G.K. Gupta

The honest gambler

My friend Joe Cummin, a young, beefy Anglo-Indian, was a great race enthusiast and knew every in and out of The Royal Calcutta Turf Club.

The great book bazaar

What drags me to Daryaganj in Old Delhi on most Sundays is the lure of the weekly book bazaar.

Sparrow tunes

We were getting used to having her around in our bedroom every morning — a streaked, greyish brown sparrow.

Omens in the sky

The delays at Delhi’s busy airports — on account of the weather or, more often, the waits for landing clearance — are leaving officials and passengers

Whistle stopper

When our first baby arrived in Calcutta, my wife and I started looking for a suitable name.

Shards of memory

I was about four and learning the rudiments of the alphabet. One of my first attempts at handwriting was to lovingly etch the letter ‘S’...

A man of many parts

Except for the high-pitched snoring of the gentleman on the upper berth, the journey to Hardwar in the Mussoorie Express was comfortable.

Taken for a ride

Howrah Railway Station, the gateway to Calcutta, is one of the busiest in India. It is unique in many respects.