Ignited presidency: a poem that Kalam did not write

Sunday 1 July '07

Sitting under a sandstone chhatri in the viceregal palace created by Edward Lutyens was President Kalam with pen in hand, collecting some extremely pressing thoughts on paper...

Future in a job card

Thursday 28 June '07

One justification for the bifurcation of Madhya Pra-desh and the creation of the predominantly tribal Chhattisgarh state in November 2000

Bofors getting you down? Call in the Jamaican Police

Sunday 17 June '07

Don't get me wrong. Our Central Bureau of Investigation is among the best of its kind in the world. Its motto says it all: Industry, Impartiality and Integrity.

Two goose steps back

Thursday 7 June '07

The media gags show Musharraf is finding it difficult to remain appearing both dictator and democrat

Oh God, it’s got so hot out here in Rajasthan! Really!

Sunday 3 June '07

For Vasundhara Raja Scindia, this was a busy week. An account of the last few days captured on the pages of the royal diary. . .

The right to return home

Friday 1 June '07

For over 17 years, the Bhutan refugee crisis has lingered on. In 1990-91, when 106,000 bonafide Bhutanese citizens of Nepali extraction, the Lhotshampas, found themselves...

And so we continue to battle the English (just mark our words)

Sunday 20 May '07

Lads and ladis, let us to be celebrating our first war of independence by hailing with our hankies our hero and hero-ranis. First was our own Hero No.

Mamma, Rahul was simply splendido!

Sunday 6 May '07

Mamma mia, O mamma, it’s caldo, caldo, caldo, hot, hot, hot. Oggi il temp e brutto, today the weather is simply nasty.

Rock stars in uniform

Tuesday 1 May '07

‘Encounter specialists’ get away with murder because the system cannot care less

BJP: A party that’s always in currency

Sunday 22 April '07

Don’t know about you, but I found Babubhai Katara’s bid for his 15 minutes of fame on national prime time last week simply audacious.

A coach for Team India? Here’s my list

Sunday 8 April '07

Last week threw up two big questions. One, who will win Uttar Pradesh? Two, who should coach Team India?

BJP’s Temple Index

Thursday 5 April '07

Why underplay Ayodhya in UP? Party’s reacting to popular aspirations

The Blues Billion: Crying into the World Cup

Sunday 25 March '07

Phew, what a week! It began with news of Bob Woolmer’s death and ended with the death of a billion hopes right here in India.

Democracy, Musharraf style

Wednesday 21 March '07

It is spring time in Lahore. Bright green shoots emerge from its majestic trees. To many in India, Lahore remains special.

Don’t cry for me, Argentina: Ottavio Quattrocchi

Sunday 11 March '07

India˜s second best-known Italian, Ottavio Quattrocchi, fugitive from justice, spent most of last week incarcerated in his hotel room...

Figuring women

Thursday 8 March '07

On Women’s Day, some data for thought: The more things change for India’s women, the more they remain the same

O(u)nion budget for the calm aadmi

Sunday 25 February '07

The things I do for this column! I actually breached the 10-ring security cordon around North Block to get you an advance copy of the document that the hon’ble Finance Minister will present to the nation on Wednesday.

J&K’s bodies of evidence

Monday 12 February '07

Encounter murders have undermined the promise of the 2002 elections in the state

Aa shun dhamaal chey, what’s all this fuss over Parzania-Tarzania?

Sunday 11 February '07

Bhaiyo ney behno, Namaskar, greetings, brothers and sisters. I, your chief minister, greet you with a manohar padm, a beautiful lotus.

Mamma, they want me to take another immersione in the Ganges!

Sunday 28 January '07

Just snatched a few minuti to dash off this note to you, carissimo, dearest, Mamma.

Inside the idiot box

Friday 19 January '07

Outrage over racism in the time of reality television

Kaun Banega Hero No 1?

Sunday 14 January '07

There's a new game show in town. KBC, or Kaun Banega Crorepati. You can also call it BB vs KK, or Big Bachchan vs King Khan.

Words and whispers, 2006

Sunday 31 December '06

Let’s take a quick run through the words and catchphrases of the year gone by

Getting on with the jobs

Saturday 30 December '06

The most important welfare programme of 2006 must gain relevance in 2007