Kishwar Desai

Mar 31, 2010
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Kishwar Desai

A Harvard mom

Landing in Boston over the last weekend to dreary, grey skies, and a light drizzle, there was endless discussion about a hopelessly wet graduation day. So wardrobes became increasingly less elaborate, as did the footwear. And we, the family and friends of the class of 2011, were told to be prepared to swim across the river Charles, by some grim sages

Naughty boys’ club

This week, perhaps, the most annoying statement on adulterous men came from the charming Hugh Grant. He pointed out that since men like to be “naughty”, the press should not be allowed access to their foibles. Even though he said it before the head of International Monetary Fund was caught allegedly with his pants down, undoubtedly

NRIs pass with flying colours

Is it my imagination or has the traveller of Indian origin become a much more disciplined and pleasant person? On board the dreaded economy class, Air India, I was shocked to find that there wasn’t a single drunkard; most people were well-mannered, they formed queues, and even the toilets were clean! What could possibly have happened?

Mr Obama, define justice

Post Osama bin Laden’s killing, while the bloodhounds in India immediately began to clamour for a similar “surgical strike” on the head of the D-Company allegedly in Pakistan, in the United Kingdom it was a time for sober reflection. A time to ponder about justifying the killing of an unarmed man, in front of his wife and children, even if he was a dangerous terrorist.

Watch your words

Because everyone is going to be talking, writing, blogging, tweeting about the biggest TV wedding ever (two billion people watching at last count) I thought I would break away and write about something that has landed British Prime Minister David Cameron in quite a spot this week! So far, post-election, the Premier has been walking

Mental illness out in the open

In the United Kingdom, another Catherine (not just the future Queen) is also in the news but for a different reason. Mental illness is something that no one likes to openly talk about. It is an unknown and frightening territory. Losing control over one’s mind can mean not just loss of dignity but also an annihilation of your self and your self-perception.

How easy is a ride to Britain

So, what do you think is more likely to inflame extremist elements? If you encourage immigration or if you discourage it? If you speak about it, or if you are silent on the issue? Regardless, most political leaders in the Western hemisphere can’t resist immigrant-bashing whenever the economy wobbles dangerously.

Relax. Icons can err too

Thank God good sense prevailed on Union law minister M. Veerappa Moily as he decided not to ban Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India written by Joseph Lelyveld, the former New York Times editor. Having spouted furious condemnation about the book (without having read it) and even considering an anti-blasphemy law protecting the Mahatma’s memory from desecration, Mr Moily had second thoughts or has been persuaded by higher powers to change his mind.

Woman power

While an enormous din and mayhem prevailed in the Indian Parliament over the latest WikiLeaks cable revelations concerning the vote over the nuclear deal, Congress president Sonia Gandhi in London was calm and relaxed. She even shared an occasional joke as she spoke about a subject which is as important (if not more) as the nuclear policy: Women — Agents for Change.

The girl who will be queen

So now for the job description: You get to wear great clothes, have your photograph in the paper every day, fly all over the world, cut ribbons, head charities and wave to the crowds. As you can see, it’s a very tough job and not many people will qualify. The upside is that you get to live in palaces, and even though he is now rapidly going bald, you get to marry the future King of England.

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I want to begin with a little story that was told to me by a leading executive at Aptech. He was exercising in a gym with a lot of younger people.

Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen didn’t make the cut. Neither did Shaji Karun’s Piravi, which bagged 31 international awards.

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