Category: Uncategorized

In the beginning was love. With the advent of writing came the Love Letter. SMS and email can never replace the Love Letter.  It is the most precious form of communication between the lover and the beloved, when they are separated by time and space. “In the beginning when God created the heavens…the spirit of…

Tithing is the ancient Biblical practice of giving one tenth of one’s earnings to God’s representatives, the Levites. They were descendants of Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, and therefore one of the 12 tribes of Israel. They were by birthright an intermediary priestly class. According to the Mosaic Law the Israelites were…

Permit me a frank admission. Pork is my favourite dish, in any form. However, now that I am growing in age and girth, I know that I should not overindulge in taste bud ticklers like pork, butter or sweets. It is a purely physical matter, having nothing whatsoever to do with religion or Christian/ Biblical…

Back in 1990, the indomitable George Menezes was demitting office as National President of the All India Catholic Union (AICU), and was looking for a successor.  His choice fell on me, a 39-year-old unlettered, dishevelled northerner!  George said that I was like a son to him.  Though flattered, I could not reciprocate by calling George…

What the hell?  There’s something wrong in the spelling of the title.  It should be spelt HAIL the Republic, considering that it was on this day 54 years ago that we Indians constituted ourselves into a Sovereign, Secular, Socialist Republic.  The Constitution of India begins with the solemn intonation, “WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA.”       …

February is budget time.  In the pink hey days of socialism (not quite red in India) both the businessman and Laxman’s common man cringed in fear.  Paanwallas started hoarding up cigarettes in anticipation of a price rise.  A drop in prices or taxes was unimaginable. Even Direct taxes – income tax, wealth tax, estate duty,…