India, invaded by various races – Mongols, Afghans, Turks, Iranians and the British – to name a few, was always able to absorb and enrich not just itself but also the occupying forces over the centuries through an assimilation of each others cultures, cuisines, languages and customs. For instance, the profound influence of Persian poet …
Children’s Day
National Child Day is celebrated on November 20 by most countries. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was very fond of children and in the 1950s dedicated his birthday, November 14 as Children’s Day to emphasize the need to care for, educate and protect children. Kids affectionately addressed him as “Chacha” (Uncle, typically father’s younger …
Let there be light
Close to a billion people of Indian origin around the globe were praying – among other things, for “Lakshmi” (wealth) and prosperity – over the past week leading up to the big celebration of Diwali. It is not unusual for religious beliefs and populist rituals to dominate personal and public behaviour on such occasions and …
Homing in
Homing pigeons must provide a cue to us immigrants. These birds have an innate ability to find their way back home over long distances. Or, perhaps just like salmon – that, having migrated to the ocean, travel back to the riverbed where they were spawned – we immigrants retain a latent urge (in Hindi we …
