No matter how many toys and books we buy, children always out-fox us by preferring: 1. our company2. water3. mud4. pots and pans5. real, concrete tasks6. our company At least, that’s been [...]

You worry about a bird that doesn’t fly. I saw this little fellow perched on a potted plant in our garden yesterday and I thought – “let me just run inside and grab the [...]

What goes on in the mind of a child? Why is a swing so compelling, why does a mud puddle demand to be jumped in? What makes a a child kick a stone as she walks? And why-oh-why is a walky-talky so [...]

When Ravi was in his teens in Mumbai (and I was still an innocent babe in Fall River), one of his favorite pastimes was going to the movies. In the late 50’s, American movies were in [...]

I woke this morning feeling sad – you could almost say bereft. Swimming up through the waves of drowse and languid torpor, I couldn’t put my finger on the cause of the problem. I [...]

Vina died today (September 1st) after a year-long battle with cancer. She was brave and valiant almost to the very end  – in her last year, she gave her children, grandchildren and her [...]

Getting Vibha Krishnamurthy to come to Dehradun, on any pretext, is always worth doing. She is one of the smartest, funniest, most enchanting people I have ever known and the fact that she is [...]

I was cooking dinner the night before the big Latika Vihar picnic when Vikram appeared at the kitchen window. Lakshi was in his arms, looking sleepy, but determined. “Ma’am,” he [...]

Nearly a decade ago, Somebody gave Somebody (both shall remain nameless) a particularly Lurid Souvenir, acquired on a trip to Brazil. Second Somebody didn’t want the gift, but unable to [...]

What a week I’ve had. A series of amazing meetings in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai – each one a little gem of perfection and good will, each one filling me with a sense of [...]