T.S. ELIOT’S fondness for cats yielded the most delightful collection of light verse, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which went on to inspire one of the longest running musicals on Broadway. When Mark Twain’s “large and intensely black” Bambino went missing, he put out an advertisement with a $5 reward in the New York American. Charles Dickens was so upset when his favourite feline Bob died, that he went on to mount an ivory letter opener with its stuffed paw.
Pankaj Tripathi, a 31-year-old interior designer, who shares his one BHK south Delhi flat with nine cats, does not quite care about the illustrious history of male writers and their feline companions. Two years since he adopted Chikloo, a stray kitten with soft brown spots on plush white coat, he has nurtured a clan of cats in his mousetrap of a house. “Whoever said they are selfish? Cats are as loving and loyal as dogs, even though my life has turned upside down,” says Tripathi, who left Bhilwara in Rajasthan 10 years ago to study in Delhi. Tripathi’s face and arms have tiny scars and scratches, he looks slightly sleep deprived, his house perpetually reeks of fish food and his neighbours are not exactly friendly, but Tripathi is happy to upturn the “crazy cat lady” cliché our cat-wary society clings to.
Denne historien er fra December 08, 2019-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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Denne historien er fra December 08, 2019-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
