A Democracy Fraying @ 75

Just last year, I had written on the occasion of the start of India’s 75th year of independence, about the long, Sisyphean journey our country had taken to reach where we are today. And about the challenges that remain. I had written it also from the point of view of our own personal experiences as… Continue reading A Democracy Fraying @ 75

Sleazy Potboiler After Potter

If anyone could go one better in fiction after the Harry Potter books, it ought to have been JK Rowling herself. Sadly, The Casual Vacancy has to go down as her worst book, and I haven’t checked if she’s written any since. My father bought The Casual Vacancy – that too, a hardback – a… Continue reading Sleazy Potboiler After Potter

Development and All That We Understand by It

When reading newspapers or books or watching the news, we often come across the word development. It is a term so often used to mean growth, loosely speaking, that when attached to any other word, it takes on new meanings. Urban development, rural development, industrial development, sustainable development, etc. Then, of course, we have the… Continue reading Development and All That We Understand by It

Protected: Keeping the Cool, While the Heat Rages

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Brands Relaunching After a Long Hiatus.

There are many brands that we grow up with and are an intrinsic part of our lives. Some fade away into oblivion, but most stay around and strengthen their relationships with consumers. And even when we outgrow them, there is always another set of consumers to take our place. There’s a curious thing I observed… Continue reading Brands Relaunching After a Long Hiatus.

The Nutmeg’s Curse, of Colonisation and Capitalism

While I was still contemplating buying Amitav Ghosh’s newest book, The Nutmeg’s Curse, my father had already ordered it from Amazon India. Well, I’m not complaining. I greatly admire his writing, having owned and read several of his books, before I lost almost all of my books to termites at my parents’ flat in Goa.… Continue reading The Nutmeg’s Curse, of Colonisation and Capitalism

Twitter’s Blues Not Just Its Own

I must admit at the outset that I am new to social media, having been raised on a diet of traditional media as staples during my entire long career in advertising in India. That said, I have learnt a few things about the digital medium during a few freelance writing assignments from old Ogilvy colleagues… Continue reading Twitter’s Blues Not Just Its Own

How Can Brands Grow Without Growing Old?

Sometime in 2019, I had written a blog post about brands ageing well and in it I had lamented the fact that every brand wants to chase millennials and Gen Z, whether it makes sense for the brand or not. Therefore, every brand also wants to always be young, hip, cool and trendy, whether it… Continue reading How Can Brands Grow Without Growing Old?