Parag Khanna is EGO's first certifiable Egoiste! Tall, dark and handsome would have carried this cosmopolitan desi far enough, but sprinkled with a penchant for writing incisive social political commentary and love for women and wine makes Parag a formidable force.
For the past few years, Parag has been working at the prestigious Brookings Institution, which is famous for being Washington's premier thinktank. In 2002, he was awarded an OECD Future Leaders Prize. Currently finishing up the qualifiers for his Phd, Parag tells us he's packing his bags for the summer and working on a travel book about Eastern and Central Europe.
We've always had a soft spot for Parag since he wrote one of EGO's most popular articles, called Bollystan. We got up close with Parag to get his opinions on some earth-shattering issues:
What do you do to earn and blow money?
-- Write long articles on geopolitics.
Who do you love to hate?
-- Michael Jackson.
How do you indulge your decadent side?
-- Vodka tonics, fast driving, lounging on beaches.
Do you think monogamy is outdated?
-- No, but it's an acquired taste.
What cocktail best describes your personality?
-- Leninade (at Pravda in New York)
If you could go back in time and take credit for any piece of work, what would it be?
-- Sigmund Freud, "Civilization and its Discontents."
Who is your favorite icon- fashion, entertainment, etc?
-- A tie: Pete Sampras and Lenny Kravitz.
What makes you fabulous enough to be person of the week?
-- I know Ayesha. And I coined the word "Bollystan."
What do you think is the key to success in life?
-- Never say no to anything, ever.