The small, specific moments that make up an ordinary life: a flight delayed, a hotel remembered, a teacher honoured, a friendship that outlived its purpose. Not arguments or lessons, just an honest attempt to notice people and places clearly, including the writer's own ageing, uncertainty, and the identities carried along the way.
I remember that I was asked in 1984 to teach undergraduate students of IIT, Bombay “Environmental Science & Engg” over 36 lectures. Earlier, there were three professors who co-taught this course splitting the course into compartments such as water pollution, air pollution and waste management. This was because those professors were specialized in these specific areas. I realized that this way of “siloed” teaching is…
Read the full post →Most of my readers know about my friend who lives on the 104th floor in the tallest building in Mumbai. For those who don’t know, this friend of mine is the richest person in the world. His wealth is more than the wealth of Ambani’s (I mean Mukesh), Adanis, Tatas (including Shapoorji’s), Birla’s and Mahindra’s, Agarwal’s and Mittal’s all put together. He pays income tax as…
Read the full post →My son was with us for a couple of months taking a break. He works in Toronto. We decided to spend 4 days at La Villa Bethany at Landour, a quiet cantonment some 1500 ft above Mussourie in Uttarakhand. La Villa Bethany is a wonderful home stay place. Its owners have renovated an old British bungalow that is more than 150 years. The Kusane couple…
Read the full post →Your glasses are one of the first things people notice about you. Your choice of eyewear can impact your personal life and professional life more than you might expect. Today, spectacles are not only a vision aid, but also a stylish accessory. Importantly, spectacles allow you to express your personality and emphasize your style. Some surveys have shown that men gravitate more toward aviators and metal frames,…
Read the full post →Most of my readers know about my friend who lives on the 104th floor in the tallest building in Mumbai. For those who don’t know, this friend of mine is the richest person in the world. His wealth is more than the wealth of Ambani’s (I mean Mukesh), Adanis, Tatas (including Shapoorji’s), Birla’s and Mahindra’s, Agarwal’s and Mittal’s all put together. He pays income tax as…
Read the full post →The year 2022 ends now and year 2023 will soon begin. This is a moment of nostalgia and a hope for happiness for the times ahead. My Professor Friend and I decided to meet at our usual coffee shop for a chat and retrospect. How will 2023 be for all of us was however a moot question. “Only COP will know” said Professor lighting his…
Read the full post →Lincoln Park My daughter lives in Washington DC near Capitol Hill. Close to her house is the Lincoln Park. This Park is frequented by the young and old in the neighborhood. The young come to jog and the senior and old walk with their dogs. It’s great to see how the dogs interact with each other, chase and jump around. But of course then there…
Read the full post →Life has been very stressful today to most of us. You have to navigate through a maze of challenges, face bitter experiences, and live through fear, anger and frustrations. The situation is getting more difficult day by day. According to my Professor friend, one very powerful solution in such difficult times is the company of “right” kind of friends. Such friends in your life can…
Read the full post →When you are meeting a close friend or your date, then selecting the place to meet becomes extremely important. It’s a pity that many don’t pay much attention to this detail. The meeting place you choose, shows your taste, personality and experience. And of course, the meeting place must resonate with the purpose of your meeting. For instance, You may not like to take your…
Read the full post →We often remember or cherish the occasion, or the experience that we witness when it is for the first time. You fondly remember those moments when these first experiences are pleasant, memorable and positively impacting our lives. We don’t enjoy those firsts when the experiences are bitter, unfair or unpleasant to remember. But a gesture of giving someone else a memorable first-time experience is very…
Read the full post →