Barun Roy

Barun Roy: A topsy-turvy world

Varanasi, like many other places, has lost the quiet rhythm that was part of its character

Barun Roy: Denial and the game of politics

Indulging in the two has robbed us of the ability to actually get things done

Barun Roy: United by hate

We are living in a world of dogmatism and bigotry

Barun Roy: Back to square one

The world faces a catch-22 situation: mitigate one problem and it aggravates another

Barun Roy: Gone with the wind

Many things have faded away, new ones have taken their place in our lives

Barun Roy: Where are the smart citizens?

Electronic fund transfers or payment systems alone do not make a city smart; proper civic behaviour is also required to complement the effort

Barun Roy: Rain - The agony and the ecstasy

In earlier days, depleting groundwater levels were not the problem. It was still possible to enjoy the gathering of dark clouds and the first heavy thuds of rain

Barun Roy: Garage sale - A different pitch

Indian garage sales are more like charity fairs, where new products garner free publicity. The idea in countries like the US and Philippines, however, is different

Barun Roy: Will India join the game?

India has the necessary talent and financial muscle to become a major printing hub in the Asian region. But it remains to be seen if it has the desire to take the costly plunge

Barun Roy: The hidden facets of greatness

From Pather Panchali to Aparajito, Satyajit Ray's movies touched our emotions in many ways

Barun Roy: The Li Ka-shing saga

Not many people remember the long, lonely miles Li had to travel before he became Asia's richest man

Barun Roy: Kolkata - Paradise lost

The 'cultural capital of India' should learn from what Kepler's has done for the US - producing a strong community movement to save independent bookstores from the onslaught of online vendors

Barun Roy: Songdo - Too impersonal for comfort?

Even in a smart city, people want glimpses of history and a human touch. Songdo is turning out to be a history-less city. There's just not what some experts describe as a big bad urban centre

Barun Roy: Surprise on the steppes

Building a new capital city from scratch isn't easy. Myanmar, South Korea and Malaysia have all tried, but the only virgin city that has taken off beyond all expectations is Astana, Kazakhstan's new c

Barun Roy: Where are the 'animal spirits'?

If there is one area in India that badly needs some, it is the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects

Barun Roy: Corridors of hope

The Greater Mekong Sub-region economic corridors initiative offers a model that should be duplicated in South Asia

Barun Roy: Banking on development

The New Development Bank and AIIB are welcome but can they assuage the growing hunger for infrastructure funding?

Barun Roy: Fixing the faulty 'road' map

Most of the ill-planned Asian cities need a more creative plan aimed at weaning people away from using personal cars for commuting

Barun Roy: Singapore's skyrise gardens

Vertical gardens are a cornerstone of the state's development plan and can be a game-changer in its quest for greater sustainability

Barun Roy: The geothermal alternative

The search for a potential resource of energy that exists in the heat of the Earth is now gathering pace