The Writer’s Flight

  By Namrata Kohli “Before KP took over an almost dormant DLF at the behest of his wife Indira and sister-in-law Prem, he knew nothing about real estate – zero!” This may sound unbelievable but that’s the absolute truth about a man who is credited with turnaround of Gurugram and setting the gold standard for luxury real estate in India. K.P. Singh’s book “Why the heck not?” is an interesting account of his life’s journey where co-author Aparna Jain variously describes him as “a forever learner”, a “one man army”. His blueprint for success? Shares KP  Singh- "I believe every opportunity is like a train standing on a platform. The train’s door opens for a short while, either you get in or when the door closes the train leaves. Opportunity comes to every human being, it is your smartness how to quickly find out yes or no and then grab it before somebody else grabs it.  Every person should know when opportunity comes. T herefore I say, why the heck not?" Co-author Aparna ...

  With the advent of a slew of foreign makes, Indian bikers are now spoilt for choice, and the growing numbers of riders point to the emergence of a proper riding culture in the country      Namrata Kohli   New Delhi       “Biking teaches us to be a better human. Riding a motorcycle connects you directly to the road, the wind, and the environment in a way that feels thrilling and immersive. We all live in such a selfish world but when biking, you let people into your world .  As soon as I sit on a motorbike and put on the helmet it is my time with myself, and I drop all my worries on the highway and move on, ” says c elebrity motorbiker Dr. Maral  Yazarloo -Pattrick   Indeed, motorcycle-riding has come a long way in India. Until recently something that you saw in American movies, riding now has a clutch of clubs and a dedicated fan base among Indian riders, cutting a cross regions and classes.    Naturally, a hard-core bik...

  It was well past midnight,  1.30  am to be precise, and even amidst the fog and biting cold of December 2024, the music lovers of Gwalior continued to listen to the singing of  renowned vocalist and composer,  Padma Bhushan Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty.  He dedicated his performance at the 100 th edition of the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh 2024 at Gwalior to Ustaad  Zakir Hussain with whom he says he has done hundreds of concerts Namrata Kohli caught up with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, on the sidelines of the event You were very close to Zakir Hussain. Can you please share an anecdote or something about him that gives an insight into his personality? I will not waste time on saying how big a musician he was. He was a household name    and even a child was familiar with his name. He had managed to enter people’s hearts. In a hundred years, only one Zakir Hussain is born.  I have known him for the last 45 years and got introduced to him through his...

  By Namrata Kohli A judge friend of mine who sits on dowry cases told me some ten years back-   “I feel sorry for Indian men who are often the victim of dowry cases.” I was quite surprised at her statement but she opened another dimension to this law. And pointed out how women are weaponizing legal provisions and leveraging protective laws as tools for extortion or harassment. Section 498A IPC was meant to be a “shield” and not a “weapon” protecting the rights of women. However, over time, there have been instances of this provision being misused. The Supreme Court of India has acknowledged this issue, emphasizing the need for caution to prevent unnecessary harassment of innocent individuals. The recent demise of Atul Subhash underscores the complexities surrounding the misuse of protective legal provisions. Atul Subhash was found dead in his Bengaluru apartment on December 9, 2024. He left behind a 24-page suicide note and a 90-minute video alleging harassment by his ...

For many of us, tea is the magic key to the vault where our brain is kept. India is home to some of the most exquisite and premium teas, cherished globally for their unique flavors and craftsmanship. Know more about the best kind of teas  By Namrata Kohli  Chai is always a friendly common denominator that binds us together amidst all of the chaos. An editor’s day is incomplete without it, says Moutushi Mukherjee, Commissioning editor at Penguin Random House India, “Quite a lot of editors are coffee people but quite a lot more are chai people. It’s the universal choice of beverage for conversations with authors. Equally, it’s the choice of beverage for sticky discussions with Sales and other editors. Nothing quite gets the conversation going as a strong cuppa, and more often than not, it’s the glue that sticks together many such uncomfortable conversations. If you have critical feedback on a manuscript, you rely on that brew heavily. If you want to fight over that dreaded thing...