Drishtikone
Some pictures just say it! This one was so beautiful! Read more
Some pictures just say it! This one was so beautiful! Read more
Once I had a discussion with a friend who believes in the rather twisted theistic version of Sankhya (which Arya Samaj follows) - which involves belief in three entities: Prakriti, Purush and Bhagwan (or the God). Sankhya philosophy is one of pillars of Indian philosophical framework. It started with an Atheistic version - with just Prakriti and Purush as the two protagonists. Prakriti is assumed to be the basic foundational block of "Srishti" and is "Jad" (not intelligent)... Purush is the consciousness (Chetna). In classic Sankhya yoga, Purush is within the throes of Maya until it is attached to the Prakriti, but it achieves enlightenment only when that attachment is broken. Now, the earlier Rishis who were the creators of this philosophy also believed that effect is in the cause itself. Which means that Cause is the seed and effect is part of it. Prakriti's seed was in Purush itself. That is how, when the Srishti was dissolved, Prakriti would lose its existence. To a Purush which was into experiencing, however, it would seem that Prakriti was there forever - since that is its only reference of measurement. Read more
Remember in our school we were told that Marconi discovered wireless? Well, it turns out that was nonsense! It was really Jagdish Chandra Bose. Marconi usurped the credit to himself.. and the Western world complied because Bose was a citizen of colonized people! (MIT paper . Sciencemag) [Chronology of Events]. Well, that wasn't the only thing for which the Europeans just took the credit shamelessly. Now it turns out even Calculus was invented at least 250 years before Newton in India! (We all know that don't we?). Newton just seemed to have stumbled on it a few centuries late.. (or stolen from the various manuscripts of Indian scriptures that were stolen anyways - who knows??). [story credit to Raj] Read more
US consumption - US production = Brazil's annual output. And Brazil is the 10th largest economy on planet earth! So, the Americans take on a debt that is close to the entire annual output of Brazil!! Is that a cause for concern? Well, some economists with twisted logic say no. But here is the deal with China: US buys goods from China; pays it with USD China has money; US has goods (cheap ones) China puts money back in US Treasury bonds; US gives promise to pay later and pays for its debt by that IOU. The Grand kids of those who keep buying stuff will pay for it. btw, where do you think these goods paid by national debt end up? In Storage!! US has twice the storage vs Europe per capita! Read more
One of my close friends - Vish - has written this based on an earlier post on drishtikone. I think it is very informative and analyzes our poverty in context of our age old wisdom in the Vedas. Read more
India is at a cross-roads today. It has experimented with democracy as well as socialism however flawed it might have been. It has a significant and growing portion of its people living with a decent standard of living, even though that is a minority of the population and not comparable with the developed world. It has increased life expectancy from about 32 to 68 years and birth rate per woman has declined some in recent years (a positive indicator vis-a-vis population). India is the pharmacy of the developed world and a software-services power. Read more
I know I am a little late – I had no internet connection at my hotel for last two days – but I wanted to wish a very Happy Independence day to all today on the 60th birthday of India. This journey has been amazing with great twists and turns. The optimism and tragedy of the early few years to the stabilization period of the 50’s and the wars of the 60’s to the political quagmires of the 70’s, the terrorism spectre and the cold war sanctions of the 80’s to the resurgence of the 90’s and a new look confident (brash?) generation of the new century – we have seen it all!! Some say at 60 years we are like an “old lady” – a comparison surely influenced by that famous Manoj Kumar song “Dulhan Chali”. But really speaking from the strict Indian context – a civilization that is probably 6000 years old (or more), 60 years is a blip! Read more
Remember the racket in fake currency run in India sponsored by the "friendly neighborhood" ISI (Pak Intelligence agency)?? (Headlinesindia . Yahoo) Well.. you know all that is correct and you are truly in Pakistan when the ATMs of even the top banks start giving away fake local currency (Pakistani Rupee) to its own customers!!! THAT is the height of corruption and proof enough of the complicity of that countries top folks in this world-wide racket! Read more
These days, when everything seems to be made in China... well at least everything that we buy in the US really comes from China - it does come as a jolt when something like toys are recalled en mass by the largest toy manufacturer!! First Mattel did a massive recall (this link also has the list of recalled toys, in case you are interested) of many character-based toys like Elmo etc. and now there is another recall! Mattel is set to announce the recall of another toy involving a different Chinese supplier as early as Tuesday, according to three people close to the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.Details of the latest recall were not immediately available, but one of the three people said the toy is being recalled because its paint may contain excessive amounts of lead. Read more
Though many people knew this but hardly everyone talked about this until Dharmendra filed for his elections candidacy in 2004. He was married - after conversion to Islam - to Hema Malini (named as Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty). His name is Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn. He was 44 years and Hema Malini was 29. Here is the Nikahnama. The Nikahnama (marriage document) says that Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn (44 years) accepted Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty (29 years) as his wife on 21 August 1979 at a mehr of, Rs 111,000 in the presence of two legal witnesses…’ The nikah was solemnised by Maulana Qazi Abu Talha Misbahi Faizabadi. Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In