“When one reaches the 80th year, one enters the realm of the legendary octogenarian,” writes Dr. R.O.B. Wijesekera. “There is little to look forward to, save the antics, memorable as they are, of grandkids; and then there looms the danger of ill-health, incapacitation and the manifestations of infirmity. In compensation, however, there is a world … Continue reading
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Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish: “As a Palestinian, my life was a war.”
“As a Palestinian, my life was a war,” Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is saying. “You expect the worst of tomorrow. You say, ‘Thank god, I am alive today, but I don’t know what will happen tomorrow’. ” His voice cracks a little on the last words as our internet connection falters and the video feed stutters. … Continue reading
S.H Fernando: A Celebrity Chef in the Making
S.H. Fernando – Skiz to his friends – has spent years quietly amassing a following on his blog and youtube channel. Online at http://www.riceandcurry.wordpress.com, he serves up an eclectic mix of reviews and recipes. On youtube, this amateur cook stars in the self-produced series ‘Pan Asian’ where he dishes up some of his favourite recipes … Continue reading
Prof. Anil K. Gupta: Supporting Innovation In Rural India
Thrice a year, Prof. Anil Gupta goes for a very long walk – his ‘Shodh Yatras’ can take 10 days each and he and those accompanying him (sometimes as many as 100 people) will cover about 250km. Their quest is startling – unfolding as it does far from the elite university campuses and the corporate … Continue reading
Shannon Kurek, Marlon Saldin and Michelle Payette: Bringing Ironman to Sri Lanka
After running a hundred and fifty triathlons, Shannon Kurek is no stranger to pain. He’s been on intimate terms with every variety of physical torment an Ironman challenge can inflict – from the cramping of your intestines as they reject the energy drinks you’ve been guzzling down to the knotting of the muscles in your … Continue reading
Robert Crowther: Making Books Come to Life with Pop-ups
‘Paper engineering’ is a good description of what Robert Crowther does. A maker of fantastical, quirky pop-up books, the artist’s favourite readers are the reluctant children who pick up a pop-up without really knowing what’s inside. In his bestselling ABC, kids could pull tabs and lift flaps ‘to make frogs leap, hens peck, koalas climb, … Continue reading
Rajpal de Silva: A Tale of Two Baileys
Two men with the same name: both born in England in 1791, both members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), both men who would return to England to die after many years in the colonies. One Benjamin Bailey would count the poet John Keats as a dear friend, perhaps even influencing the writing of Endymion. … Continue reading
Minnie Vaid: A Doctor to Defend
In the years since his arrest, Dr. Binayak Sen has won himself thousands of supporters, including the likes of Amartya Sen and Noam Chomsky. But perhaps the most determined among them has been a documentary film maker and journalist, Minnie Vaid. Minnie, who first heard of Dr. Binayak’s case in 2007, subsequently quit her job … Continue reading
Leah Bazalgette and Tasha Marikkar: Going Electric
Growing up, Leah Bazalgette, found herself “hungry for good music.” As an adult, the experience of being one in the surging crowd watching a band perform live, of seeing other “fans screaming in unison as an act they loved, sang a song they loved,” became something precious and incredible. She would go backstage, becoming a … Continue reading
Manju Kapur: Keeping it in the Family
Manju Kapur is quite happy to be dubbed a ‘chronicler of Indian families,’ but do feel free to choose any label that will float your boat. “My own feeling is, describe me any way you like, as long as I am relevant, as long as I am read, I don’t really care,” she says. The … Continue reading
Smriti Daniel 