My strength lies not in my name, but in the backing of 1.4 billion Indians and thousands of years of timeless culture and heritage.

Lots are written about how 'she shows up at board meetings in the saree.' My God, I have never worn a saree to board meetings; people play it out in different ways. I think I have never shied away from the fact that I am an Indian, and I don't intend to, but you can be at home with both cultures.

The English never draw a line without blurring it.

The English know how to make the best of things. Their so-called muddling through is simply skill at dealing with the inevitable.

Africans of my generation-and even today-generally have both an English and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name, and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it had something to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, but that would be only a guess.

India is a geographical term. It is no more a united nation than the Equator.