4th Dimension

Imagine, if you will, the daily life of an average Indian citizen. A person, just like you and me, going about their routine, perhaps heading to work, spending time with family, or even peacefully protesting for what they believe is right. Now, imagine that same person being suddenly whisked away by the police, perhaps for a post they made on social media, or for attending a protest. No trial, no chance to defend themselves – just an arrest. Does this seem like a scenario from a dystopian novel? Sadly, it's not. This is a reality that too many Indians face today. Now, you might ask, why am I so concerned about this? Let me tell you why. In recent times, the actions of the Indian police have often seemed strange, even bizarre. Consider the case of a juvenile in Pune who was made to write a 300-word essay as punishment for killing two people in a road accident. This isn't just weird; it's downright unsettling. Then there's the case of the SUV driver, arrested in connectio...

Today, I came across a funny instagram reel of a so-called spiritual leader. He was publicly making fun of Science and cracking jokes about relationships with women and other people who seek solutions about their real life problems from him in the Pandal of a Katha vachan . This is not the first time I was looking at such a person,  I have seen many such spiritual leaders who often make fun of science, psychology and people in their Sabha .. These individuals, often referred to as Babas or guru, wield immense influence over vast numbers of people, shaping beliefs, behaviors, and even societal norms. But who are these Baba, and what accounts for their widespread popularity? Consider the case of Pookie Baba, also known by the more formal title Anirudhacharya Ji Maharaj or simply Anirudh Tiwari. Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in 1989, he moved to Vrindavan as a child to immerse himself in the study of Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures. From these modest beginnings, Pookie Baba has emer...

Reading time: 2 minutes.  As a faculty member in a respected B-School, I frequently engage with management theories and concepts. These ideas are mostly shaped by Western philosophies, which, in my view, do not fully capture the realities of the East. Because of these theories and concepts, management education today tends to cling to  Western ideas, leading to a shallow understanding of the human mind, culture, civilization, and society. Lately, I have been reviewing papers on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality in management journals. Almost all of them lack a deep (sociological) understanding of diversity and inclusion. The Western idea of diversity focuses mainly on gender, sexuality, and race, but misses the broader idea of "human differences." Around the world, there are many types of diversity—like caste, religion, and language—that Western management theories often overlook. Take China and Japan, for example. These societies are heavily Westernised but remain deeply xe...

Reading time : 3-4 Minutes As I reflect on the recent tragedy at Rau's IAS Study Circle in Delhi, my mind drifts to the Ramayana, an epic that has always intrigued me. Why, I have often wondered, did Ravana, a so-called intellectual, allow his city to burn and his family to perish? Were his actions driven solely by desire, or was there something deeper at play? This question has haunted me, and as I ponder the tragic deaths of young UPSC aspirants in Delhi and protesting students in Dhaka, I begin to see a pattern in the human psyche: the older generations often cling to power at the expense of the youth. Ravana's story is one of immense complexity. Here was a man of great intellect and power, yet he allowed his ambitions and desires to consume him, leading to the destruction of his kingdom and the death of his loved ones. As I read the Ramayana, I wonder: why did Ravana make such choices? Was it merely his insatiable hunger for more power, or was it his desperate clinging to t...