Driving in India

This hilarious article was written by an Expert from Baan, Netherlands who spent two years in Hyderabad. For the benefit of every Tom, Dick and Harry visiting India and daring to drive on Indian roads, I am offering a few hints for survival. They are applicable to every place in India except Bihar where life…

The Schoolmaster

By Mabel Annie Chacko (India, 18/12/05) In the days when you couldn’t count on a public toilet facility, an English woman was planning a trip to India. She was registered to stay in a small guest house owned by the local schoolmaster. She was concerned as to whether the guest house contained a WC. In…

Daastaan e Ghazal

The world of Urdu Poetry is much more complex than it seems. It goes much beyond than what you and I listen to on the radio. In fact, Ghazal in Arabic literally means speaking with women. However, the word has a different meaning in Persian and Urdu: it is the last melancholic cry of deer…

With Lal Sahib

From Left – Me, Father, Lal Aunty and Capt. BM Lal – During a Sher o Shayri evening in Rohtak. June 2005. This page features some Sher O Shayri that I shared this summer with Capt. B.M. Lal, our long time neighbour in Rohtak. Click Here (link not active yet) to read excerpts from the…

Dreams Never Die

There she stood ‘neath the hot summer sun It seemed like she’d never been away Well I’d been long in September of my years I could swear it was only yesterday She gave me a smile and I softly said “It’s been too long since you’ve been gone” She said, “I dreamed of you every…

My Hills

I’ve always loved the quite of the mountains Chill of the winds, the music of the fountains Oh the changing seasons thrill my heart so Just like her love that I knew long ago Was only seventeen when I came here A place by the stream, a place so dear Though I’ve traveled far, I’ll…

Once

Once I was a brother, once I was a son Once I had a dream of girl who’d be the one Living by the dirt road, life was such a thrill I sure miss those times I know I always will Growing up was easy time just flew on by Folks in my hometown never…