The Middle

SWITZERLAND has captivated the world with its breathtaking beauty, justly earning the sobriquet of ‘heaven on earth.’ But, as the saying goes, the way to one’s heart is through the stomach. When the belly and taste buds remain unsatiated, the...

HUNGER is such a burning issue that people often find themselves running from pillar to post, day and night, searching for employment to provide food for themselves and their families. At times, there is so much desperation that they have...

AS I am the sole retired banker in my neighbourhood, fellow residents often approach me for advice on matters related to banking and finance. About a month ago, a tailor who plies his trade near my house sought my help...

A few years ago, as I left the immigration desk after arrival in Brisbane, Australia, an officer standing nearby politely stopped me and said: “Hope you had a good flight. Are you carrying more than $10,000 in cash?” I wasn’t,...

ONE afternoon, an elderly gentleman, who was known to our family, paid us a visit. Thanks to his flowing long white beard and neatly tied turban, he bore a striking resemblance to my late father. As I welcomed him, my...

BACK in early 1995, the Ardh Kumbh was in progress in Allahabad. I was posted as an instructor at the School of Artillery in Deolali, Maharashtra. I had received orders to take over as the second-in-command of my regiment, stationed...

IN the 1970s, the 7.5-km race for seniors was a major attraction at Bishop Cotton School (BCS), Shimla. There was a fierce rivalry between VK Roach (captain of Curzon House) and S Chauhan (captain of Lefroy House) in 1975. On...

LAST week, Capt Karamjit Singh Bakshi and a non-commissioned officer lost their lives in a blast triggered by militants near the Line of Control. This tragedy, all the more saddening for me as I served as a Colonel in the...

HAVING missed the briefing before a golf tournament, a new player asked me about the facility of a preferred lie (for the uninitiated, it allows golfers to improve the ball’s position without any penalty). “Well, place the ball at an...

IN January 1990, militants stepped up their activities in Kashmir. There was a surge in targeted killings; Kashmiri Pandits and other non-Muslims were threatened with dire consequences if they did not leave the Valley. Insurgents backed by Pakistan spread terror...

AS I glanced at the newspaper that morning, one headline caught my attention, ‘Isolated and hostile for long, Andamans’ Jarawa tribals now enrolled as voters’. I remembered the day when I first had a glimpse of these tribal people. Jarawas...

THE first of everything is always treasured, be it the first words spoken by a child, the first day at school or the first kiss. In a fauji’s life, the first posting is an unforgettable event. Every soldier’s experiences upon...

TECHNOLOGY is simply indispensable in today’s world, but it doesn’t always simplify life. Sometimes, it leaves us red-faced and gives us a ‘hold my beer moment’. One of my friends started using an app for translation as part of his...

MOTHERS care, mothers share, mothers dare, and sometimes they make you pull out your hair. Each day spent with them is a learning experience. I am sharing some snapshots. “Does my nail polish match my dress? Silver shoes work with...

I do not remember what kindled my interest in Urdu, but while I was in college, I joined Jamia Millia University’s correspondence course to learn it. It did not take me far, and then other priorities pushed Urdu behind. Two...

THE thrill of riding a tram in Kolkata has been an enduring memory since my college days. For me, these rides were more than a means of transport — they captured the city’s rhythm and soul. Sadly, their nostalgic charm...

A wise old gentleman told me that house-hunting was a much more difficult task than job-hunting and even wife-hunting! Now when I’m looking for a suitable pad in Pune, I remember his prophetic words. Finding a home, even if it’s...

THE Army installed a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the banks of Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh over a month ago. Even as the event sparked a debate, it prompted me to take a walk down memory lane....

AS parents, we were usually trusting and liberal when our son and daughter were growing up. And they were generally candid and well-behaved. But, as we were concerned about their wellbeing, sometimes we resorted to ‘spying’ to keep tabs on...

IN 2010, a professional assignment led to a strange encounter. I had gone to meet a prominent industrialist, known for his groundbreaking success and global ambitions. Having a prior appointment, I arrived at his residence, an opulent estate that spoke...

IN the tapestry of Indian mythology, gods and goddesses are not just celestial beings but embodiments of universal principles — creation, preservation, destruction and accumulation of knowledge. In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity...

I was just seven years old when a series of turbulent events happened over 77 years ago in a couple of villages in Montgomery district (now Sahiwal) of west Punjab. One day, I was whiling away the hours with my...

IT was fascinating for me to watch bureaucrats in action several decades ago. They borrowed most of their mannerisms and idiosyncrasies from the British. When the colonial rulers left the country, it was hoped that the Indian bureaucracy would serve...

Vivek Shukla FROM the clamour of Janpath or Akbar Road, a turn onto Tees January Marg is like stepping into another world. A sense of profound stillness settles upon you. The silence is almost absolute, in stark contrast to the...

AS US President Donald Trump hollered about acquiring Greenland and adding other pieces of land to the American kitty, I was reminded of the childhood game called Trade — better known as Monopoly today. The board game was very popular...