Remember the famous dialogue delivered by Rajesh Khanna in the iconic movie ‘Anand’, “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin.” (Life should be big, not long.)
The tyranny of fifty flavours and a thousand television channels
In the uncluttered world of the 1960s and 70s, life was much simpler, defined by its limitations. Choice was a luxury we hardly knew we were missing. Whether it was the food we ate, the clothes we wore, or the entertainment we sought, the options were few and far between.
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Courtesy beyond the call of duty
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in Chandigarh has turned my neighborhood into a bustling hub of verification and documentation. Seeing the enumerators going about with their job reminds me of the heartwarming story of a remarkable government school teacher.
‘Water-less or water-loo: No longer a matter of personal preference
When the pandemic engulfed the world, a peculiar madness gripped the West. Millions of Westerners frantically bought toilet rolls. For all of us from the East, the scramble for tissue paper and the sight of their empty shelves in supermarkets was baffling. We simply could not comprehend the urgency to stack paper rolls, but then, tissues are something Westerners cannot do without. Their loos are water-less. No rinsing, no washing, they must clean their bottoms with toilet paper after doing their business. Continue reading “‘Water-less or water-loo: No longer a matter of personal preference”
The Stiletto and the Spouse: Choosing comfort over style
“For husband and shoes, one should look for comfort rather than style.” It’s a sharp one-liner from legendary actress Sharmila Tagore that I still remember, even though I read it decades ago. It was published in the now-defunct ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’, a highly popular magazine during my growing-up days. Back then, as a dreamy-eyed teenager, I was charmed by the tall, dark and handsome heroes of Mills and Boon novels, even though they were arrogant, rude and often cold and distant. Smitten as I was by these heroes, I found her statement absurd and her advice rather strange.
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