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"Seven years ago, ten days before the Republic Day honours list was announced, I spent one full hour with Laxman, the creator of the “Common Man” of India. I recorded that interview and have it even today in my computer,'' writes Hariharan Balakrishnan, recalling his meeting with the legendary cartoonist R K Laxman.
"Fish, football and politics define the ethos of Bengal. The mightiest and the meekest feel at home with these subjects,'' writes Hariharan Balakrishnan, concluding a series of articles on one of India's greatest cities.
To read earlier episodes in this series, along with other enjoyable articles by Hariharan, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/facets_of_india/
"When you walk down the street in any part of Calcutta, the place resonates with sights and names that evoke its imperial past,'' writes poet and columnist Hariharan Balakrishnan.
Hariharan Balakrishnan has to go through a security check to meet the editor of a Calcutta newspaper.
Poet and columnist Hariharan Balakrishnan visits the Calcutta Club.
Hariharan Balakrishnan visits the firm in Calcutta where he was employed four decades ago and finds the place and the people are essentially the same.
...The flavour of the season is Tagore. Today is his 150th birth anniversary. For weeks, every single day, Tagore events resound all over the state - poetry, music, song and dance...
Writer and columnist Hariharan Balakrishnan attends an event celbrating the work of India's great poet.
Columnist Hariharan Balakrishnan brings a word portrait of present-day Kolkata.
Writer and columnist Hariharan Balakrishnan tells the colourful and astonishing story of a bull in a hat.
Hariharan Balakrishnan concludes his word portrait of Nirad Chaudhuri, a very special Indian writer and thinker who deserves to be read and re-read down the long decades.
Hariharan Balakrishnan continues his series of articles on Nirad Chaudhury, the thinker and writer, at one time one of the most widely read columnists in India and author of The Autobiography Of An Unknown Indian.
"There was always historical perspective with an incisive analytical approach in most of Nirad Chaudhury’s work. Many may disagree with his views, but none can question his intellectual integrity,'' writes Hariharan Balakrishnan, continues his series of articles about Nirad Chaudhury, at one time one of the most widely read columnists and writers in India.
...It would not be hyperbole to say that Nirad Chaudhuri was an anglophile. In fact, he was an unabashed admirer of the English way of life, and tried to emulate what he considered the best of taste and culture in English life...
Hariharan Balakrishnan continues his endearing portrait of Nirad C. Chaudhuri, a scholar extraordinaire and author of "The Autobiography of an Unkown Indian''.
Continue reading "A Quaint Indian" Englishman'' - Part Two" »
Hariharan Balakrishnan pays tribute to Nirad C. Chaudhuri, a scholar extraordinaire and author of the celebrated book "The Autobiography of an Unkown Indian''.
...Haldane’s wife Helen Spurway later told Smith that at the time he died in Bhubaneswar, Haldane had in his hand a stone which he had picked up from Israel, in the stream where David picked up the stone that killed Goliath. When he dropped that stone, Helen knew that he had died....
Hariharan Balakrishnan concludes his series of articles on the remarkable and extraordinary scientist, J B S Haldane.
Continue reading "A Remarkable And Extraordinary Scientist" »
...In essence, J B S Haldane was the quintessential experimenter - a scientist to the core, who repeatedly made his own body the laboratory for his very original experiments...
Hariharan Balakrishnan continues his fascinating series on the iconoclastic Scottish scientist who made India his home after the UK Government's decision to sieze the Suez canal in the 1950s.
"J B S Haldane was an incorrigible optimist who could laugh at himself and the world,'' writes Hariharan Balakrishnan, continuing his series of articles about the British scientist who chose to live in India after the UK Government sanctioned an invasion of the Suez Canal area in the 1950s.
Author Hariharan Balakrishnan continues his absorbing account of Scotsman J B S Haldane's time in India. The famous scientist had departed from his native land in 1957 on a point of principle after Britain seized the Suex Canal with armed forces.
After leaving his native land on a point of principle, Scotsman J B S Haldane made India his home from 1957 until his death in December, 1964.
Hariharan Balakrishnan here pays trobute to a great man.
