Category: Opinion

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 — […]

The first step was extremely painful. I limped and looked up helplessly at the winding and rising path ahead, which teased and challenged me. In that moment, I could have surrendered and given up my walk. But something very familiar happened in that moment, yet again. An unseen force took […]

When we talk about our rights, we must also talk about our responsibilities. Demanding rights without shouldering responsibilities is sheer carelessness and a dangerous recipe for strife. In a targeted world order of stability and peace, and coherence, bilateralism must prevail and be promoted over unilateralism. Giving must take precedence […]

In life, there are times when life puts a sudden brake on the pace of our life itself, such as when we are forced to confine ourselves to the walls of our home, for example, in a lock-down during the current pandemic; or when we are not able to venture […]