STUBBLE: STYLE AND SURVIVAL

"Stubble" has become a word that is increasingly used. In fact, it has become almost as common as the present buzzword, "disruptive", which has entered the popular lexicon in a big way.

- Kiran Karnik

Growing up, one interpreted the word as being negative; now, as an adjective prefixed to technology or innovation, it has a hugely positive connotation, and is the holy grail for all wannabe-unicorn entrepreneurs.

Those into word-counts as an indicator of what is important (a standard mode of analysing President Xi's reports and speeches) might study contemporary Indian newspapers to determine the frequency of occurrence of "stubble". Doubtless, they will find it is very high. The reference is mainly to the stubble left behind after harvesting the paddy crop, especially in certain states. Its subsequent burning brings tears - literally -to many eyes, besides possible lung-aches. This is the result of pollution caused by the smoke from stubble burning, compounded by other factors.

There is another form of stubble, not as frequently written about, but nowadays almost as ubiquitous: the sprouting of facial hair. Photographs of celebrities and ads with male models are inevitably dominated by those with the two-days-unshaven look. Adding to this in recent appearance times is the daily on TV of stubble-adorned President Zelensky. This, along with his attire - often an olive-green t-shirt - gives one the sense that he has just returned from the battle zone after pushing back the Russian troops. Maybe he is actually returning from the frontline after a few sleepless nights there. Obversely, maybe he has spent much time carefully cultivating an unkempt look! After all, perfecting that careless look does take a lot of care and effort.