trading on the religiosity

Righteousness and deep devotion to religion carry an astounding strong appeal. Who would not like to be rightly guided? Religious bigotry is one of my pet aversions, nonetheless. Think of a religionist who gets to a feeling like being in higher feather. He puffs up with pride...

Hajj: The High Maintenance Journey

 I make no bones to admit that years after performing the Hajj pilgrimage my bubbling enthusiasm and attendant excitement have since run out of steam. I do say Salah (nimaz) five times. In fact, I recite Koran in the mornings, and perform several other ‘Haqooq-ullah’...

Mommy is back

When he was a neo natal, still in swaddling clothes, his young upwardly mobile mommy would always be under the gun. Either partner of the career couple would stay back and swap the rule of baby sitters. Tinkies, with two incomes, nanny and kids would leave him with the nanny...

RESPECTED TO FEAR.

Father loves his son. He wants him to grow up into a no-limit person in every single aspect of his life, and enjoy life without developing a sour attitude or a defeatist posture. He would like him to feel successful in every respect and be positive about his life rather than...

MARKETING MYOPIA

Historically people/countries became rich if they possessed more natural resources and used superior technology and skills. Having gotten rich first allowed them to save more than those in poorer lands. With more savings more could be invested in plant and equipment. More...

latch key kid

Several decades back, the 'feminism' movement advocated women's rights of full citizenship i.e. the political and social equality with men. Aimed at breaking male barriers to derive the sense of identity/security and worth from their abilities to earn and get the equal power,...

AGREEING NOT TO SAY NO

While pointing to the basketful of brinjals window-dressed in a vendor's shop, the emperor Akbar asked his wazir, Birbal, 'Do you see yonder brinjals; are not they a nasty vegetable?' Birbal; 'zile-illahi! Of course they’re nothing but trash; even dogs do not eat...

AUTUMN BLUES IN KASHMIR

As the Dachh pompur whistles its arrival from  scraggy tree tops the changing colors of leaves, here and there, confirm that the autumn is some where in the corner. Every time one walks underneath (the crown of) a tree, a leaf or two would fall down in front to be trodden...

little brat

In a bid to win her brother's approval, the little monkey is suddenly gone soft-soaping, and of course honey-tongued. Making a doormat of herself and waiting on hand and foot she is virtually thrown herself at the feet of her brother. Fallen on knees she oils her tongue,...