Feature - Comfortably Numb

Feature: How Relevant Are You?

How relevant are you? We don’t analyse it much, but it’s astonishing what we do to stay relevant. Relevant to who? Why, to our kith and kin, our friends and neighbours, the people we work for, the people we work with, the people who work for us, indeed, to the section of the whole wide…

Feature: The Sathya Saran Interview

Chronicle of a ghazal singer Sathya Saran talks about her book on ghazal singer Jagjit Singh. Sathya Saran is as busy as ever. The former editor of Femina now writes articles as a freelancer, books as an author, and edits and assigns books as Consulting Editor, HarperCollins Publishers India. She also teaches fashion journalism at…

Feature: Shopaholics Galore!

Shop till you drop? Don’t! SHEILA KUMAR Retail therapy makes for good jokes but not good advice. One can easily cross the line between enthusiastic shopper and compulsive shopper We are forever hearing that retail therapy is the best cure for all sorts of blues, and your bank balance be damned. We also know…

Travel: China Diary

China Diary The overarching impression is of a country where everyone has turned consumer with a vengeance. The Mao suit is grey I am in Beijing a week after the PLA parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of China’s war against Japan. On subway trains, the TV screens are beaming the visuals in a loop:…

Feature: The Vinay Sarvotham Interview

The Spine Whisperer Over the last few years, Dr Vinay Sarvotham has emerged as a non-invasive spine therapist of repute. In an interview, he discusses the challenges of treating spinal issues. What would you call your specialised field of healing? Are you an accupressurist? A chiropractor? Neither, actually. I am an acupressure and craniosacral therapist. But…

Feature: Why Men Don`t Talk About Divorce

Why Men Don`t Talk About Divorce When I told my (male) friend I was writing on men and divorce, he did a double take. “Why?” he asked me tersely. “Why not?” I asked in return. He then took a deep breath and informed me that men don’t like to hear or read about, leave alone…

Feature: The new reader, the new writer

Indian English literature It’s all about the money, stupid. Or is it? Sheila Kumar| Change being a constant, we have been — ad nauseam — told for some time now that this is the post-CB age, the age of the new writer and the new reader. Commercial fiction has won the day, we are told….

Feature: Straight from Seoul: the uber-popular Kdramas

Straight from Seoul Glossy production values and crisp stories keep fans glued to Korean dramas. Seen here is a still from Korean serial IRIS, aired on Tamil channel ‘Puthuyugam’ In a new cultural takeover, Korean dramas are slowly invading Indian hearts, minds and TV sets. For a while now, just under a decade to…

Feature: So, What`s the Goss?

Don`t tell anyone, okay? Like it or not, gossip makes the world go round. The savvy thing here would be to stay on top of the rumour mills. A few lessons on managing the eternally thrumming grapevine. Ask me all about gossip. I know. I was living and working in the capital…

Feature: Women Who Bond

That silken bond Tomorrow is international women’s day. And contrary to popular misconceptions, the ladies aren’t at each other’s throats. Sheila Kumar reckons that they are enjoying each other’s company and forging close bonds. Move over old…