Category: Blogs

Greetings to India and all Indian people on India’s 76th Independence Day anniversary today. India is a vibrant democracy, as exemplified by dozens of political parties — some local, some regional and some national — that make the Indian political scene so much interesting. The Congress Party, which dominated the […]

As a college student in Kashmir, in the early 1980s, while commuting (after college hours) through Lal Chowk, the heart of the capital city of Srinagar, from one bus stand to another across the historic Amira Kadal bridge, I would stop on several occasions to enjoy a free roadside show […]

Since my last piece about two months ago, dated 5 June 2023, titled, ‘Struggling Democracy‘, I travelled a bit around the globe, but the world did not stop being a difficult place for us common humans. Apparently, politics seems to be at the root of the mayhem and unhappiness making […]

Introduction Democracy is a noble idea, a benevolent gift that we humans bestowed upon ourselves not very long ago, after suffering through millions of years of our tribalistic existence, with sole aim to abolish our subjugation and slavery. Democracy helped us to decentralise the political power so that we, the […]

Modern humans are intrinsically bothered about their origins (biological and spiritual) and their mysterious existence after death. In their present form, as Homo Sapiens, much long before the advent of modern scientific knowledge in the last millennium, questions, such as, ‘who am I?’ and ‘where do I go from here?’, […]

Who has the power? Where is it? These questions are not related to ‘electrical’ or ‘mechanical’ power, these are about the real power — relative, of course — the power to rule over other humans, the power to call decisive shots, the power of autonomy to do what you wish […]

All living beings need love to survive as much as they need water. Without water and love, life withers away sooner or later. Lack of consumption of water or dehydration can prove to be fatal. Humans and all other animals need plenty of love and water to survive and thrive, […]

Freedom, O Freedom, soothe many a scorched soul like the morning dew. Freedom, O Freedom, like the Sun, give life and shine to all, not only to a few. Freedom, O Freedom, set yourself free, bless the captive, not only the captor. Freedom, O Freedom, don’t be an illusion or […]

Friends, I wish you all and your families a Healthy and Peaceful New Year 2023. This is my last message of the year 2022. I want to move on, as much as I urge you all to also move on, towards a brighter and lighter 2023, leaving behind any burden […]

As the year 2022 draws to a close and the festival season fills our lives with hope, optimism and promise, it is also time for some serious reflection – at both individual and collective levels – on what to carry forward into the new year and what to leave behind. […]