Jul24

Namaste, mate!

Not long ago, English speaking classes sprouted up all over urban and small-town India. Many promised to teach an impeccable RP or an easy Southern drawl. Others peddled insights into the Western mind, presenting Euro-American culture (cinema, literature, slang, gastronomy, etc.) in encapsulated, easy to assimilate form. The boom still continues. A Canadian […]

Feb7

The Inscrutable Indian Nod

The other day, a colleague wanted my opinion on a chart she’d compiled. “What do you think? Is this fine?”, she asked. I gave her what I thought was an enthusiastic nod to indicate, “Bilkul perfect! Lage raho”, only to receive a puzzled stare in return. Maybe I wasn’t vigorous enough, I thought. So I […]