He was known in my native India as the hero of the Bangladesh war. In Israel, he was known as the highest-ranking Jew in the Indian Army. Lieutenant General Farj Rafael Jacob died Wednesday morning. He was 92. Jacob said in interviews that he was drawn to the then-British Indian Army in 1942 because of the massacre of Jews in the Holocaust. He fought on several … Continue reading War hero, Indian and Jewish
Pope Francis announced that Mother Teresa is becoming a saint. She will be canonized next fall. The pontiff attributed the miraculous healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors, which means the Albanian-born nun can now ascend to the most vaulted status in the Catholic church. But for me, and millions in my hometown of Kolkata, Mother Teresa’s true miracles were on the streets … Continue reading The saint
Today we mark a day of solemnity, remembering all those who fought for our country. I salute you on Veterans Day, especially those of you I came to know well in Iraq. I think of you often, not just on days reserved to honor you. Today is also a day of joy. It’s the festival of lights. Happy Diwali, everyone! Hindus and Jains mark the … Continue reading Diwali, Lakshmi and good winning over evil
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are like Christmas and Yom Kippur now for New York City schools. Mayor Bill Blasio announced the city will recognize the two important Muslim holidays. It’s a landmark decision. New York is the first major metropolis to reach out to its Muslim residents — a handful of smaller cities have already done so. It’s a great move, a show of … Continue reading Hindus to NYC: Why Eid, but not Diwali?
My journalism brings me face to face with all sorts of interesting people. Over the years I have met extraordinary men and women and ordinary ones who have extraordinary tales to tell. Occasionally, I run into exceptional people, the kind who make me stop to reflect, respect and admire. Sister Helen Prejean is one of them. I’d known about her work for decades — I … Continue reading 'Dead Man Walking.' Live nun talking
My story on a home for the dying in Varanasi, India, came out on CNN.com today. I spent a week reporting in the fabled holy city and was fascinated by its spirituality much more this time than I was on previous trips. Part of it was because I was reporting on faith. But another part of it was that I think I have transformed over the … Continue reading Hotel Death
I’ve been immersed in writing about death after spending a week in Varanasi at a home where ailing, elderly Hindus go to end their lives. They want to die there because they believe dying within the boundaries of the ancient city of Kashi will mean moksha, or salvation for the soul. The story — I will write more about that later — took me back to … Continue reading Death: I've had 13 years to think
Love that we celebrate strength in a form of a woman. If only all women in India held such lofty status. Happy Durga Puja, everyone. Continue reading Durga
It’s too bad “Midnight’s Children” was a bust at the box office. I’m thinking that Deepa Mehta was perhaps the wrong director to give us the celluloid depiction of Salman Rushdie’s terrific book, which won the Booker Prize in 1981. The protagonist and narrator of Rushdie’s story, Saleem Sinai, is born at the exact moment when India gained independence from Britain. The film, had it been … Continue reading The price of independence
This year, the Religion Newswriters Association chose my friend Gayle White as its lifetime achievement award recipient. I cannot think of anyone who deserves this honor more. The ceremony in Minneapolis Saturday night was even more poignant for the both of us because Gayle and I were among almost 100 journalists who left the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in its latest round of buyouts and layoffs last … Continue reading Honoring Gayle
