Road to Islamabad : Should the Doctor prescribe a historic journey for himself?

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General Zia ul Haq, General Musharraf and now Asif Ali Zardari - yet another President of Pakistan is all set to visit the 12th century sufi shrine at Ajmer. The President, who unlike his predecessors is one without any stars on his shoulders, will offer prayers at the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti on 8th of April. Enroute Ajmer on his private visit, he will also stop over for a lunch in Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Now having frequently lost sleep while covering many a summit level meetings between India and Pakistan, I am hoping against hope that media coverage of this "private' visit is strictly restricted. And that the two gentlemen meet without the burden of mounting expectations with every single click of the shutterbugs. It is important that the top leadership of the two neighbours with interlinked destinies stay engaged- regardless of all cynicisms....

Damascus diaries: of Syrian smoke and mirrors

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It was my first date with the Arab World. A fortnight ago, I was all set to fly to Syria, a country caught in conflict, a country under sanctions and a country, as Damascus claims, fighting "Western ploys". Despite all the books, articles and columns which had come to my rescue over the years each time I needed to get an insight into Arab geopolitics, I still had lingering questions. How should I dress on Damascus streets? How should I behave? Should I shake hands with the men in power or stick to a coy Salaam? Would I witness destruction and death from the moment I step out of the airport? I was flying on a government invite with a group of Indian journalists. So would I be allowed to move around freely or would propaganda be served on a platter? With these questions on my mind, I landed....

Sikkim earthquake: Lonely in Lachung

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I somehow get to visit exotic locales when tragedy strikes. When the earth shook on the evening of 18th of September , with its epicentre at Mangan in North Sikkim, my studio in Noida shook too, and so did my laptop, though very slightly and JUST for a few seconds. I was more worried about the camera lights falling off from the studio ceiling. Nevertheless as time passed by that Sunday evening, every single news update was driving home the realization that it was serious and the devastation would not be assessed too easily and quickly. So Monday early morning we flew down to Bagdogra hoping to reach Sikkim at the earliest possible .A silent prayer crossed my mind .I was hoping fervently for the devastation to be not as massive and heart breaking as in Leh Ladakh in August of last year. Overcast skies and Bad weather awaited us....

Fighting the enemy outside and inside

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Rewind to 26th/27th July - 12.20 am- Its my roomie on the phone- "hey Smits we at Pindis for dinner ..u wanna join in? ..."I would have but just that I am in the studio for last three hours "... she asks - "But why?" ... "hello.. ain't u aware of blasts in Ahmedabad this evening? 40 killed and more than 100 injured..toll rising every minute...there's high alert in the country... Delhi on red alert..u watch out' ..."What!! ..am clueless.ok ,I'll call u back...need to check on my cousin in Ahmedabad..."' and even as she disconnects...I hear a man in the background letting hell loose upon the waiter for the pooor service in the restaurant.. Well, I do not blame my roomie or other people for being where they were at the time referred to ... and it's not even....