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66 essays

  1. Indian Thought

    When machines become oracles

    I built an astrology engine and refused to call its outputs predictions. Modern AI raises the same question about what a model can actually see.

    13 min read

  2. Human Quest

    The age of answers, and the lost art of questions

    Answers used to be expensive and are now nearly free. If scarcity has only moved rather than disappeared, what became scarce is knowing what to ask.

    5 min read

  3. Indian Thought

    The Layered Birth of Gods

    One temple accepts only flowers; another remembers blood. Read those differences as fossils rather than local flavour, and the gods start to look assembled.

    17 min read

  4. Indian Thought

    The Lord of the Hills and the Clay of the Desert

    A terracotta goddess excavated at Ur around 1800 BCE looks unmistakably like Venkateshwara. Coincidence, or a shared grammar for picturing the divine?

    4 min read

  5. Indian Thought

    Age of the Shiva Tandava Stotra

    The hymn is credited to Ravana, but its metre, vocabulary and imagery point somewhere else entirely: eighth-century Rashtrakuta India.

    6 min read

  6. Indian Thought

    Why India created so many spiritual systems, and kept them all

    Ritual, self-knowledge, mantra, yoga, devotion: India kept adding paths without discarding the old ones. Why the contradictions were allowed to stand.

    15 min read

  7. Indian Thought

    Tracing the origins of Srāddha

    The gods are offered svāhā; the ancestors, svadhā. Following one difference in wording back through the Brāhmaṇas to the root of a rite for the dead.

    6 min read

  8. Indian Thought

    The Many Faces of Indian Gods: A Historical Story

    In the Rigveda the gods have no faces, only fire, storm and wind. How Indian divinity travelled from poetic metaphor into carved, worshipable stone.

    7 min read

  9. Indian Thought

    The Timeless Evolution of Shiva

    Ascetic, dancer, destroyer. Shiva was not born whole: he accumulated, absorbing a wild forest power, a storm god and a yogi across four thousand years.

    25 min read

  10. Indian Thought

    The Journey of Indian Spirituality, Part 2

    By 500 CE the Vedic sacrifice had argued itself into abstraction. Part two follows what rose in its place: Buddhism, bhakti, and a god you could love.

    8 min read

  11. Ancient → Modern

    Bringing Navya-Nyaya’s Subtle Logic to Customer Segmentation

    E-commerce today is ultra-competitive. Brands and marketers strive to understand customers at increasingly granular levels.

    6 min read

  12. Indian Thought

    The Rise of Vishnu and Fall of Indra

    Religion and nature were deeply intertwined in ancient India, with gods representing powerful forces influencing daily life.

    6 min read

  13. Indian Thought

    The Journey of Indian Spirituality, Part 1

    In the ancient world, early humans looked up at the vast sky, gazed at the mighty rivers, and stood in awe of the towering mountains.

    6 min read

  14. Indian Thought

    Evolution of Faith - From Rituals to Religion

    As human societies evolved, so did their understanding of the world around them. What began assimple rituals to appease the forces of naturegradually transformed into more structured belief systems.

    5 min read

  15. Ancient → Modern

    Tracing Ancient Footsteps in Kurnool

    Human resilience is a story written in the sands of time, marked by relentless pursuit of survival and exploration. Our journey began in the heart of Africa, where our ancestors first walked the earth.

    4 min read

  16. Indian Thought

    From Primal Fear to Divine Symphony

    Thousands of years ago, when humanity was still confined to the dense, untamed forests, the Earth endured a brutal summer. The relentless heat from the sun scorched the land, leaving it parched and lifeless.

    5 min read

  17. Ancient → Modern

    A Marketer’s Journey Through Maya

    As a business/marketing guy, I often find myself pondering the deeper truths behind consumer behavior. In the constant dance of persuasion and influence, the lines between genuine need and manufactured desire blur.

    3 min read

  18. Ancient → Modern

    Rewriting Mathematical History: The Bakhshali Manuscript’s Revelations

    The history of mathematics is rich with innovators who brought forth concepts and systems that revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

    4 min read

  19. Ancient → Modern

    A Journey Through India’s Age-old Water Wisdom

    Water, often termed the “lifeblood of civilization,” has been at the core of societal development from the earliest of times.

    10 min read

  20. Ancient → Modern

    The Evolution of Luxury: A Timeless Journey

    When we hear the word “luxury” today, most of us picture gleaming mansions, highend cars, and designer fashion. We often think of luxury as an exclusive indulgence - a lifestyle that sets certain people apart.

    14 min read

  21. Indian Thought

    Material Minds: Charvaka to Naturalism

    Exploring the mysteries of life and the world around us has always intrigued humans. From ancient times to the present day, different ideas have blossomed to explain what we see and experience.

    6 min read

  22. Human Quest

    Nietzsche’s “Will to Power” in Consumer Behavior

    Friedrich Nietzsche’s “Will to Power” is a philosophical concept that speaks to an innate drive within all beings to assert and enhance their own vitality, power, and significance.

    6 min read

  23. Ancient → Modern

    Seas That Connected Crowns

    In the ancient city of Kanchipuram, the air was thick with sorrow and tension. The elder Pallava king, Paramesvara varman I, had breathed his last, and the kingdom was plunged into a state of uncertainty.

    6 min read

  24. Human Quest

    Weaving Tales, Selling Software

    Imagine an ancient Indian village illuminated by the ethereal silver glow of the moon. As the stars begin to twinkle, the villagers gather in the communal square.

    6 min read

  25. Ancient → Modern

    Revolutionize Customer Segmentation: A Sankhya Approach

    In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, customer segmentation is often the cornerstone of effective marketing.

    1 min read

  26. Ancient → Modern

    Ancient Commerce with a Modern Conscience

    Let’s take a step back in time, journeying to ancient India, to be specific around the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Picture two bustling towns: Aihole and Pattadakal, located in what is now modern-day Karnataka.

    4 min read

  27. Ancient → Modern

    The Forgotten Odyssey

    Here’s a history lesson you probably didn’t get in school: a long time ago, an Indian community found a new home in ancient Armenia. This isn’t your usual migration story.

    5 min read

  28. Ancient → Modern

    Atoms and Ideas: From Ancient Greece to Modern Science

    The notion of atomism has intrigued humanity across different civilizations and periods.

    7 min read

  29. Ancient → Modern

    Meluhha to Mesopotamia: Sailing Westward

    In past articles, we’ve delved into India’s rich history of trade with far-off civilizations like Rome and Egypt.

    4 min read

  30. Technology & Society

    The Evolution of Personalization: A Journey Through Time and Tech

    In the labyrinth of human desires, the yearning for a personalized experience stands as a universal constant, transcending time, geography, and culture.

    8 min read

  31. Ancient → Modern

    Sanskrit in the Sahara

    In the pages of history, scattered like elusive gemstones, are discoveries that reshape our understanding of the past.

    8 min read

  32. Ancient → Modern

    Nadis and Neural Networks

    Yogic anatomy mapped channels of energy; neuroscience maps pathways of signal. Two very different attempts to diagram the same interior.

    7 min read

  33. Human Quest

    Socratic Approach to Understanding Your Prospect

    In the high-stakes arena of B2B SaaS, a discovery call is more than just an introductory conversation; it’s an expedition into a prospect’s unique ecosystem of needs, pain points, and potential aspirations.

    4 min read

  34. Human Quest

    How Sound Has Shaped Humanity

    Sound, in its various forms and manifestations, has been a potent force in shaping the human experience.

    4 min read

  35. Human Quest

    Narrative Alchemy in Business

    In today’s age, storytelling is not confined to the realms of literature and cinema. It has found its way into the very core of how businesses interact with their audiences, especially in the tech-driven world of SaaS.

    9 min read

  36. Ancient → Modern

    Hyderabad: The Forgotten Epochs and the Quest for Origins, Part 1

    Greetings from the heart of Hyderabad, a city where history whispers through the stones, food, and soil.

    8 min read

  37. Ancient → Modern

    From Pune Potters to British Surgeons: The Story of Nose Jobs

    The concept of interconnected knowledge can be envisioned as a vast, invisible web, each thread contributing to the strength and integrity of the whole.

    7 min read

  38. Ancient → Modern

    When Aryabhata Meets Aditya L1

    As ISRO’s Aditya L1 spacecraft soared into the sky from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, a new chapter was added to India’s ambitious space exploration narrative.

    11 min read

  39. Technology & Society

    From Screen Time to Soul Time

    In the chaotic noise of emails, push notifications, endless scrolling, and incessant multitasking, many of us are seeking solace and meaning.

    7 min read

  40. Human Quest

    Solving for X, Living for Now

    As we go through life, we often face really tough problems. These could be big questions about the universe or challenges in our own personal lives.

    7 min read

  41. Technology & Society

    Kautilya’s Guide to AI Governance

    In a world increasingly influenced by technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), ethical considerations have come to the forefront.

    7 min read

  42. Ancient → Modern

    Legends and Language: The Tamil-Korean Connection

    Language isn’t just a medium of communication; it’s a repository of culture, history, and shared experiences.

    4 min read

  43. Ancient → Modern

    Rediscovering Rome’s Indian Odyssey

    In the heart of ancient civilizations, two grand civilizations, Rome and India, reached across vast distances, captivated by tales and trade.

    6 min read

  44. Ancient → Modern

    Einstein Meets the Sages: Time’s Tale

    In the quiet heart of ancient India, sages sat under sprawling banyan trees, delving deep into meditative introspection.

    7 min read

  45. Human Quest

    Vapa: The Illustrator Behind A Thousand Dreams

    In the cozy corners of Indian homes, among stacks of magazines, one finds treasures that spark nostalgia. They’re often tales from the past, bound in well-thumbed pages, bearing artwork that speaks to the soul.

    3 min read

  46. Ancient → Modern

    How Our DNA Dances with Destiny and Choice

    Nature, in its infinite wisdom, has always been a reflection of life’s profound mysteries. Like a cryptic storyteller, it has whispered tales of destiny, choices, and life through its myriad forms.

    7 min read

  47. Ancient → Modern

    The Spirit of India Manifested in Chandrayaan Missions

    India has always had a rich history when it comes to science and technological innovations. Today’s Chandrayaan-3 landing event has reiterated this spirit, bringing the entire country together in unison.

    2 min read

  48. Ancient → Modern

    Universe’s Hologram has an Ancient Parallel

    In our quest to understand the universe, science often surprises us with ideas that echo ancient wisdom. One such idea is the Holographic Principle, which suggests our vast universe might be like a giant hologram.

    6 min read

  49. Indian Thought

    Deities to Divas: Tracing India’s Continuous Thread of Fandom

    The fervour of the Bhakti era and the fervour around a film star may be the same impulse wearing different clothes. India has never stopped making devotees.

    3 min read

  50. Ancient → Modern

    The Immersive Odyssey: Vedic Rituals to Virtual Reality

    From the dawn of civilization, humans have always yearned to break free from the shackles of the mundane, to delve deep into experiences that transcend the ordinary.

    4 min read

  51. Ancient → Modern

    The Symphony of the Universe

    Physics and ancient Indian wisdom may seem like an unlikely pair, but delve a bit deeper, and you’ll find intriguing parallels.

    4 min read

  52. Indian Thought

    The Tale of Two Transcendent Realities

    In an ancient land where sages roamed and seekers of truth meditated under banyan trees, two profound philosophical ideas sprouted from the soil of contemplation: Purusha from Sām̊khya and Brahman from Advaita Vedanta.

    3 min read

  53. Ancient → Modern

    Evolution of India’s Natural Philosophy and Engineering Marvels

    In an ancient land, where the misty Ganges flowed and the colossal Himalayas stood guard, the nascent seeds of knowledge were sown.

    8 min read

  54. Human Quest

    Moonlit Melodies & Cinematic Marvels: The Marcus Bartley Legacy

    Marcus Bartley might not be a household name worldwide, but for the fans of South Indian cinema, he’s nothing short of a legend.

    6 min read

  55. Human Quest

    Heroes & Humanity in Seven Samurai

    Across the universe of film analysis, hundreds, and maybe thousands, have delved deep into the world of Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” (1954).

    8 min read

  56. Ancient → Modern

    Beyond the Battlefield: Unraveling the True Genghis Khan

    Few figures are as flattened by their own legend. Behind the conquests sits a lawgiver, a religious pluralist and an administrator worth reading on his own terms.

    17 min read

  57. Ancient → Modern

    Zero and Infinity: A Dance of Opposites

    Zero and infinity: two numbers, each at opposite ends of the numerical spectrum, yet both holding a mystique that goes beyond mere calculation. They represent a lot more than just mathematical symbols.

    6 min read

  58. Ancient → Modern

    Quantum Physics Meets Ancient Wisdom

    There’s a particular beauty in exploring connections between seemingly distant fields. One such intriguing overlap exists between the principles of quantum physics and the profound insights of ancient Indian philosophy.

    4 min read

  59. Human Quest

    The Universal Echoes of Human Thought: Tracing Humanity’s Shared Ideas

    Throughout history, cultures separated by vast distances and time have often arrived at strikingly similar symbols, structures, and ideas.

    3 min read

  60. Ancient → Modern

    From Rigveda to Research: Parallels Between Nasadiya Sukta and the Big Bang

    Throughout history, human beings have looked up at the stars and wondered about the origins of the universe.

    8 min read

  61. Human Quest

    Unleashing the Narrator Within: Mastering Product Storytelling with Tarantino, Chappelle, and…

    Imagine stepping into a cinema hall, the lights dimming and a hush falling over the audience as the screen illuminates.

    4 min read

  62. Ancient → Modern

    Witness to Glory: Domingo Paes and the Vijayanagara Empire

    Hampi, known for its monumental ruins and historical charm, has always been near and dear to my heart. My multiple visits to this ancient city have always filled me with awe and curiosity.

    11 min read

  63. Technology & Society

    Nuclear Past, AI Future: Understanding the Ethical Implications of Technological Innovations

    In his latest cinematic triumph, Christopher Nolan takes us into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist often known as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’.

    6 min read

  64. Indian Thought

    Madhava’s Quest: The Journey of Self-Realization

    Long, long ago, there lived a young student named Madhava in a small village. He was brimming with curiosity and a thirst to understand the ultimate reality.

    4 min read

  65. Human Quest

    The Power and Prism of History: A Reflection

    History isn’t just a timeline of events: it’s a rich tapestry of varied interpretations, molded by the perspectives of those recounting the tales.

    3 min read

  66. Human Quest

    A Different Tune: My Take on “Nagumomu Ganaleni”

    Carnatic music, the classical music of South India, often touches souls and stirs emotions.

    2 min read

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