Save our boys

Fresh revelations by Indian youths duped by agents and taken to the Ukraine-Russia war frontline are deeply worrying. Two men from Haryana – who were lucky to return home – have claimed more than 200...

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Their country, their rules

International media likes to pillory India over CAA, in which govt is, as per the narrative, officially codifying discrimination of asylum seekers on the basis of their religion. But looking at what other countries do...

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Getting away from the emotional mayhem

Pulkit Sharma No matter how old, wise, and psychologically sorted we feel, there are times when we get trapped in an emotional mayhem. We feel horrible, ruminate over irrational thoughts and end up engaging in...

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Thackeray’s failed ‘stab’ at success

Once more, Uddhav Thackeray used his ‘dagger’ to perfection. This time, Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi was his objective. When Prakash Ambedkar revealed during a press conference that Sanjay Raut had suggested running a candidate...

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Time to slam the brakes on free rural electricity

Political parties compete in offering freebies at election time. Some are affordable. But free rural electricity is not. Punjab, once the richest state, has declined to just above average, a major reason being that free...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/bD1N7BG

Pure-veg, mast-melons and other sweet & sour word salads

The art of communication is like building a rope bridge. Both usually begin with someone throwing a line that reaches the person standing on the  other side of a chasm. Sometimes, you aim correctly, and...

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How language became humans’ superpower

We use about 16,000 words a day. A two-year-old learns an average of nine words a day. But the origin of language is one of the most contested problems in science. Linguistics, neuroscience, anthropology, paleoarchaeology...

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The science of our biases & choices

Economists used to theorise that human beings are rational creatures who process available information and act in such a way as to optimise expected returns. But in the 1970s, two IsraeliAmericans proved (cynics would say...

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Some big fat truths about obesity

One day you’re told the great secret of weight loss, the next day you’re informed it’ll kill you. Intermittent fasting, a popular way to burn fat and control type 2 diabetes, is now under scrutiny,...

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Raising children of the light

The process of childbirth is a miracle of Nature, and a child’s arrival into a family is a blessing from God. Still untainted by the material world, the purity and innocence of a newborn captivate...

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Leaders and candidates

BJD founding member, and six-time Cuttack Lok Sabha MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab, joined BJP Thursday. If democracy is a temple, we’re in the midst of a desi-style electoral pilgrimage. Or is it more seasonal migration? Either...

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We’re what we feel

A young Jewish boy was rushing home in Nazi-occupied Paris, trying to avoid attention. He had missed the 6 pm curfew and the Star of David on his sweater, a compulsory identifier for Jews, meant...

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Caste aside

Last October, Bihar released results of India’s first caste-based census after Independence, and this January Andhra Pradesh launched a similar exercise, with officials going from house to house asking people which caste they belong to....

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Cross is a symbol of death and abundant life

By Janina Gomes On Good Friday, Christians venerate the cross of Christ. According to Sarah Coleman, an author, “The cross is a symbol of death but so much more – death and life, hate and...

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In festivals we celebrate human connections

By Bhartendu Sood The scenes of Holi celebrations across the country and even in neighbouring countries appear to carry one message, ‘Life is life with others.’ It is life from, for, and with one another....

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Eggs Kejriwalled

Like same-name snack, he’s been toasted, grilled – and now burnt  Devi Prasad Kejriwal, member of Bombay’s toff Willingdon Sports Club,  asked for cheese toast topped with an egg and diced green chillies. That personal...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/7T1pNIL

CAA: Mainstreaming persecuted migrants into the economy

Historical evidence and the current socio-political conditions provide ample proof that for decades religious minorities such as Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Shia Muslims, and ethnic minorities such as Sindhis and Baloch...

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Realising bigger dreams

That India is dreaming big is no secret. It aspires to be a developed country by the time it turns 100 as an independent nation. The common wisdom would have pin pointed hard work to...

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Sparkling H20 to none

Bengaluru is that crow in a fable who drops pebbles into a pot to raise the water level. As the city emerges blinking into the harsh sunlight, dry-mouthed and parched, the forecast is dystopian. At...

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About time you knew your real worth

A beggar used to beg outside a busy train station. One day a man approached him and offered to buy his begging bowl for ₹2,000. The beggar refused. The man then offered ₹10,000. The beggar...

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‘Who decides what core values of nationalism are? Is dialogue possible or is it all exclusive?’

Anthropologist, expert in politics of memory, and president, Goethe-Institut worldwide, Carola Lentz,on her first India visit, tells Narayani Ganesh nationalism’s a double-edged sword, that knowing languages is the first step to intercultural understanding, that aging...

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Bygone brand: How expat fam lost its status

In the early days when Indians were mad about ‘phoren’ goods it was so easy to give gifts on trips home and win the love and gratitude of sundry family members and friends. Packets of...

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When do you plan to be happy?

By Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar All the world’s teachings speak of finding great happiness because they know it’s what everyone is ultimately searching for. Happiness doesn’t depend on what we have or don’t have;...

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Teachers as the Shrestha and Mentors to create enlightened citizens committed to work as worship

1. Mainstream Education has never focused on teaching what really is the basis of Sanatana Dharma, Hinduism, Dharma, Swadharma and the traditional ideas of Creation, of religions, of our social systems, of Traditional ideas of...

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Basics of Physiology: Blood circulatory system

In our past two sessions, we discussed the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Respiratory System, which provide the nutrients and oxygen necessary for survival. Once absorbed, these nutrients need to be transported to every part of...

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Digital recreates the social: What ‘pure veg’ fleet says about caste

In India, food is not just a biological need but is deeply connected to social identities like caste. In pre-liberalisation India, caste-based food taboos discouraged the use of restaurants as commercial establishments for public dining....

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Seizing missed opportunities: Unleashing productivity with inbox and sent items strategies:

In today’s digital age, where every tool at our disposal can impact our productivity, it’s surprising how often we overlook the untapped potential of our Inbox and Sent Items folders of our email App. These...

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Tap into Atman for courage and confidence

By Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha Between the earliest primitive human and the modern civilised man persists one unchanging connecting thread, which makes them alike beggars and seekers in one sphere. We could be rich with family,...

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There is a way to align your emotions

By James Anderson Our well-being ultimately depends on growth. If we try to stand still, we are bound to go backward; we must stay upon the wheel of progress. Moreover, the spiritual dimension cannot be...

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Advancing human height estimation: A fusion of video imaging and 3D laser scanning

The proliferation of digitalization has led to an increase in the utilization of video surveillance systems, often capturing crucial crime images. Human height estimation is a fundamental aspect of various applications ranging from law enforcement...

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Forests as living spirit of the cosmos

By: Vir Singh Forests of Earth are natural cradles for all terrestrial life. Indian culture is originally an Aranya culture, forest-based culture. All the enlightening epics of Hindu culture and our best poetic work, dramas,...

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Anchors to the city

Docks encompass arrivals in the service of departures  The latest Maha madness is the proposal to rename eight Mumbai commuter stations. It’s one more Neroesque fiddle amidst the real burning issues of this city and...

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Learning to bond

Jug Suraiya Don Senior and Don Junior mulling over business matters. Don Senior: I’m tired of the bad press we’ve always got, about how we’re anti-social elements. It’s not fair. Don Junior: It isn’t fair....

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We are family, get up, everybody, and sing

Mona Mehta When their dog Maxi gobbled a bowl of dumplings in the kitchen and then looked up at them with an innocent expression on her face, she was not behaving simply like a biological...

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Pather Paunchali: Weighing in on Amdavadi footpaths vs Panaji pavements

When you walk, Marie Kondo supposedly strides across your brain and kicks out thought-junk. But many Indian cities have pedestrian ideas about improving pavements. In Ahmedabad, most pavements are the size of a toddler’s vocabulary...

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‘Saving animals is ethical, it’s evocative. And it’s smart business’

Speciesism is the illusion that only human lives matter because only humans create value. Our health & wealth are deeply connected to all animals. Industry relies on conservation of nature. CSR must focus on all...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/WQ90Xlz

How the election economy works

Nothing official about it The election economy will make its presence felt in the coming weeks through the massive expenditure that is the hallmark of Indian polls. There is scope for moral outrage over the...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/uJ2EhzU

Master the art of cultivating power

By Thich Nhat Hanh It is true that if you do not have power, you cannot do anything. Money is power. There are those who have a lot of money. They are so rich, but...

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Valuations-over-values mindset can sour India’s startup story

Startup successes have been among India’s standout achievements in the last decade. From uniquely Indian innovations to clever tweaks of global plays (such as cash on delivery for e-commerce), Indian founders have used ingenuity, skill...

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Manifesting a manifesto: What queer people want from parties

“I want a dyke for a president. I want a person with AIDS for president and I want a f*g for vice-president and I want someone with no health insurance and I want someone who...

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Schemes for welfare of farmers under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by ministry of agriculture & farmers welfare

“Agriculture is not just about sowing seeds; it is a commitment to nurturing the very soil that sustains life. As we cultivate the fields, let us also cultivate a future where harmony with nature prevails,...

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Elections are emotional, even cathartic, events

They bring up a voter’s identity, family, memories An election is an exercise in hope and goodwill. Inside the Mind of a Voter: A New Approach to Electoral Psychology by Michael Bruter and Sarah Harrison,...

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Conscious awareness or aware consciousness

By Deepak Ranade Consciousness is an attribute of life, embedded in all life forms, right from the unicellular bacterium to the multicellular, multi-organ human being. Consciousness has been considered an emergent phenomenon by neuroscientists and...

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One Nation, many poles: Simultaneous polls are a good idea. But given multipolar polity, get more parties on board

A high-level committee led by Ram Nath Kovind, tasked to examine the feasibility of simultaneous elections for all levels of govt, has recommended India transition to this system. This can happen by 2029. Synchronising LS...

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Cut down the tree of sansar and be free

By- Swami Bhaktivenkateshwara Advaita Vedanta states that we only suffer in life because we are bound by sansar. By being caught in the transmigration of karmas, we remain ignorant of God as our True Self...

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Einstein’s theory unveils spiritual realities

By- Sumit Paul Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity might be scientifically recondite to many, it finds application in the realm of spirituality, and is of profound significance especially in turbulent times, when every faith asserts...

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China makes disproportionate claims in the Gulf of Tonkin

China’s extension of its excessive claims to its periphery is nothing new. Simply put, this is China’s métier. It occupied Tibet, Uyghur, and then Eastern Ladakh. Then it turned its attention to the South China...

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Comma sense: A humble punctuation mark can make a world of difference in meaning when we write

Comma was being tried in the Court of Grammar and Punctuation. The interrogators included Full Stop, Question Mark, Exclamation Point, Apostrophe, Hyphen, and Dash. You are really no use whatsoever. Full Stop said with a...

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And the Earth Lila Oscar goes to…

Prashant Solomon What if an actor won an Oscar only based on the character he portrays and not the quality of his acting? Won’t that be unfair? Our lives in this physical world are a...

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‘Russia has opened a Pandora’s Box… Putin crossed a red line with Ukraine… He is more dangerous than ever’

Lithuania celebrates two independence days, one of which was observed earlier this week on March 11 – Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania. The Baltic nation is also one of the frontline Nato states...

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Why sage Ashtavakra feels wonderful always

By- Uma Ram and KS Ram Health generally is assumed to relate to body-care, internal and external. A broader view includes mental health. Radically different from all this, is the Indic view of health, encapsulated...

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Tour of randomness and order via Bhagwad Gita

By G S Tripathi In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishn says that what is the light of the day for ordinary folks is the darkness of the night for knowledgeable persons, and vice versa. Light and...

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Basics of Physiology

After exploring various myths about diet and lifestyle, we will now delve into the fundamentals of human physiology and nutrition. Every living organism, from single cells to primates, has two primary objectives: (1) survival and...

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The song and dance around Women’s Day

Monday: Over the weekend, the Gujarati side of my extended family was particularly busy on our WhatsApp group. My mother’s cousin, Biren bhai, has been behaving like it is his son’s and not Anant Ambani’s...

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For new Pak PM, a juggling act between economy and military

Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s old-turned-new prime minister, doesn’t have it easy. His country is mired in multiple crises — resurgent terrorism, soaring political polarisation, record-level public discontent, and one of its worst economic crises in years....

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For securing Bengaluru’s water future, let us look to its past

This year, climate change is already showing us a glimpse of what the future holds for Bengaluru. The city confronts an unusually hot, early summer, coupled with a prolonged drought. When the rains do eventually...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/7qcxQGr

Japanese concepts that inform and inspire

Narayani Ganesh Lately, several Japanese terms that are uplifting have been doing the rounds on social media. The most popularly used term is Kaizen; that there can be continuous improvement, whether in the domain of...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/QNFBME0

When Goddess Uma guided Devas to know Brahmn

By Pranav Khullar When asked by a disciple, “Kenesitam patati presitam manah” – by whom and whose will is the mind directed towards objects – in the opening lines of the Kena Upanishad, the teacher...

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Welcome, PUUs: Immigrants seldom look like natives

Mantra for rich nations: go for ‘People Unlike Us’ Sometimes netas say such goofy things that they have to U-turn with Usain Bolt speed. Like Taiwan’s labour minister. On the heels of an MoU to...

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Night that shows us the path to light

B K Brij Mohan Mahashivaratri, the great night of Shiv, marks annihilation of the darkness of ignorance and vices from our minds, by Supreme Soul Shiv. The root cause of pervasiveness of evil and ignorance...

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Five divine acts of Shiv in Kashmir Shaivism

Vijay Hashia Kashmir Shaivism venerates Shiv and attributes panchakrityas, five great activities, to Him. They are: Srishti, creation, emanation, or projection; Sthiti, maintenance; Samhara, dissolution; Tirodhana, veiling, concealment of real nature; and Anugraha, grace. Srishti...

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To know Shiv is to become Shiv

By – Anup Taneja Spanda-Karikas, a Kashmir Shaivism text, explains that the world, although an abhasa, reflection, is not a superimposition on Shiv from outside. Instead, it is a Selfcreation or Self-projection of Shiv who,...

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Time to shorten exam cycles for job seekers

Indian youth bulge burdens the governance for setting up a suitable framework for the productive engagements of the largest ever adolescent and young population. Due to the limited period for the demographic dividend, it will...

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Half-truth is equal to a complete lie!

Maharashtra’s revered Saint Tukaram Maharaj made a poignant comment on people who uphold false ideals. And one is strongly reminded of this view point by Saint Tukaram when we observe the actions of some of...

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Desi vs desi ( Nikki Haley vs Kamala Harrris)

When I came to the United States in 1966, a large population of the USA did not even know where India was located.  India was viewed as a country of famines, poverty, and snake charmers. ...

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India, and Armenia: Emerging Geostrategic Synergy

What do India, and Armenia have in common? First and foremost they are civilisational states with thousands of years of recorded history. Second Christianity reached these countries very early, several years before it reached Western...

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Supplements myth

Growing up, our eating patterns are largely influenced by family habits, leading to a limited diet that may cause nutrient deficiencies. Unlike handling excess nutrients, our bodies struggle with deficiencies. Relying on inorganic or organic...

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Some do savings, some do shami

The best batata bhaji I ever had was on a train from Hyderabad to Delhi. I had been smelling it since my neighbour got on in Nagpur and placed his towel-wrapped tiffin carrier dangerously close...

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Mantra for India Inc: CSR funds for Vedic chanting

Globalisation has brought nations closer. But also put their cultural diversity under threat. For India, with a rich legacy of diverse cultures, it becomes important to safeguard this national heritage. Among the treasures that stand...

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Triple A approach in and beyond the boardroom

-By Mona Mehta The Type A personality, loaded with alpha qualities – dynamism, passion, aggression, creative thinking, always on the go – might get you success in the boardroom. But in the world that lies...

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You can still win

While reading the book titled ‘Mindset’, authored by Dr Carol S Dweck, I came across a fascinating insight regarding the real power of human potential, which I am sharing here: This is about Muhammad Ali,...

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