India, Oct. 4 -- For decades, so-called Cola Wars-the legendary rivalry between two global beverage giants-have been the subject of heated debates, exhaustive case studies, numerous books, and documentaries. But my personal journey with cola predates all this hype, going back almost six decades to my childhood in Delhi, when soft drinks were marketed in 200 ml glass bottles and were considered a luxury in middle-class homes like mine, where, often, they were reserved for VIP guests, while the rest of us made do with fluorescent, sugary squashes or the ever-reliable nimbu-paani.
Moreover, a bottle was rarely enjoyed in full, as glasses were filled with ice to stretch the serving. It is against this background that my elder brother often rec...