G. and I went to drop off some books at our favourite Mylapore pavement ‘bookshop’ this afternoon. We also picked up a couple of books for which the owner (one of the sisters who run the shop since their father’s death) declined payment — ‘You are already giving us so…

One of our neighbours in Vizag, Rakesh (name changed), was a seemingly happy-go-lucky man. He smiled and laughed, gave liberally, and generally endeared himself to people, especially his boss, whom he plied with fresh fruits every evening. ‘Alaage promotion sampadinchukunnaru (That is how he earned his promotion),’ smirked his wife…

Part I here. I’ve had a copy of Doctor Copernicus for a few years now, but it needed the push of a trip to a university city in Europe for me to actually get down to reading it. Now, as I traverse the streets of Cracow and Bologna, I think…

A pleasant breeze rises from the Rhine and the sun warms us on the steps as we watch the boaters and the walkers and the idlers. Some men play music on a large speaker. The tables at the restaurants by the river are occupied and spirits flow aplenty. …

I started watching F1 in 2001. Michael Schumacher had won his first title with Ferrari the previous year at Suzuka and the team took the constructors’ title at Sepang. My dad watched the race and I watched the podium celebrations. I don’t know if it was those eye-catching red wigs…

I’ve had my nose in Srinath Perur’s If It’s Monday, It Must Be Madurai for the past couple of weeks. I can’t remember the last time I read a book from start to finish, without getting distracted by other books. …

As the Lunar New Year begins, here is a visual treat for you. Journey to the West is a 16th century Chinese novel written by Wu Cheng’en, which describes Buddhist monk Xuan Zhang’s travel to Central Asia and India in search of scriptures. He journeys with the pilgrims Monkey King…

I once asked a German penpal if they called their country Deutschland or Germany in conversation. He laughed at me. This is probably the reaction I’d get if I asked a Finnish person about the name Suomi; I never knew this was what they called their country. …

Part 1 here. I arrive at the Udayagiri Caves quite early, one of the first tourists there this morning, and therefore a prime target for the guides. I evade them, because I want to be by myself, wander, look at the popular caves, and soak in the knowledge that I…