Author: Yawar Baig

  • Bush Camp Diary – Dawn and Dusk

    Which is more magical? More peaceful? More dynamic? Dawn or dusk in the bush? Dawn with it’s rapidly strengthening light promising a clear, hot day or dusk with light decreasing gently promising a night of peace, danger – life and death struggles, full or empty bellies – rapidly beating hearts – all dependent on who…

  • Sand River Bush Camp – Kruger National Park – Memories

    The Kruger Bush Camp had been a dream of several years standing when I received an invitation from Honorary Ranger Mr. Farouk Hassan to participate in the camp from March 27-30. I was delighted to say the least and accepted with great alacrity before he could change his mind. How do you describe the experience…

  • The Problem with the C – Word

    One of the things that I have been very fond of, is trekking, especially climbing mountains. I have done a good bit of that in the Western Ghats in Southern India, climbing on one occasion through thick forest straight up the side of the mountain, 4500 feet. I went up to Singampatti from Kanyakumari. 4500…

  • Tera Kya Hoga Kaliya?

    Tera Kya Hoga Kaliya? That line from Sholay is what comes to mind listening to Rajnath Singh’s ‘apology’. The antics of politicians never fail to amuse but BJP is giving full value for money. First come the senile prattlings – Hindus must have at least 5 children – We will give shelter to Hindu Bangladeshis…

  • If I were President of Egypt

    If I were President of Egypt

    The first thing that I would remind myself is that in politics facts mean nothing. Statistics less than nothing. Spectacle, impression, symbolism and communication mean everything. Symbolism, visibility and public eye are the platform on which politics runs. In politics being truthful is less important than being believable. That is the basis of all mythology.…

  • Easy to kill

    30thJanuary, 1948 – Nathuram Godse fired a bullet which ended a life that impacted millions of others and continues to do so 66 years later. Gandhiji was perhaps the only Father of the Nation to be killed by his own people. We all share the shame. Easy to kill. Impossible to forget. So what do…

  • Same Chairs, Different Bottoms

    Same Chairs, Different Bottoms

    An over 12 year old cartoon that featured in the national media to mark 50 years of India’s independence: the situation is as grim Once upon a time there was a beautiful land in which clear rivers flowed through lush forests. Birds flocked to the trees which were heavy with fruit until one was almost…

  • Differentiating between ‘Saying’ and ‘Doing’

    Speaking against the law is freedom; breaking it is a crime I had a very interesting conversation one morning. A very dear friend called and said in effect, “Renuka Chowdhury is after Pramod Mutalik because his people beat up girls in Mangalore pubs but did you know that someone has given a fatwa in UP…

  • Reading, A lost habit?

    Quick self-test:   1.    What are the books you have read until now? Please list them with the authors. 2.    What are the books you read in the last 3 months? 3.    How much TV do you watch daily? Can you write down what you learnt from the TV program you watched last night? 4.   …

  • Where did it all go?

    A very dear old friend, David Ramse,  a ‘lay’ person with strong religious convictions enough to make him a missionary; a scientist, teacher – sent me this picture taken in 1980 when he used to live in St. Lust on the Berbice River. David and Miriam had a house literally on the river with its…