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What is up with the English language?

India, Oct. 4 -- A friend of mine, Kris Srinivasan, a former foreign secretary who went on to become deputy secretary general of the Commonwealth, once sent me an email I want to share with you. It's... Read More


A caution about letting religion trump politics

India, Sept. 27 -- Every now and then one comes across a book that makes you stop, think, and question. That's not as unusual as you may suppose. But I didn't think it would happen in the case of the ... Read More


The SIR exercise and the points of concern

India, Sept. 20 -- I wonder how many of you are following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise currently underway? I ask because it could affect your right to vote. Some of the facts that hav... Read More


Imran Khan as Asim Munir's 'rock and a hard place' problem

India, Sept. 6 -- I can't claim Imran Khan is a friend but I've interviewed him on multiple occasions. In fact, in multiple locations - at a hotel in Delhi, at his home in Bani Gala near Islamabad, at... Read More


Mecca-pact questions India must ask itself

India, Aug. 30 -- Perhaps because I do interviews, I tend to think of developments in terms of the questions they raise. I am aware the process leads to a certain scepticism or, even, cynicism, but it... Read More


Growing poverty of a once-rich language

India, Aug. 23 -- Is English the richest of all languages? Not being fluent in any other, I have no way of answering that question authoritatively. But, that said and done, I suspect the answer could ... Read More


How Doon shapes its young students

India, Aug. 16 -- Are school days really the best days of one's life? It would be sad if that were true. In my case, it would mean that after leaving Doon at 16, my life has irreversibly deteriorated.... Read More


How the Caliphate almost passed to family of India's Nizam of Hyderabad

India, Aug. 9 -- Sometimes, more interesting than actual history is what you could call "what if" history. It's often referred to as counterfactual story-telling. A delightful book I have just read si... Read More


An Indian dynasty almost inherited the Caliphate

India, Aug. 9 -- Sometimes, more interesting than actual history is what you could call "what if" history. It's often referred to as counterfactual story-telling. A delightful book I have just read si... Read More


The British ceremonies of PMs demitting office

India, Aug. 2 -- The British are widely admired for their sense of humour. They have the unique capacity to laugh at themselves. Even their most cherished and beloved are often the butt of jokes. The ... Read More