the author to bring […]

I am 58 but how does it matter if I live to 85 or 95 or not? What changes between now and then, will the quality of my life improve and be better than what I have lived so far? A longer life does not necessarily mean a better life. […]

Yes, I dared to run. I wanted to make a positive difference. I had absolutely no experience in active politics, but I still ran. I had confidence in myself; I believed I could do it. And I did it, I ran the full race. I tried my best. I ran […]

Elections are festivals of democracies. The festival of March 2021 WA state election started on 24 February 2021. The festival culminates on 13 March 2021, the Election Day. A long and hard election campaign I kicked off my election campaign about six months ago — in early September 2020 — […]