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India's Got a Joke...

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We Indians love a controversy. And this time, it wasn’t over politics, cricket, or Bollywood—it was over a joke. A joke so inappropriate that it sent the internet into full meltdown mode. At the center of it all? India’s Got Latent, a dark-humor, satirical version of India’s Got Talent, hosted by Samay Raina. The show was known for its edgy jokes, sarcastic commentary, and unfiltered humor—not like our average family-friendly entertainment. Everything was going fine until Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) asked that question which broke the internet. Even for a show that thrives on dark humor, this one was a nuclear-level misfire. Within days, the clip went viral, and outrage poured in. Politicians jumped in, lawyers filed complaints, news channels found their new prime-time topic, and Ranveer found himself the target of an FIR. In fact, this wasn’t the first time India saw moral policing disguised as law enforcement. Back in 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the First Amendment, limitin...
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Atmanirbhar Ch Ai na...

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The collapse of the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s and the devastation of the 2008 financial crisis were seismic events in the history of the global economy. However, neither compares to the technological storm that erupted in 2025, reshaping the global power dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI). The U.S. tech sector witnessed an unprecedented market collapse, losing $1 trillion in a single day. At the heart of this disaster was Nvidia, the titan of AI chip manufacturing, which saw $600 billion wiped off its valuation within hours—a scale of destruction never before seen in American corporate history. The shock did not originate from regulatory crackdowns, economic downturns, or investor panic. It came from an unexpected revolution in AI, orchestrated by a small Chinese company and a handful of engineers who introduced the DeepSeek R1 model—an AI system so efficient and disruptive that it threatened to topple Silicon Valley’s dominance. DeepSeek R1: The Disruptor of ...
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Evolution of Khumbh Mela

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Kumbh Mela reveals a side of Hinduism that is often not talked about. It is not about temples, gods, devotion, songs, or saints. It is primarily a ritual, dominated by boisterous masculine energy embodied in naked ascetics (digambara). These ascetics are covered with ash (bhabhut), with matted hair (jata), and hold staffs (dandi). They belong to various gymnasiums (akhara). They evoke the followers (gana) of the wild form of Shiva (Bhairava). It's a ritual gathering, not about meditation or contemplation. It is about taking a dip in a particular spot in the river at the right time, after it's consecrated by bathing ascetics. The roots can be argued to be Tantrik, involving the body (tanu, in Sanskrit). Such rituals happen in many parts of India, where the ash-smeared ascetics congregate. These ascetics likely originated in the east, in the Terai region, and challenged the Vedic order from the western Punjab region, possibly around 1000 BC. They clashed at Gangadwar, now called ...
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People, Principles & Progress

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Today, I binged watched an intriguing 2nd season of  'Bandish Bandits.' It sparked questions about why we adhere to societal rules and the consequences of either following or defying them. The series presented a dilemma faced by talented individuals who struggle to balance their principles with societal expectations. Reflecting on this, I identified three types of people. First, there are those who steadfastly adhere to their principles despite societal pressures, similar to Bhishma. He upheld his vows and principles, even when faced with complex moral dilemmas. However, principles may not always hold true as times change, necessitating reinterpretation. Second, some individuals, like Krishna, value ethical standards but adapt them to incorporate new ideas and evolving contexts. Such people exemplify the ability to reinterpret ethics to serve the greater good, ensuring relevance and inclusivity. Lastly, some, like Ravana from the Ramayana, reject existing norms altogether, crea...
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What's Wrong With Indian Education System?

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Last week, my close friend posted a question on social media “do we need formal education?".  I wondered what made him post this question? The obvious answer that I could think of is maybe because he is worried or irritated with the rigid and flawfull education system of India. but that made me reflect upon several conditions that I feel are creating concerns and irritation for the education system of India. The Indian education system, much like an ancient tree, bears the marks of both its roots and the seasons it has weathered. Its trunk—solid yet rigid—is shaped by colonial designs, while its branches are weighed down by the inequities and inefficiencies of a modern era. Let me, to the best of my knowledge, share my thoughts about the deep-seated challenges it faces and explore the consequences of neglecting its transformative potential. A Colonial Inheritance: The Roots of Inequality To understand the present, one must journey into the past. The British colonial administration...
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Immortal Self...

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Ratan Tata—a name closely tied to Indian industry and philanthropy—left behind more than an empire.  The work he did and his values will inspire business leaders for years to come.  But have you ever wondered why we care so much about being remembered after we’re gone? There’s something fascinatingly human about this desire to leave behind a mark—a message that quietly says, "I was here." Let’s deal with this idea, exploring how, across centuries and cultures, people have tried to defy the finality of death. Not by literally living forever, but by leaving behind echoes of themselves, traces that persist long after they’re gone. Throughout history, people have been drawn to rituals and symbols that attempt to defy death’s permanence. Look at how we honour the dead across cultures: the ancient Greeks would place coins with the deceased, believing they’d need them for a journey to the afterlife. Egyptians went even further, mummifying bodies to secure a physical place in eternit...
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Toxic Work culture: Celebrating Dysfunction

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Let’s be real. You probably have an image in your mind of what work should feel like—a balanced, productive, and fulfilling environment, where passion meets purpose. But let me shatter that illusion for you. In my previous job, I thought I had entered a professional realm that was about growth, learning, and teamwork. It was anything but. The reality was a deeply disturbing work culture—one that fed off of power, exploitation, and degradation. And what was worse? Everyone, including me, was conditioned to think it was normal . Yes, normal. Imagine walking into an office where working 10-12 hours wasn’t exceptional but expected—celebrated even. Where “team spirit” meant some officers dozing in their cushy air-conditioned cabins while their subordinates slaved away beneath flickering tube lights. And if you dared look at the clock around 6:00 pm, thinking the day was over, you’d be met with the shocking surprise of a "meeting" scheduled for 6:00 pm. Coincidence? I think not.  T...
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Vishwamitri - Friend of world(s)..

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Recent floods in Vadodara has generated political and social debate about climate change, miss (water) management and ill informed policy making and implementation.  Getting away from these debates, let’s take a moment to talk about something pretty special—the Vishwamitri River. It’s not just any river; it’s the lifeblood of Vadodara, a city steeped in history, culture, and nature. If rivers could talk, Vishwamitri would have some incredible stories to tell. So, let’s go on a journey together, exploring the rich and fascinating history of this river and how it has shaped the lives of those who’ve lived along its banks for thousands of years. The Ancient Beginnings: A River Shapes Early Life (1000 BCE) it’s around 1000 BCE, and small communities are starting to form along the western banks of the Vishwamitri River. Back then, the landscape was lush and green, covered in moist forests that seemed to stretch on forever. But the world was changing, and so was the climate. As the earth...
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"Dirty" Research...

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You know those tea-time conversations that start out light, full of jokes and laughter, but then suddenly take a turn into something much deeper? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me the other evening. There I was, casually sipping my chai with colleagues, when our banter somehow drifted into the realm of what some call "dirty literature" in India. You can imagine my reaction—part amusement, part curiosity. I jokingly suggested it would make for an intriguing research topic in gender and sociology. Little did I know, this light-hearted comment would spark an unexpected response. A colleague shot back, warning me that if I try to publish research on such a topic, my reputation in academic circles might take a hit. "They might judge you in the ‘wrong’ way," he said. And just like that, a flood of memories and thoughts washed over me, pulling me back to my first encounter with this so-called "dirty" literature. It’s funny, isn’t it, how certain triggers—l...
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Prejudiced Protests

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In my previous post, I tried to discuss my concerns about the law and order situation in India. Unfortunately, as is often the case, new incidents keep cropping up that force me to think again about the state of affairs. One such incident involves the tragic case of Aryan Mishra, a 19-year-old boy shot to death by a group of cow vigilantes who claim it was a "mistake." This case has sparked an outpouring of outrage. As I read the discourse surrounding this incident, something deeply troubling emerged. The accused, after confessing to their crime, expressed guilt not over the act of taking a life but over the fact that they had mistakenly killed a Brahmin boy. It's as if the entire tragedy would have been shrugged off had the victim belonged to a different caste, perhaps a lower one. This confession brings to light an uncomfortable truth about how our society values human life – not equally, but based on the arbitrary lines of caste and religion. Think about this for a mom...
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