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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


Parting of speech: Birth of American English

India, July 26 -- George Bernard Shaw was spot on when he declared that the US and England are two countries separated by a common language. But so too was Henry Higgins. In My Fair Lady, commenting o... Read More


Conflict, Strait of Hormuz and peace deal: The answers we don't have on US-Iran war

India, July 19 -- We've reached a point where questions about the Gulf War seem more significant than the answers we have. It's even arguable that neither side knows what they might be. They're reacti... Read More


The delight Wenger's has been for Delhi for 100 years

India, July 12 -- In my childhood, trips to Connaught Place frequently ended with visits to Wenger's. The once Swiss-owned confectionery was a favourite haunt for snacks in between shopping. The chick... Read More


Lost in translation: How India speaks English

India, July 5 -- Do you know what makes the English we speak so different to that spoken by the British? It's not simply our accent and pronunciation, nor our vocabulary, or even our grammar, includin... Read More


Windfall for Pakistan from the peace deal

India, June 28 -- I was asked an intriguing question the other day that set me thinking. To be honest, I'm not sure if it wasn't intended as a joke or, perhaps, to provoke. But it raised an issue I ha... Read More