The Present Minds

Essays on the Edge Live Now

The Margin

Personal, precise, and unafraid. Essays written from the margins of culture, identity, and the examined life.

The Present Minds Column
Essays on the Edge

The Margin Essays

Personal, precise, and unafraid. Essays written from the margins of culture, identity, and the examined life.

Live Now
2026
Navneet Shukla
The Voice Behind The Margin

Navneet Shukla

Navneet Shukla writes about how people think and how modern life shapes that thinking. The Present Minds is where he explores it - and invites you to explore alongside him.

Writer & Editor LinkedIn Site Upwork
May 21, 2026

What Thailand Quietly Teaches You When You Finally Stop Being a Tourist

Everyone you speak to in Thailand seems genuinely delighted to see you. Cheerful. Warm. Excited. The smile arrives before the conversation does.…

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May 15, 2026

Thailand Travel Tips That Nobody Writes About but Everyone Needs

Thailand travel tips that actually matter are not the ones in the guidebooks. Not the ATM fees. Not the fruit boxes. Not…

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May 8, 2026

What I Learnt from a Grab Driver in Bangkok

Bangkok night does not ease you in gently. It arrives all at once. The expressway from the airport is elevated, so you…

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Apr 11, 2026

What I Learnt from a Support Dog in Scotland

What I learnt from Louie, a missing dog in Scotland, I only understood when three strangers walked out of the dark toward…

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Apr 8, 2026

What I Learnt from a Teenage Boat Skipper in Montenegro

What I learnt from a Teenager with a boat in Montenegro is something that might come as a huge shock to a…

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Apr 2, 2026

What I Learnt from a Bus Driver in Scotland

What I learnt from a bus driver in Scotland was not something I had packed for, and I had packed for almost…

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Mar 28, 2026

What I Learnt from a Cab Driver in London

What I learnt from a cab driver in London is probably something not many people have even if they are frequent passengers…

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Mar 23, 2026

What I Learnt from My Kurdish Barber in London

What I learnt from my barber in London is something I realised only after the haircut was done and when I was…

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