https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death.webpOpinionA few days ago, I attended the funeral of an acquaintance. A common friend, who is well known for having a poor braking system for his utterances, whispered to me, ‘He passed away on the wrong day. Sunday would have been better.’ I didn’t take off...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThere is as much likelihood of the ‘Utopian world’ becoming a reality as the galactic voyages of the Star Trek series. Bigots, ultranationalists, historical grievances, overambitious generals and arms suppliers continue to initiate civil wars, mil...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThere is a move to rename India as Bharat. But as a prelude to this, Indians should shun the habit of being overly self-critical (of course, we do need to get rid of some bad traits and in our heart of hearts we are aware of them). Take pride in t...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionAn open letter from a tiger, the vassal king of the jungle, who rules over a part of Ranthambore National Park (under the overall authority of homo sapiens) Dear Indians. Should I fold my front paws to thank you for your support for tiger conserva...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionParenting has never been easy. Also, coping with parents by the offspring hasn’t always been a piece of cake. Nowadays, the generation gap is widening because the pace of change in our lives is accelerating faster than the apple which fell on Newt...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThe ‘slow’ movement is making slow progress. Most of us continue to be in the ‘rat race’ which has a tantalising possibility of making us Richie Rich. Many modern gurus exhort us to give the much-needed rest to our adrenal glands. However, the lai...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionWhen I was seven years old, an aunt handed over a crisp ten rupee note (a princely sum in those days) to me before leaving our home- probably to reward my non-mischievous conduct. I was aware that the cash was synonymous with ‘aish’- I could buy l...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionIn the last six months, I have attended four national conferences on plastic surgery and aesthetic sciences- an exemplification of ‘overdose’. I could have attended one every fortnight- there were so many of them on varying topics. A few days ago,...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/surviving-chatty-passengers/September 9, 2024, 2:41 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OIP-2024-09-09T023936.450-300x204.jpegOpinionTrain journeys aren't just about getting from point A to point B—they offer a wealth of overheard conversations and interactions that can spark creativity. From office gossip to family tales, the author's experience of listening in during train ri...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionA few days ago, I was giving dietary counselling to a patient having hormonal issues. ‘Apart from limiting the intake of cereals and sugar, cut down on potatoes,’ I instructed her in a dictatorial tone (as a senior doctor, I usually get away with ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinion‘Why can’t we inhale pine scented air all the time?’ my lungs, who have been at the receiving end of the substandard city air, seemed to say. ‘Don’t worry. Soon, I will settle in a cottage in the hills,’ I mumbled (I have been planning this for th...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionMy name is Meliotus Indica. I am sure most of you would be having a quizzical look on your face after reading this. And rightly so. Why should anyone bother to know about a lowly creature- a weed. At the outset I declare that I have broken all tie...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionSince long, I rated myself as a basic model of homo sapiens since I wasn’t making any efforts to levitate myself through meditation. The thorn of envy pricked me when I read the e-brochure of a meditation session which was being attended by a frie...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionVisualize a typical scenario- a group of friends are socializing. But the conversation is as bland as the diet given to patients in the hospitals. Suddenly, the name of a common friend (whose personality is exceptionally atypical) crops up in the ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionA few days ago, there was a freakish report in the newspaper about two men having stolen a police vehicle from a police station in Madhya Pradesh. Such headlines disturb as well as amuse the readers. Something similar happens when we come to know ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionI feel I am losing face amongst relatives and friends because none of my offspring is planning to settle in any ‘foren’ land. In fact, most of my acquaintances and relatives have already sent their children to North America, Europe or Oceania. I o...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionF IRE (Financial Independence, retire early) must be on the wish list of most of us except for the incorrigible workaholics. The trick to reach this state is to avoid living life with purely a ‘zindagi na milegi dobara’ outlook. This way one can a...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionT ruth always prevails- this slogan and similar ones are often painted on the walls of the classrooms in the schools. The teachers reinforce the same though in their hearts of hearts they know that the teachings are quite likely to be unlearned in...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionIt is common knowledge that many movie actors get reshaping of their faces and bodies before their debut movie because of the fear of the gossip columnists and the paparazzi getting a whiff of it if they have it afterwards. But aesthetic surgery a...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionW alk the talk’ is easier said than done. After reprimanding a patient on her inability to rein in her cravings for sweets, I went home and found a box of motichoor ladoo from ‘Hasmukh & Sons- spreading smiles since 1935’ on the dining table (...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionA few days ago, I bumped into a ‘fitness freak’ couple staying in my neighborhood, while they were returning from their evening walk. I can’t help feeling jealous of those who do brisk walking in the nearby park because I do that only in my dreams...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionSince the last few days, I have been following the get-together of the puppeteers who hold the strings for controlling a major part of the world- I mean the G 20 New Delhi summit. The feeling of desh bhakti got amplified in me. In fact, every desh...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionWho has the most comfortable life on earth? Is it a movie star or a business czar? A military dictator or a fortune inheritor? Actually, it is the queen bee. She has at her command thousands of worker bees who visit flowers throughout the day with...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionI am writing this open letter because the media is only reporting from the human perspective. I congratulate the great Indian nation for the successful landing of Chandrayan 3. I have a soft corner for Indians. And why not- since times immemorial ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionLast month, I was clueless about calming down an apprehensive, restless child in my clinic. My sweet words were getting bounced off his ears and he threw away the candy offered by me. But the mother of the toddler pacified him in a jiffy by handin...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionA few days ago, I got embarrassingly late for a training session which was to be conducted by me. I had set up the alarm time in my mobile phone before sleeping. But in a hurry, I had forgotten to set the day of the alarm! ‘If I had an aeroplane s...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionRecently, a friend sent to me an article taken from the internet which was titled- Even if the wife murders her husband, she is entitled to family pension. It was based on a judgement given by the High Court in a case, obviously after taking into ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionBirdwatching doesn’t give much boost to the economy. Birdwatchers wear dull clothes and are content with eating simple food (often packed from home). Lady birdwatchers don’t carry fancy purses. Even for the stay, they look for a remote place- one ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThe sight of an electric vehicle on the road used to make me feel like a ‘neech insaan’- one who drove a car fuelled by fossil fuels. That was until I read in an article that electric vehicles aren’t as angelic as they are supposed to be because m...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionFloods, accidents, illnesses and personal tragedies often strike like a guerilla fighter- when we least expect them. Whenever we start taking smooth sailing for granted, fate takes the wind out of the sails of our life. Fortunately, there are many...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThis is a typical scenario in an Indian family. The tamed husband eagerly asks on the behalf of his taste buds, ‘What is there for lunch?’ The multitasker wife replies, ‘Kaddu ki sabzi.’ The angles of his mouth fall downwards and he mumbles- why m...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionLong ago, two best friends went on a trip to Delhi. One had already seen most of the tourist hotspots while the other one was going for the first time. They bickered constantly because Sharan wanted to see everything while Kamal wanted to skip wha...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionDuring covid times, almost everyone became a philosopher. Covid was perceived as nature’s wrath and people vowed to have ‘simple living high thinking’ type of existence. Alas, this intention turned out to be as hollow as the resolution made by a d...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionOnce upon a big fat Punjabi wedding, my cousin introduced me to his friend. ‘Myself Jagjit Malhotra,’ the middle-aged man said. ‘Dr Jas Kohli,’ I replied with a swagger. To my utter surprise, he uttered, ‘I hate Kohlis.’ This felt like a pinprick....https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionCan you believe it- a girl from our colony came back to her parental home just a week after her marriage. Her justification- ‘The boy and his family have no class and they had cleverly hidden this aspect before the marriage. I can’t spend my whole...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionAlcohol, the sweet darling of kings as well as paupers, is facing existential threat from workaholic researchers. Recently, a long-term study entitled, ‘The Global Burden of Diseases Study’ has been published in Lancet, the iconic journal. The res...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionThe Indian summer, an iconic global brand, never fails to deliver energy sapping and crankiness inducing heat. But for it, Britishers would have settled en masse in India during the British rule. The aam insaan suffers the most while the well-off ...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionEver object in the universe, whether living or non-living, is supposed to follow the basic laws of science about gravity, motion, thermodynamics, chemical reactions etc. However, there is a notable exception- the exceptionally beautiful woman. Sin...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionI, crow Chatur Baboolniwasi, seek the attention of all human beings through this open letter. Enough is enough. We crows have no choice but to raise our caw caw against the blatant discrimination by the birdwatchers. They often wait for hours to c...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionWorld Book Day was celebrated recently with lots of empty rhetoric. Many bookstores have become history while the bookworms have been put in the red list of the endangered species. Books are sitting ducks for smartphones and OTT channels, who proc...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionAbout a month ago, my fragile ego got heavily bruised due to a snub by an influential person. I decided against the ‘tit for tat’ option since he had the ‘system’ on his side. Then I remembered I had an urgent work in the old city- this trip could...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionMiddle-class Indians are not supposed to deviate from the standard itinerary in their life journey- Fairly pampered childhood, teenage with waywardness within limits, followed by a career which makes you one up on your relatives. Then marry at the...https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/opinion/leave-some-puzzles-for-the-thinkers/May 3, 2025, 12:33 amhttps://latest.thedailyguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/death-300x169.webpOpinionWhen the creator set about designing an upgraded version of living beings, the humans, it incorporated many new features, including the ability to smile and laugh (Though God is probably repenting the genesis of homo sapiens considering the havoc ...