By: Edmond Fernandes, Mangalore
There came a December roughly 2000 years back which changed the course of human life for eternity. Indeed a child was born. The world was waiting and the message of the prophets finally came true. A God-man made his first steps on Bethlehem soil. Jesus Christ was born. The news that a saviour was born to save us from eternal damnation

 By: Alfie D'Souza, Illinois
It's once again that time of the year when you start hearing "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" greetings here in the US. What the heck is happy holidays? Are we celebrating holidays or are we celebrating

 By: Deepesh Rajan, Udupi - Abu Dhabi
Here I was, aged 20 still in my college days when the need came that I drop the idea of a degree due to family commitments. As a young man, I thought it was my duty to support my family and shoulder my father's responsibility

 By: Vivian Castelino, Abu Dhabi
The situation resulting in this kidnapping and then eventual release upon payment of ransom amount, resulted in me being away from computer for longer periods giving some kind of nervous signals to my wife. The day of release itself I was totally away from the computer and once our sponsor was released after 15 days of captivity, instant decision was made that

 By: Rohan Sequeira, Pune
The latest invention of the Al-Qaeda lab is an Intestine Bomber. Wow! One of the greatest wonders in history of terrorism. A plot to blow up from gut level where all hatred comes from! Naxalites beheading a Cop

 By: Charmaine Albuquerque, India
Trrr… the alarm bell forces me out of my slumber! I drag myself to the kitchen to get the coffee brewing. The smell of brewing coffee seems to have done the trick and I am now awakened from my slumber. Gosh how I hate weekday mornings!! It means not being served bed

 By: Arjun Pinto, Dubai
Shipment from China to Dubai, outward shipment from Dubai to S.A, Shipment on hold, Container at the yard, Penalty for late shipment. I was totally engrossed in the mails shooting in and out and coming in from all parts of the world, while suddenly my Nokia started ringing. I could see the incoming call was from my mother in Mangalore.

 By: Richard D Souza, Qatar
The auto was old and the driver was nasty. Dodging the potholes and rain water ponds, cursing other drivers under his breath he drove like a man possessed. Occasionally he slowed down to spray the betel and tobacco out of his mouth. Every now and then he peeped at me through

 By: Newton D'Souza, USA
The end of the year was approaching. It may have been 1976. And it wouldn't be untrue to say we didn't look forward to the annual class photograph. After U-Kg it was a show of our impeccable uniformed selves. The instructions were clear-shoes had to be polished; shirts starched; hair cropped, cut or combed (whatever it took to make

 By: Dr. B. M. Hegde, India
The dust is just about settling down after the hectic mudslinging on all sides during the recent Lok Sabha elections in India. Newer rivalry will, of course, start now what with the usual wheeler-dealers on the side of the success trying to get their pound of flesh. Nothing succeeds

 By: Sharel Machado, Germany
Maternal instinct is an inborn tendency to protect and nurture one's offspring. God made it a woman's privilege and it is not at all replaceable. The universe may sing praises to a mother for carrying the infant in her womb, giving birth to the child, nurturing, caressing and bringing it up in compassion

 By: Alfie D'Souza, Illinois
Yes, it's time again to commemorate Father's Day--a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor fathers, grandfathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on various dates worldwide

 By: Sharel Machado, Germany
It was a cold night of monsoon season. The clock had just struck 10. A lean figure poorly clad knocked at the door of Kishor and broke the silence. "Who is it?" a grim voice sounded within the house. "Your friend Ashok" there came the feeble reply. Kishor unwillingly got up from a soft silken couch and opened the door. "My mother is dying, Kishor. She will not survive unless I take

 By: Alfie D'Souza, Illinois
Mothers care and pray for your well-being as you venture out into this world on your own, and their worries never end. They are the light at the end of the tunnel, always lit, vigilantly awaiting your return. They are a never ending presence in this world. Once their physical being has long since left this

 By: Allwyn Fernandes, Mumbai
The road to Calvary this Good Friday was full of many new people this year. Among them were Christians from Orissa and Karnataka, joining Sikhs on the road since November 1984, Muslims from Gujarat since February 2002 and millions of Dalits and tribal people thrown

 By: Tina Miranda, Kuwait
The 90-10 principle (by Mr. Stephen Covey), I do hope that’s not copy righted or I might have a law suit on my hands. The principle it simply states that although we have no control over a 10% of what happens to us in life, the other 90% solely depends on how we react to situations and the

 By: Newton D'Souza, USA
You had your 'cul-de-sacs': the road-rage teen years, tail-gating into a mid-life crisis, marriage commotion and hitting 40 with a pot-belly. And then finally, retirement with a pit stop! Just think about it. Lurking behind the excess of traffic, the noise, and talk radio – those road signs tell a story. Forget

 By: Dr. Arunachalam Kumar, India
Less than a year ago, he had stood on the doorstep of this new clinic, staring with trepidation at his own nameplate nailed to the wall. In bright blue, it read 'Dr. Sunil Varma, M.V.Sc. Consultant Veterinarian'. From early boyhood he had always wanted to

 By: Dr. Arunachalam Kumar, India
It was freezing: Surely, a white Christmas this time, again. The sleet and flakes blanketed the gray sky over the tiny picturesque village in the countryside England. As he sat down, arms close to his body for warmth, the postmaster, who no matter what, had to keep his establishment open: not for

 By: Edwin JF DSouza, Mangalore
The stillness of the atmosphere was disturbed only by the ringing of the church bells. The wind seemed to have taken the hint and started blowing in pleasant whispers. As the initial waves of from the bell-fry ebbed, he could here that divine hymn…Silent night…Holy night. It was the most