Letter VIII: When Technology Joined the Beautiful Game My dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd, In my last letter, I told you about the referee and how an English referee named Ken Aston invented the yellow and red cards. I also promised to tell you how modern technology now helps referees make difficult decisions. This isContinue reading “The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-VIII”
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The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-VII
Letter VII : The Referee’s Whistle — Keeping the Game Fair Dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd, The stadium is packed. The crowd is roaring. A player races towards the goal. Suddenly, a sharp whistle cuts through the noise. Everyone stops. Twenty-two players look towards one person—the referee. Why does one whistle have the power toContinue reading “The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-VII”
Lindsey Graham: Beyond the Tariffs
The death of Senator Lindsey Graham has attracted more attention in India than the passing of most American legislators ordinarily would. The reason is not difficult to find. Graham had, in recent years, become one of the sharpest critics of India’s trade practices and among the strongest advocates of punitive tariffs against Indian exports. HisContinue reading “Lindsey Graham: Beyond the Tariffs”
What Remains – The Grace of the Years
(The following message was written for the Golden Jubilee Reunion of my IAS batch, which entered the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in July 1976. Unable to attend the reunion, I shared these reflections with my batchmates. While prompted by a very personal occasion, the thoughts themselves seem to me relevant to anyoneContinue reading “What Remains – The Grace of the Years”
Global Platforms, Local Passions
As the FIFA World Cup moves towards its grand finale, billions across continents are once again participating in one of humanity’s greatest shared spectacles. For a few exhilarating weeks, geography seems to dissolve. Fans from Buenos Aires to Bengaluru, from Lagos to London, celebrate the same goals, debate the same refereeing decisions, and watch theContinue reading “Global Platforms, Local Passions”
Teejan Bai: When an Epic Found Its Voice
The passing of Teejan Bai marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in India’s cultural history. Millions mourn her today, not merely because a celebrated artiste is no more, but because a timeless voice that carried the soul of rural India across the world has fallen silent. She belonged to a world far removed from metropolitanContinue reading “Teejan Bai: When an Epic Found Its Voice”
Beyond the Hydrogen Train
A Journey Towards a New Energy Era A train moved quietly across the plains of Haryana. Unlike the locomotives that have powered India’s railways for generations, it left behind neither smoke nor the smell of diesel. Its only visible emission was a plume of water vapour. To many, it was simply another railway trial. YetContinue reading “Beyond the Hydrogen Train”
उत्तरार्ध का धर्म
जीवन के प्रत्येक चरण का अपना एक धर्म होता है। बाल्यावस्था का धर्म सीखना है। युवावस्था का धर्म सपने देखना और उन्हें पाने के लिए संघर्ष करना है। मध्यावस्था का धर्म परिवार, समाज और अपने कर्तव्य के प्रति उत्तरदायित्व निभाना है। परन्तु जीवन के उत्तरार्ध का धर्म क्या है? यह प्रश्न मेरे मन में अक्सर उभरता है।Continue reading “उत्तरार्ध का धर्म”
The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-VI
Letter VI: What the World Cup Teaches Us Dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd, By now, you know quite a lot about the World Cup. You know how the game is played. You know about the famous trophy, the great players, and the magical moments that make football so exciting. You have seen how teams win,Continue reading “The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-VI”
The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-V
Letter V: Magic Moments (When Football Becomes Unforgettable) Dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd, The World Cup is not only about great players, famous teams, or golden trophies. It is also about moments that seem to belong more to dreams than to reality. Football is a curious game. In a match lasting ninety minutes, there mayContinue reading “The World Cup: A Primer from Grandpa-V”
