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At some point I could be tempted to write a book, but it would not be academic. I can pretend to be intelligent, because interviewers do, but I am not an academic. There is indeed a certain pretense of gravitas, knowledge, analysis, judgment and wisdom that an anchor needs to take on, even though he may not always know so much.

Politics would have also tempted me, if the terms of entry would permit people like me in, allowing me to be myself, stand up for my beliefs without compromising them, succeeding even though I am not the son of some renowned politician. At the moment it is not possible in Indian politics and so those doors are closed.

What is spirituality for you in your day to day life?

My sense of God is not defined by any custom or practice, but I do have one ritual. I keep on my bedside table a few miniature statues of Gods given by my mother. I always take them when I travel, along with a small photograph of my wife Nisha. Once though, I was travelling to Sri Lanka and I forgot them. While on a brief stopover in Bombay, a friend gave me instead a tiny crystal Ganesh. On my last day in Colombo, the hotel was bombed. I was lucky to escape with only a few stitches. The room was destroyed, the ceilings were falling apart --- the only thing that survived intact was the wee little crystal Ganesh. I have not forgotten those statues ever since again.

What is the role of spirituality in your life as a journalist?

There are two regular instances I can mention: the last thing I say to myself five seconds before an interview begins is “God help me”; and when the cameraman starts the countdown “five, four, three…” and a show is about to start, I tell myself the same, “God help me”. I know it is partly superstition, but it is enough to give me a sense of assurance, comfort and courage, as if looking at something greater than me that somehow determines and guides me.

Can you tell us about a unique experience that changed or shaped your spiritual beliefs?

In 1989, my wife Nisha suffered from encephalitis, a viral fever attacking the brain. She fell into a coma and died a month later. With my habit of bargaining with God, I made the biggest promises ever during that month, ready to give up everything. But that one time, the bargain did not work. And I finally told myself it was a stupid way of behaving: I could not spend my life making deals with the Lord, hoping He will keep His side of the bargain, just because I do. I can still express the need to believe in Him, or some force, but not be that stupid and make those deals. And I have not made one ever since. So in a way, Nisha’s passing away helped me grow up. It did not make me doubt the Lord altogether though. I accepted it as something that had to happen.

What have been your main spiritual inspirations?

At home, the atmosphere was completely secular, there was neither religiosity nor rituals. Neither of my parents are overtly religious, though they may believe in their heart. One person I may mention is Father Terry Billfeather who married Nisha and I. Nisha was a Catholic and there was no way I would convert. But Father Terry made me understand it did not matter and married us with a full communion. He is my idea of a good priest --- an extremely understanding man, utterly human, with the broadest mind, not a narrow bigot diminished by religion, and with a revolutionary ecumenical understanding of faith.

If you were to be reincarnated, what would you like to be reincarnated as?

Reincarnation is not something I ever think about. It is beyond the realm of my mental thinking.

If there was one question you could ask God, what would it be?

Do You exist or are You a manifestation of an inadequacy we all feel?

What is your idea of happiness?

Happiness, or contentment, are about a number of things working out properly --- enough money not to be hungry or dissatisfied, achieving something and being rewarded for it, fulfilling one’s skills, seeing those who matters to me being happy. No matter what though, I am on the overall an optimist. I do not get thrown by things going wrong, I do not get depressed or pessimistic for long, I have the capacity to put the unfortunate behind me and get on with it. I see the silver lining no matter how gray or black the clouds are. Often I actually see the lining and not at all the clouds --- there may almost be a delusory element in me.