Finding a Tree is becoming more and more difficult in Hyderabad. It is slowly transforming into a huge concrete jungle. There is construction going on everywhere. It’s either the metro rail, a flyover or the hundreds of multi-storeyed apartments. As a result, there is always a traffic jam. Many of the main roads are abruptly [...]
A bar proudly proclaims that it serves chilled beer. You do not need a second invitation. The Sun is scorching. It’s brimming fire. The outside temperature is 43 degrees. However, inside it’s like being shifted from a frying pan to a sauna. The air-conditioning is not working. “ No power” I am told. I nod [...]
Often I am asked what is so special about Manipal and why am I so fond of it. One selfish reason could be that Manipal has reciprocated my love amply. I am still invited by various clubs. It feels good to be remembered. Among many other reasons, I pick up one specifically today. It is [...]
Very often in life, we tend to misjudge people. The people whom we treat as our harshest enemies turn out to be our best friends. I went to address a group of school children. I had always prided on my gift of the gab and convincing power. So I was confident that I would slip [...]
Harsh Kalia’s untimely demise left me sad. I cannot claim to be close to him. I just met him once and I have a very hazy memory of that meeting. All I remember is that he was a good looking young man with a winning smile and charming manners. Each semester Manipal loses at least [...]
The response to the previous article was overwhelming. I was deluged with requests to narrate some more anecdotes. Surprisingly many of them were from non- Manipalites. So I guess I am not the only one afflicted with that disease called Manipalitis. A character that is rarely advertised when talking about Manipal is the sensitive side [...]
I can imagine my father turning in his grave. “ What now a book! Are you crazy? Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?” Even I have thought about it often. What did my parents do to deserve me. They were simple folks who worked hard in their lives, retired gracefully and died peacefully when their time [...]
‘Hi I am Rat’ I watched him closely. With his spikes and coloring he looked more like a cross between a peacock and a human being . His name was Ratnakar and he was my friend’s son. I love a little bit of irreverence. Profanity is also fine with me. It brings a little spice [...]
It was one of the most distressing emails I had read. A young man had lost his father. He was devastated. It seemed to him the most unfair thing to happen. I knew that any words of sympathy would sound hollow. Losing a loved one at any age is painful. Manipal has the curse of [...]
Dr. Vishaal Bhat started an interesting discussion on The North South Divide. I would like to narrate my experience of living in the South. Many years back, I was working in a Cement Plant in Maharashtra. I was the GM there and we had one Prasad as the Vice President. He was from Hyderabad. Soon [...]
