Giant misstep

Why Colonizing the Moon Could Be a Bad Idea Did you know that what we do on Earth can even change the moon? Scientists discovered that the Covid lockdowns, when everyone stayed home, not only...

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In pursuit of death

New guidelines aim to support the rights of terminally ill patients on life support The Situation Today | In India, more people than ever are getting access to life-saving treatments. However, this also means that there...

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One Nation, One Election: Dismantling democratic diversity

The Union Cabinet’s recent approval of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) proposal, based on the recommendations of the Ram Nath Kovind-led committee, raises serious concerns about its implications for India’s democracy. While the proponents...

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Bubble or not, the AI genie is out of the bottle. But here’s the rub

The world is bubbling with talk of an AI bubble. But what is a bubble anyway? For me, it is the nadir of a hype cycle for an idea or an asset, when we suspend...

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What’s in a name?

In Japan, there’s a big discussion about names. Right now, when people get married, they have to choose one last name for both of them. Usually, the wife has to take her husband’s last name....

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Are you aware of the power of your breath?

Do you know what your first act was when you came into this world? It was taking a breath. Your last act will be breathing out. Everything in between is what we call “life.” Although...

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Asli cheese

A dairy product that brings back to mind and taste a faraway time and place My introduction to cheese was not agreeable. To my nine-year-old nose it smelt bad, and tasted worse. I’d never heard...

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We were warned

We’re seeing crazy weather all around us, and yet, not much is being done to fight climate change. Have you felt the heat recently? So hot it makes you feel sick, kills your plants, and...

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Bibi’s calculations

For months, there’s been a fight between a group called Hezbollah and the country of Israel. This is turning into a much bigger problem. On Monday, Israel bombed southern Lebanon, killing many people, and Hezbollah...

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The educated person, Pandit, is ‘One who has Panda’ i.e., knowledge of our Swa-roopa’ – so what is our Swaroopa?

Principle of existence: We know that ‘we all, and this Creation’ Exists. We also know the basic Principle that, “that which exists can never Cease to Exist; and that which doesn’t exist can never come into...

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Adulteration central

Tirupati controversy reminds us how common adulterated food is in India & how little’s done about it As the serious issue of adulteration of temple prasad at Tirupati spawns a political slugfest, various places of...

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Two to tango

To maximise its strategic ties with US, India needs domestic R&D, economic heft   Modi’s declaration at Delaware’s Quad Summit that the grouping is “here to stay” is as definitive an indication as can be about...

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Bottoms & bottomlines

Why desi flyers run out of planes just after touchdown Airlines globally have two main business models to choose from – go bare bones & be good for their bottomlines; or go comfy & be...

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Caution amidst comfort: The hidden risks of Montelukast

Montelukast, a medication hailed for its efficacy in treating asthma and allergic rhinitis, has become a household name for many families seeking relief from respiratory ailments. Since its approval in the late 1990s, montelukast has...

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The role of literature in social movements in British India

The significance of literature in social movements is often overlooked or underestimated. Yet, history reveals numerous instances where literary works—both oral and written—have played a pivotal role in shaping and driving societal change. This holds...

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Honk, honk! Swachh dreams, dream girl and a paan-India problem

8am Dropping the little one to school in traffic jams, monsoon-wrecked roads and a cacophony of screeching horns, I recall the Union transport minister’s proposal to pass a law requiring horns of all vehicles to...

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Born on a Sunday, too busy to Regret!

Many times, I’ve been cautioned with the words, “You’ll regret this.” My response to each one has always been the same: “I was born on a Sunday— regret doesn’t belong in my story.”  Each day,...

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Indian-diaspora is strong in rural and small cities in America

For years, the Indian diaspora in America was thought to be entirely in big cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston. However, US census data from 2020 shows that of the 5 million...

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Why AI can harm us, how we can stop it

Harari dips into ancient history to analyse the newest threat Humans are at once the smartest and the most stupid animals on earth, says Yuval Noah Harari in Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks...

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Workplaces Should Care About Employees

A recent letter from a mother, talking about her daughter Anna Sebastian Perayil, has caught the attention of many people who work in offices. Anna was a chartered accountant who worked very hard, but according...

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Sometimes we should say ‘a big thank you’

Are we living in interesting times? Yes, absolutely!  To say we are living in anything but difficult times is an understatement. There are  problems everywhere. Any person in India can name at least a hundred...

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One nation, many notions

Simultaneous polls are a good idea. But implementation will be terribly tricky & impossible sans oppn agreeing  Imagine if we could have all our big elections on the same day – for the whole country...

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Election/Selection

Like Atishi, CMs of all parties are actually selected by top leaders. Not good for real intra-party democracy Imagine you’re in a class where the teacher always picks the class monitor instead of letting students...

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Reflections from the heart

In 2011, the Bollywood superhit Rockstar made the millennial generation aware of the journey of self discovery in the experience of love. The movie opened and ended with Mevlana Rumi’s profound quote. Out beyond the...

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Collaboration: The catalyst for 5G success in India

Ecosystem collaboration where diverse stakeholders unite their expertise, resources, and vision is the cornerstone of achieving transformative milestones. India’s 5G rollout is a fitting example of effective collaboration between the government, telecom providers, and equipment...

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Akar Prakar, Kolkata celebrates passages of printmakers

From the chromatic and textural complexity of Krishna Reddy to the monochromatic magic of Chiitaprosad and Rabindranath Tagore to modern day printmakers , Akar Prakar’s cachet of Past in Perspective ( Printmaking in Bengal ) is a...

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Finally, sense of us

GOI should focus on conducting a thorough Census & not give in to caste census politics What’s a Census? A census is like a big count of everyone in the country. It helps the government...

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Gash in the mountain

Aravalis to Goa, govts seem determined to ignore the Wayanad lesson In different parts of India, like the Aravali hills and Goa, the government is making decisions that might hurt nature. They’re not learning from...

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Adapting Finternet: Insights and lessons for developing countries

The concept of Finternet, with its promise of a digital-first, interconnected financial ecosystem, offers significant potential for developing countries. However, adapting Finternet requires careful consideration of the unique challenges faced by countries, competency scale, resources...

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Portrait of a serf

It begins nicely enough, with a great tech product How are empires made in the age of Great Tech? No, not as they once were, through marauding horsemen with gleaming swords, sieges on castles, archers...

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Don’t rethink pink. Plane truth is we need women-friendly seats

Hot pink, rani pink or mithai pink…whatever the shade, pink is a happy colour. Indians associate it with auspicious occasions such as shaadis, birth of a girl child, pujas. In the West, the colour has...

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The new ‘green revolution’ will not feed India

Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has proposed an increased subsidy of Rs 20,000 per hectare for farmers willing to shift from green-revolution techniques to ‘natural farming’, also called zero-budget farming because it uses no purchased...

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How menopause can be a superpower

My mother and I never really had ‘The Talk’. I got my first period while lounging in my balcony, studying for my board exams. When I saw the red rivulet, I felt relieved that I...

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A horse for their kingdom & trade

How a shy animal was bred to change human history  No animal has had as profound an impact on human history as the horse, says Raiders, Rulers and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of...

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Older, but wiser?

Ayushman coverage for elderlies is great. But the health scheme has many existing problems  The Indian government has made a big promise to help older people stay healthy. They’re giving free health insurance to everyone...

from Times of India Opinion https://ift.tt/xJ5tl81

Phony idea

Adolescents’ social media addiction is a problem. Banning isn’t a solution Some grown-ups are worried that kids are spending too much time on social media. In Australia, they’re thinking about making a rule that says...

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Toorist trap

The world over, local residents are being overrun by an incursion of selfie-taking sightseers A tourist has been described as someone who, having nothing to do at home, goes and does it someplace else. And...

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Phones & footwear

iPhone 16 is a nice Make in India moment. Inclusive growth awaits labour-intensive success stories Glass is definitely half full. The iPhone 16 launch will mark a meaningful Make in India moment. One, because experts...

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Party – I Revolutionary literature in India’s struggle for Independence

During India’s struggle for Independence, literature played a vital role in inspiring the masses and arousing a sense of patriotism. Many poets and writers took up their pens as weapons to challenge the British colonial...

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Step aside, Ms Buch

Why It’s Important for Leaders to Stay Trustworthy Madhabi Puri Buch, the first woman to lead Sebi (the group that watches over India’s financial markets), started her job with a lot of respect. People saw...

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Pillar 5.2: Spiritual health

The human pursuit to understand the nature of things has been eternal. Approximately 2,500 years ago, this quest for knowledge split into two disciplines: philosophy and science. At that time, India was the wealthiest country,...

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Why I love the Paralympics but hate the inspiration porn

As I grow older, I yearn to find a new culture. A culture that shares the vocabulary of my disabled body, its aspirations and imperfections. A culture that challenges normativity and celebrates diversity. A culture...

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Kimchi bites

Climate change is turning the heat on comfort foods  Kimchi for many Indians is now their favourite achaar. Its local incarnations are oft made with local patta gobi. But over in its homeland, they associate...

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Drone up

Use of UAVs in Manipur ethnic conflict is worrisome. But solution lies in innovation, not dialling back a liberal drone policy  Recently, in Manipur, drones have been used by some people to drop bombs and...

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Why violence in Balochistan is getting worse

In August, Pakistan’s troubled province of Balochistan witnessed the worst violence in six years. In particular, the week that coincided with the death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a prominent nationalist leader and former chief...

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DisHonour Code

In demanding students be ‘apolitical’ and ‘patriotic’, a Mumbai univ severely dents their education  When a university tells students they must be “apolitical” and “patriotic,” it might sound harmless at first. But what it really...

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Didi’s Drama

Bengal just made a new law to punish rapists, but it’s mostly just for show. It’s like putting on a play instead of actually fixing the real problems. The Bengal assembly made a new ‘anti-rape’...

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Fight for Jobs in India

Many young people in India are finding it very hard to get a job. They are even risking their lives for a chance to work. Recently, in Rajasthan, a man who used to help pick...

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The rationale for accessible housing

When we think of “accessible housing” what comes to our mind is special housing for the elderly and the disabled. You probably also feel you don’t need accessible housing and that you had rather buy...

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

Namaz Knots

It is really time for central BJP to rein in Himanta’s rhetoric, even if behind closed doors It looks like the Chief Minister of Assam hasn’t noticed that focusing on attacking minorities doesn’t help win...

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Pillar 5.1: Emotional & spiritual health

The fifth pillar of health is Emotional & Spiritual Health. The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental drive shared by all living organisms, from single cells to the largest blue whales. For over a century,...

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