Our latest English assignment gave us a thrill. It was so much better than boring precis writing or essays — we had to come up with a concept for a radio show and record it on tape! True, actually broadcasting it would have been more fun, but this was a…

My mother always made it a point to tell me how she hardly watched films. After all, respectability lay in books. But over the years, her fib unravelled as we watched movies on TV and she told me about going to watch Guddi with Kala, Abhimaan with Satyan, Yaadon ki…

The earth near the top of Mt Rigi has lain quiet for a while but is gradually recalling its spring promise. Tiny flowers emerge from the soil, even as the snow melts not too far away. The lakes around Mt Rigi wrap themselves in thick white mist, as do…

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. If this…

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. However, I have a new policy this year — if…