Shobhaa De | In search of Idealistic India: It will rise again
4 years, 4 months ago

Shobhaa De | In search of Idealistic India: It will rise again

Deccan Chronicle  

Last week, just after listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, I met a fine young man at a friend’s home. Representing old money and coming from an affluent South Mumbai business family, the good-looking, stylish young man was exactly the kind one could glibly dismiss as a “dandy” or a “dilettante”. But for that dream to materialise, he will need to play ball with babudom -- and nothing can kill a young man’s enthusiasm as much as sarkari hurdles. Especially in our cities, where we have ample opportunities to motivate people like the young man I met, whose commitment to India cannot be in doubt.

India Mumbai Man Young Way  little  friends  way  matter  shobhaa  idealistic  search  mumbai  india  money  man  young  rise  especially

History of this topic

Shobhaa De | Dream Man CJI, Lottery King and a missing royal
9 months ago

Shobhaa De | Dream Man CJI, Lottery King and a missing royal

Deccan Chronicle  

Confession: I have the biggest senior citizen crush on our CJI. The electoral bonds ka monumental joke is actually on us – tax-paying citizens/bakras… A clever meme featuring Ratna Pathak had the last word on the perplexing subject: “Monisha Beta, Electoral bond bolo… hafta vasooli is so middle class…” Still haven’t quite wrapped my head around all the luminaries featured. …

Shobhaa De | Mandatory registration of ‘live-ins’? Way over the top!
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Shobhaa De | Mandatory registration of ‘live-ins’? Way over the top!

Deccan Chronicle  

Am I glad I am not a young person living in Uttarakhand these days. Too many “jhanjats”, I tell you… Let’s start with the compulsory registration of live-in relationships. There are way too many annoying issues in the bill, made still more annoying because of the goody-goody overlay which is artfully designed to convey magnanimous, pro-women intentions -- the State …

Shobhaa De | Welcome to the New India: Ram Rajya is finally here!
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Shobhaa De | Welcome to the New India: Ram Rajya is finally here!

Deccan Chronicle  

We have just celebrated what may be the most crucial Republic Day in the history of India. Analysts insist that the superbly calibrated consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol was more a political than a religious event, going by those present next to the Prime Minister as he conducted the rituals -- the RSS sarsangchalak and the saffron-robed Uttar …

Shobhaa De | Karnataka: Maine Pyaar Kiya! The G-Factor' wins big
1 year, 7 months ago

Shobhaa De | Karnataka: Maine Pyaar Kiya! The G-Factor' wins big

Deccan Chronicle  

“We fought the polls with love”, declared a beaming Rahul Gandhi after his party’s spectacular win in Karnataka. It was Rahul Baba’s Mother’s Day gift to la madre Sonia Gandhi, as fans of the “Famiglia-G” ooh-ed and aah-ed over cuddly pics of ma-beta hugging each other. Her gown was tantalising for sure, with its thigh high slit, and artistically exposed …

Shobhaa De | BBC Badnaam Hua…. Darrrrrling Tere Liye!
1 year, 10 months ago

Shobhaa De | BBC Badnaam Hua…. Darrrrrling Tere Liye!

Deccan Chronicle  

Let me put it bluntly: I am keen to watch the much-talked about, highly controversial, banned in India BBC documentary titled India: The Modi Question. The authorities, using “emergency powers” under the IT rules, have arbitrarily decided to treat 1.3 billion Indian citizens like moronic kids incapable of judging for themselves. Riots didn’t rock the city, as 200 interested students …

Shobhaa De | Political dandiya across India… Happy Navratri!
2 years, 2 months ago

Shobhaa De | Political dandiya across India… Happy Navratri!

Deccan Chronicle  

I was in Ahmedabad… or Amdavad… just before Navratri. The young person with me smiles indulgently and comments: “Here in Gujarat, especially during Navratri, the headgear changes -- but the head remains the same.” We exchange meaningful looks. I tell my friends I am keen to shop for Navratri finery at the many stalls along Law Garden Night Market -- …

Shobhaa De | As Id nears, stories of hope amid a toxic climate of fear
2 years, 7 months ago

Shobhaa De | As Id nears, stories of hope amid a toxic climate of fear

Deccan Chronicle  

I am writing this column to wish everyone Id Mubarak! The same day I had talked to a “non-elite” Muslim, who had shared some great news with me — his daughter had passed a tough, competitive exam and been recruited by a top international firm. I receive hate mail, death threats and face abuse each time I post something positive …

Shobhaa De | Pick your own Indias, boss! All versions are welcome
3 years ago

Shobhaa De | Pick your own Indias, boss! All versions are welcome

Deccan Chronicle  

It’s basically a no-brainer: We all have our own idea of India — even those of us who don’t live in India and are not Indian. Now with all this noise around Vir Das, it has really indeed created two Indias — the India that loves Vir Das, and the India that hates him. I’d like to think these show-offy …

Shobhaa De | In India's neighbourhood: Kuch Kuch Ho Raha Hai
3 years, 3 months ago

Shobhaa De | In India's neighbourhood: Kuch Kuch Ho Raha Hai

Deccan Chronicle  

Last week I was chatting informally with a couple of Afghanistan nerds — knowledgeable folks who have been there… and ummmm… done that. Even pseudo-socialists in India — yes, the jholawalas who pretended to detest capitalist Yankeedom — became instant converts with one generous grant from an American university. Which is precisely why the American position on Afghanistan has destroyed …

Shobhaa De | Can blatant lies save India from Covid-19?
3 years, 7 months ago

Shobhaa De | Can blatant lies save India from Covid-19?

Deccan Chronicle  

Dr Zarir Udwadia, one of India’s most respected physicians, spoke for 1.4 billion Indians in a no-holds-barred BBC interview recently. He also warned it’s likely to take 600 days before India can hope to achieve “herd immunity”. Tushar Mehta, India’s solicitor-general, admonished panic-stricken citizens: “Let’s not be crybabies…” Boo Hoo! Then there was the chief monster of Haryana, Manohar Lal …

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