uietly belligerent. That oxymoron describes Karan Thapar, television commentator and host of many talk-shows almost completely. He can have his audience in raptures and his guests in despair or his audience in despair and guests in anger (and sometimes in tears) with almost effortless ease. But there is no disputing the popularity of the man whose latest effort is a show called Devil's Advocate on CNN-IBN. In this chat, he remembers his first job and how what he learnt back then has stayed with him.

If there is one incident I can recall, it has to be this. In 1981, after I'd finished my PhD from Oxford University, I had applied to six London newspapers for a job. Five of them wrote back, asking me to 'get lost'. The sixth was - The Times. I got a mail from Charlie Douglas Home (home editor). 'I am amazed,' he wrote, 'by the audacity of the pompous letter that you have written inviting me over for lunch.' ... more