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The Beauty of Insignificance
“Because it’s there.” Those became the most famous and forever echoing words in the mountaineering universe. That was George Mallory’s response when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. What a kickass reply! Mallory’s mortal remains were discovered seventy-five years — in May 1999 — after he passed away in June of 1924. He…
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Takes Two to Tango!
I just about managed to squeeze in. Seated rather tight, my mind wandered to the three days that I went to a gym after paying for the full six-months package. I should’ve done the six-months, in hindsight. “I am one size too big for this thing. Maybe two,” I said to the mechanic struggling to…
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The Paradox of Human Spirit
It was early. In fact, for a tonic winter morning, it was really early. And for a nocturnal man like me, it was really, really early. Not that I wake up late, but let’s just say that at 5 am, it’s best not to engage me in generic prattle. But it was strangely different this…
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Blame the Alcohol
BMW — you need to read this. And learn. I have two really, really close friends. You know, the kind with whom you can bare it all. Not the let-go-of-clothes kind of bare. Although there might have been some accidental instances of skin-show on an odd occasion or two.
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That Starry Night Memory
I stood at the edge of the lake, about 50 yards from the campsite, and focused my eyes at the limitless night sky. It seemed like the glitter-laden party top that my niece had worn for her birthday had come alive above me.
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The Sound of Music!
This was a couple of years back. I had a Jaguar F-Type for a week. It wasn’t the drunkard 500-and-few horsepower one. This was the substantially more docile and considerably less-drunk model — the one which is unimpressively called P300. The F-Type is offered with three power outputs to choose from: 300bhp (from a 2-litre,…
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Everlasting Few Hours
“Thank you very much. I had a great experience.” I sent that message to a local conservationist who I’d met on my visit to Odisha (Orissa at the time) way back in 2007. I took up an engineering project there and decided it would be worthwhile to drive, instead of taking a flight or train.…
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My First Time
I am a fully grown, middle-aged man. Back then, I wouldn’t have been any more than — I don’t know — four feet tall, maybe. School was mostly about spending time with friends, playing football and being punished collectively. Standing in the middle of the open amphitheatre — getting roasted in the intense heat —…
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Most Alive At The Ragged Edge Of Life
If you enjoy adventures on two-wheels, slushy conditions aren’t painful experiences; they’re joyous instead! The repeated falls, the endless skids, mud coatings all over the bike and the rider — they lend a weird sense of satisfaction. It’s a strange and fulfilling fetish. But it can also be dangerous.
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Rural Lands, Rich Words
The enchanting tales from the deepest corners of the country will echo in the hearts of everyone who reads them
Ashish Jha 