Chacha
Everyone called him “Chacha” (Uncle)* and knew that, should they have a genuine problem, Uttamchand could be counted on to offer assistance. Chacha had a modest textile shop next to the abra point and other merchants and shop-owners always sought his assistance and advice. Uttamchand had a place of honour in the large Indian community […]
The Other Side of Covid
With over 35 years’ experience as a successful wellness counsellor and dietician, Kusum Saxena, who lives in California, has received acclaim for her unique style of teaching. Her health craft offers a four-fold bespoke programme that includes yoga, diet, reflexology and relationship counselling. Through word-of-mouth, Kusum’s customised, effective methodology has garnered a loyal international clientele. […]
Dubai’s ‘Grand Prix’ celebrates a nation’s first decade
The residents of Dubai were eager, impatient and agog with the news that Dubai’s first Grand Prix would be held on 4thDecember 1981 to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the United Arab Emirates’ National Day. As the track reached completion, there was an influx of foreign journalists in town. Ian Macaulay, the son of Edward Macaulay,
The Magic Of Storytelling
A brimful of stories…….fables, narratives, tales, legends, folklore and raconteurs delivering their missives to a spell-bound audience. Story telling is about sharing … it brings together the teller and the listener in a bond that bridges incompatability in society. It closes the hiatus between the young and the elderly, the able bodied and those with […]
Your Constitutional
Urgently required: a painless, inexpensive, strongmedication that couldcombat killers like cancer,heart disease, stroke,diabetes, osteoporosis,obesity, blood pressure,keeping you trim and fit. Doctor’s prescription:Rx.- Walking 15th and 16th century tombs of the Sayyid and Lodhi Rulers Is it possible to have a panacea for all ills? Apparently, it is.The cure is both simple and universally accepted. It […]
The Island of Missing Trees
It is a love story centered around two teenagers, Kostas, a Greek Christian Cypriot who falls in love with Defne, a Turkish Muslim Cypriot – a woman on the other side of the divide. They meet at a tavern on this beautiful island, which they both refer to as ‘home’. A picturesque abode where they flourish and enjoy the wealth of the natural habitat that surrounds them.
Lata…A Legend
I was privileged to meet and interview the renowned Indian film playback singer Lata Mangeshkar on her first trip to Dubai in December 1982. She has been at the centre of the Indian film music scene for over seven decades. In 1959, Time Magazine did a first cover story on her. She had, by then, […]
My Priceless Driving Licence
A driving licence stands at the cross road of teenhood and adulthood, dependant and not independent, a person entitled to an opinion or a youngster whose views are taken with a pinch of salt. A driving licence is a status symbol and passing the test is a red-letter day in your list of achievements! Living […]
A Brimfull Of Asha – The Story Unfolds
When Cornershop burst on to the music scene in 1997 with the Brit award for Song of the Year, I had just hit a half century and life, though full of twists and turns, was still a bed of roses with a couple of thorns in her side! The world had lost two colossal icons […]