Last week when I was writing an article about online libraries in India, I got to speak to some of the individuals who are running them on their own steam. The experience was thoroughly enjoyable and it was refreshing to hear from them that their reader base has been expanding since inception. COVID was a challenge but due to the restrictions, children ended up upgrading their skills and more joined their ilk. In the writer circles that I now move

In my career in a teaching hospital, my job involved working with 18 to 25-year-olds who were pursuing their MBBS or MD. These were bright, young students; the crème de la crème as they say; considering they were pursuing medicine in one of the premier institutes of our country. I used to enjoy interacting with them so many a time our discussions would go beyond the realm of curriculum. As bright as they were, some them would appear lost. They

As our family of three hugged and wish each other a happy new year at midnight, my daughter’s first words were, “Hum bach gaye. We survived. We made it.” Three simple words but they carry the gist of this year in them. This can be interpreted on so many levels. Going by the tone and emotion in her voice, this is what I concluded. There was a huge sigh of relief tinged with a bit of sadness. Was it survivor’s

Recently I randomly searched the term ‘competitive spirit’ and this is what Google threw- ‘a combative, fighting attitude or temperament’; and ‘a drive to win; desire to succeed and be the best’. I think I am a competitive person and I often introspect on that part of me as to why I may be like that. It must have started innocuously with loved ones pushing and cheering me on and who doesn’t like to be appreciated. Later on, I assume

I have often proclaimed that I have a huge respect for children and a big reason for that is; they are not people pleasers and that they have a conscience they heed to. As we grow older, we often struggle with both these concepts. The idea of being alone and unpopular is not a palatable one, so to an extent that struggle is justified. When I was in third standard, I remember a moral science lesson that centred around conscience.

The other day my daughter and I happened to linger on a dance-based reality show while browsing through channels. We especially enjoyed one contestant’s performance and were curious about what the judges had to say. Two of them had words of appreciation but the third one wasn’t impressed. My daughter was empathetic and wondered how sad the contestant would be. As if it wasn’t bad enough; that she had to smile and nod through it all made it even worse.

23rd August 2020 If I asked you what were you doing on that day, chances are you may not remember. If I tell you it was a Sunday, you might say— Oh it was just a usual lazy holiday, catching up with family, enjoying a hearty brunch or some such. What was I doing, you might ask? In all probability, I must have been worrying or cribbing about the lockdown that was making our return from Mumbai difficult (with the

We are back in Hong Kong as most of you would know and since schools here have started, we dived straight into routine and the discipline it needs. In the given times that is a blessing in disguise as most would agree. That also means I have a bubbly twelve-year-old coming back from school brimming with stuff she can’t wait to share. When I look at her bright eyes and hear her non-stop chatter I am filled with gratitude and

I’m not the one you would find wallowing in regrets but not having played too many sports is something that does prick me. I loved skipping and badminton and did indulge in free play with friends and cousins but I was essentially a homebody happy with my books, art and crafts and connecting with friends who had similar tastes. I am not lazy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite because I like to keep busy. Just that my idea of