IIM Lucknow and Tunde Kabab

You cannot think of Lucknow without talking of Tunde kabab. My luck changed for good in 2001 (luck then, not now-couldn't resist this pun). I worked at IIM Lucknow. Some amazing students and colleagues made my life there memorable-Akbar, BK Mohanty, Shailendra Singh, Bharat Bhasker, Vivek Gupta are some I spent a lot of time with. Avinash Mulky, Madhu Karmakar and Vinay of course were a part of a social group too.

 A hailstorm in which Avinash and Vivek pose with evidence.

 Relaxing on the lawn with Mohanty and Harish who was visiting from Delhi.

 My IIMB classmate Manoj Nakra visited. So did Sajeev Menon, and Nidhi from KIAMS with hubby.

Prarthana and Pooja decorating the front of our house. Anjula Gurtoo was our vertical neighbour, and we have stayed in touch ever since.

Ni and Knee

Dedicated to some words ending with a ni - (a working knowledge of Hindi required)

Nani, as in "Hum unko nani yaad dila denge"- one of our former PMs.

Pani, as in a liquid that mankind has in plenty, except that it's mixed up with a lot of salt.

Advani, a person who is in a permanent tantrum and knee-jerk reacion, arguing to himself, "If that silent old guy can do it, why can't I?"

Soni, a term of endearment popular in Punjab, and therefore Bollywood, as in "soni kudi."

Honi, the opposite of anhoni, used effectively by Amar, Akbar and Anthony, who specialise in making things happen.

Akashvani, literally 'the voice from the sky' used tellingly in our epics to warn people of things good or bad. 

Shani, the planet god of Saturday, who specialises in not letting things happen, unless appeased. Resembles one of the above 'ni's?

Have Pen, Will Travel by MJ Akbar

This book is a great find. Not only is it a tour of many places around the world, it is also a tour de force. There, I managed to use a big word/phrase, long after I wrote my GRE. But seriously, the book is overflowing with wit. Here are a few sample one-liners (well, two in some cases) from it.

The English are different from you and me. They have more clubs.

The Englishman not only has a stiff upper lip but also a stiff lower hand. (he contrasts this with the Italian who gestures a lot while talking, even on the phone where he is unseen)

A brasserie in France is a kind of restaurant and not a kind of brassiere.

A literary fest is the space between ego and alter ego. Give an author a stage and watch a peacock dance.

If the English could only export tradition they would never have a trade deficit.

I will try a gather a few more as I go along. In the same class as Bill Bryson, in my view. And Indian in perspective.