Rachna Singh's Blog, page 10
August 10, 2014
Parents on Projects
In the good old days, learning was imparted by noble teachers who read out chapters from text books, explained them, and gave homework, as they scratched their backs with rulers, and threw bits of chalk at us. We were supposed to complete the homework in our ‘copies’ and turn it in the next day. […]
August 7, 2014
The Name’s Bond
Rakshabandhan, the festival that celebrates the brother-sister bond is almost here, and it’s time to discuss the relevance of the ‘bond’ in these times. My twelve year old daughter tells me that the cute, lip-glossed, scrubbed and powdered brothers who wipe a tear from the side of their eye, while handing over a box of […]
August 4, 2014
Don’t take off please…
Prithvi’s cousins, Ashwin and Kartik lost their grandfather last week. A fine gentleman, who was known for his exemplary values and strong personality, he had been ailing for sometime. Prithvi was very disturbed. ‘If I am very good – like really good all my life, can I get to stay in the same room as […]
August 1, 2014
The Politician With A Pen
This year has been marked by politicians turning writers, leading to many views emerging on the same. I also have a view, because I have basic metabolic functions – the presence of those entitle people to have a view. To begin with, let me educate you about the typical Indian politician’s career graph. It […]
July 16, 2014
The Evolution of ‘Bathroom’
In most parts of Uttar Pradesh, the good old word ‘bathroom’ is also used as a synonym for what one does in a bathroom ‘Oh no! He has done bathroom in his pants!’ Some genteel folk found that ridiculous and they berated the less refined to get the word right. ‘Say toilet, not bathroom.’ Since […]
July 9, 2014
10 Things Women Want from this Budget
Now, no one really knows what women want. In fact, in those olden times, since men go so confused about what women really wanted, they branded them as witches and burnt them. I can understand that. So, I don’t expect Mr Modi to know what women want. In fact, he should not even attempt that. […]
July 2, 2014
Five Things That Publishers Need To Do Differently
5. Have a differentiated rewards program: Other than a miniscule royalty, there are no carrots out there for writers. Publishers need to look beyond the limited world of royalty and signing fee. Publishers could look at invitations to special events, subscription to magazines, membership to author clubs, nomination to a writing workshop, media coverage opportunities, […]
June 21, 2014
Awards Day at School
Saturdays are about relaxing: colouring your hair, walking across the street with a bundle of clothes towards the istree-waala, trimming your nails and so on. But, some Saturdays are different. On such days, you need to just part your greying hair differently, iron your own clothes and bite your nails as you drive to the School’s […]
June 19, 2014
Filmistaan : You Took My Breath Away
As a six year old, I remember having sat on my dadi’s lap, learning ‘alif be pe te se’, and listening to stories of her childhood in what was now, Pakistan. She would talk about her ‘bebe’ and her ‘imarti-shaped’ gold kangans that she left behind only because their clasp was loose. ‘I should have […]
June 8, 2014
The Lalla Chungi Boys
In the 80s, making a pass at a girl was a thoughtful, carefully-planned out activity. The boy employed the services of a child, preferable aged below two years, and stood with the kid perched in his arms outside W.H. When the girl for whom these efforts were made passed by, on her way inside, the […]
