Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Beyond Vanilla; Maybe Blueberry?

I have a small circle of very close friends. At best, it’ll be a metre across if we stood holding hands. Er. That would be an awkward sight. 

Of this circle, one is Kunal. He’s a regular chap with simple needs and doesn’t obsess over much. Other than maybe gadgets. He’s been a tech developer, a tech journalist and is now Product Director with a leading tech firm in foreign land. But beyond his enthusiasm for technology, he’s rather simple.

Continue reading “Beyond Vanilla; Maybe Blueberry?” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Bare Essentials

WhatsApp. According to the latest figures, over 1.6 billion people use it. And that’s discounting China where it is largely blocked. Based on several social media reports, it is also the first thing that a huge chunk of people check on their smartphones.

For an equally preposterous percentage of people — almost 80% of total consumers — the first real activity of the day is checking their smartphones. If they had a choice, breathing would be second. Other morning duties would be optional undertakings.

Continue reading “Bare Essentials” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Stuffed Toys & Silly Crossovers

I have blurry recollection of a small stuffed bear back when I was a tot. It was grey and had a gloomy face — not something you’d call an attractive toy. Neither my sister nor I had great fondness for it. It was always neglected. But it had the great distinction of being a stuffed toy. Stuffed toys are things that no one needs but everyone has.

Continue reading “Stuffed Toys & Silly Crossovers” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

I Need Space. Ok, Maybe Not.

Why exactly? Are you a married guy or one in a bit of a spot in your relationship that you need more ‘space’? 

Space is a strange thing. If it’s too less you feel claustrophobic; if it’s too much you feel lost. And while there can’t be such a thing as the perfect space, it’s easy to say whether any space is uncomfortably tight or unnecessarily vast. 

Continue reading “I Need Space. Ok, Maybe Not.” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Idiot Incoming?

Because you’re reading this, I assume you’re an actual person. And because you are an actual person, I assume you’ve got actual friends. Unless of course you’re Donald Trump, in which case you bribe people to say they’re your friends. Friends exist to make life whimsical. 

Have you ever been to a police station? I’ve visited there. Twice. The first time it was nothing more than to report loss of a driving licence. We went there driving my friend’s car to report the loss of the very document that allowed him to drive. I love the irony in that!

Continue reading “Idiot Incoming?” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Best car I’ve driven? Oh God, not again!

I attended — was made to, more accurately — my fair share of social gatherings last year. Ones where your enthusiastic family elders make it socially discomforting for you by telling other equally enthusiastic elders about what you do. It’s a strange fetish.

Continue reading “Best car I’ve driven? Oh God, not again!” →

Ashish Jha1 Comment

‘Feel’ is most important

I host a motoring show on an India-headquartered global English news channel that you might have heard of — it’s called WION. If you haven’t, do look for it on your television; you may actually like it. It’s not the typical shouty news-telling deal — the voice pitches are fairly calm, the views are balanced. 

Continue reading “‘Feel’ is most important” →

Ashish JhaLeave a comment

Lighten up, guys!

I’ve been doing this a fairly long time now — this business of writing about cars (and a fair bit about bikes). Over the years, the different brands I’ve worked for helped me develop different writing styles. It ranged from casual flow of words where I’d make the readers feel like they know the team well, to the really serious writing on matters relating to business affairs and very straight-forward product reviews. I’ve had a parallel work life, too — one where I’ve been an industry analyst and prepared research papers. That’s as fascinating as it is mundane. Mostly mundane.

Continue reading “Lighten up, guys!” →