Bob’s Banter

  • Technology Wins Against You and Me..!
    One of our leading English dailies had an interesting quote once. It said that “Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than at each other…”How True! Try visiting a friend. You may
  • Freedom from the Past..!
    And as we proudly hoist the flag today, imagine our surprise and consternation if the flag doesn’t rise, “Hey,” we shout, “Come on, we are hoisting you up. Fly free!”“I can’t!” says the flag.“
  • Are You Scorpio, Gemini or Taurus?
    “What sign are you?”“Like in road signs? Halt and go? Stop and Proceed? Maximum speed 15 Kmph? Curve ahead? Do not overtake?”“No, no. Star sign? Like Scorpio, Gemini? Taurus?”“What does Scorpio sa
  • A Future Governor..!
    The members of the social club appeared a disgruntled lot as their President conducted their weekly meeting. A bespectacled man, normally very quiet, but today greatly agitated, rose from his traditional place
  • He Held You As You Fell..!
    For many years visitors coming home would stare at a corner of the entrance, where they saw an old-fashioned umbrella with a handle looking quite guilty as it faced downwards, twisted and out of shape, “Twist
  • When You Go Home..!
    And as the bodies of those killed in Manipur waited to be buried, choir after choir sang for the memorial of the martyrs, and the words rang in my ears, “When you go Home, tell them about us!”Yes, Florence
  • Let Peace Begin With Me..!
    I still remember a drive through Kentucky when suddenly my eye was caught by miles and miles of stonewalls alongside the road, "Built by slaves!" said my brother and I stared at the walls."Stop the car!" I whis
  • Gandhi’s Amazing Spectacles..!
    Indulge me today! I'd like to dream that a rich Indian has purchased Gandhiji’s spectacles and flies home with it to a rousing reception at the Delhi airport. A naval band is there to greet the hero buyer as
  • Protest to Protect People..!
    As I write this piece, my wife is off to join a protest, “For Manipur?” I ask looking up.“No!” she says, “But against atrocities committed against all Indian women!”I nod, and know who will be there
  • When We Show  Mercy..!
    My thoughts go to an incident that took place some time ago in the society I live in: A gardener was employed by my colony to trim the trees, as a branch had fallen on a car during the heavy rains. As he was do
  • Suicide and an Anchor..!
    Since I use the magnificent sea link in Mumbai very often, I was saddened to hear that yesterday another businessman had jumped into the Arabian Sea, from the bridge. As usual, it was someone who felt he had fa
  • Shooting the Messenger..!
    A few years ago, a news item appearing in Indian newspapers mentioned that people had found out that blankets offered by the Indian Railways to its passengers for their overnight journeys were washed only once
  • Fooled by Tiger Statistics..!
    Front page headlines of a leading national English daily yesterday carried news that the tiger population had increased by five hundred tigers!Not in the fourth or fifth page, but headlines on the front page at
  • Bowling a Maiden Over..!
    If you think our maidens are not into cricket you should hear what happened to my fictitious bachelor friend Prem when he returned home after a night out with the boys: His mother who's been longing to see a ba
  • Speechless and Silent..!
    My voice is playing truant again, and I remember an incident a few years ago, just before a choral concert, when my voice took a walk! “Come back!” I shouted silently, but only a hoarse guttural sound came
  • Political Godmen Teachers..!
    “Bob!” said the voice at the other end, “You would fit well as the principal of our godmen school!”It was a few hours after reaching the Godman School, I was summoned hastily for a meeting, “What’s
  • The Wheelchair..!
    These were words I saw in a mosque in Fatehpur Sikri: “The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build not your dwelling there!”The great Fuller was one day taken to the Bank of England, where one of the cle
  • Wasted Biceps and Triceps..!
    Now, I could be talkin’ ‘bout about any one of the ageing Khans or maybe any other actor: So I see one of the ageing Khans trying to show his bare chest to the public, he loves pulling off upper wear and in
  • A Collector’s Item..!
    Many years ago, a young priest told me he was going to do his doctorate. Now, I know that doctorates for priests in our country are a dime a dozen and many small colleges and seminaries offer the same, “Why d
  • Hugs, Rape and Silence..!
    The bearded headman and his fat bald assistant looked at each other worried, “I have to travel to other rich villages and hug their chieftains!” said the bearded headman, “and hopefully they will not ask
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