COVID-19, WFH, and D & I Reflections

Disclosure: A modified version of this article published within the organization I work for. NOTE: D & I: Diversity and Inclusion, WFH – Work from Home It may be too early to say whether COVID-19 will be viewed as a significant event of 21st century when our future generations look back, but I am sure COVID-19 will be a contender for that spot. It has been more than 6 months

 

Rashomon and Rashomon Effect

“Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.”   — Akira Kurosawa Official Trailer: In the words of Richard Feynman: “From a long view of the history of mankind – seen from, say, ten thousand years from now – there can be little doubt that the most significant event of the nineteenth century will be judged as Maxwell’s discovery of the

 

COVID, WFH, and OTT Picks

With a mix of continuous and on/off lockdowns, WFH (Work From Home) one worthy thing happened is more time for family, work, books, movies, and friends (video chats), not necessarily in that order. Yes, there is frustration and gloomy feeling that hits observing the happenings near and around us, lack of state capacity, and leaders continuing with their politics and optics even in these times when millions of people are

 

ஒரே ஒரு முறை சுவாசித்துக் கொள்கிறேன் – சௌம்யா

ஜடப்பொருட்கள் வாங்கும் பொழுது நிறத்தில் பேதம் பார்க்காத நீ அரிதான பிறப்பான மானிடப் பிறப்பில் நிற பேதம் பார்த்ததேன் ஒரே ஒரு முறை சுவாசிக்கத்தானே அவன் கேட்டான் உன் சொத்தையா கேட்டான் சுவாசித்தல் இயற்கையின் நியதி சுவாசித்தல் அவன் பிறப்புரிமை அதை மறுத்தது உன் கீழ்மை சுற்றி நின்று வேடிக்கைப் பார்த்தது ஒரு கூட்டம் அவற்றை மனிதன் என்று கூறுவதில் பெறும் வெட்கம் தன் இனத்திற்கு தீங்கு என்றால் கொதித்து எழும் விலங்கினம் உன் சதை கூட ஆட மறுத்ததே மனிதனே நீ ஈனம் உன் குருதியுன் சிவப்பு தான் அவன் குருதியும் சிவப்பு தான் அகத்துனுள் உறையும்

 

COVID – India, fault lines, and failed leaders

இரந்தும் உயிர்வாழ்தல் வேண்டின் பரந்துகெடுக உலகியற்றி யான் – Thirukural – #1062 (Translation: If the Creator of the world has decreed even begging as means of livelihood, may he too go abegging and perish) NOTE 1: Creator in current context can refer to those who govern or in power. NOTE 2: Be warned….following is a rant…wanted to put it in writing and vent it out.  This is what happens when you feel

 

கோவிட் கவிதை – சௌம்யா

                                                   போன்சாய்                     Top: Source: The Guardian                    Source: Aljazeera தன்னுலகைத் தவிர்த்து மறு பாதி உலகின் நடைமுறை அறியா பொருளாதாரத்தின் உச்சத்தில் வாழும் மேல்தட்டு மக்களின் மெத்தகு மாடி வீட்டின் பாங்கான பால்கனியிலிருந்து போன்சாய் வைத்தால்

 

When you thought it can’t get dafter than this…?

Source: en.wikipedia.org Take a look at the picture of H.S.Doreswamy above. He is 102 years old. A freedom fighter who fought against British. Has gone to jail for the same. A freedom fighter from that era among our midst. Just the thought of someone from that era who actively participated in freedom movement, has stories to tell us, itself gives a great feel. But not to be so for the

 

To Kejriwal with concern

Delhi riots is a shame, the more you read and think about the more frustrated and helpless you feel. Not much to say on the behavior of the central government, it is within their party’s grand design and project. What is more concerning is how other institutions have failed, failed the people. This is the time to heed to one of Ambedkar’s warning on Indian Democracy, “…there are limits to

 

What we want to be remembered for?

CAA & NRC acronyms have driven the country to turmoil last two weeks. Protests keep spreading across states. Students are at the forefront leading the protests. 24 people have lost their lives so far, as I write this, across the country. Teargas shells thrown in the university library. There are claims and counterclaims as to who started the violence first. Internet shutdown has become a norm now. Metro stations locked

 

One Nation One Banana

Whenever I hear the slogan One Nation One Language, first question that pops up in my head is what is the problem statement? What are we missing now that will get addressed by moving to one language nationwide? This fascination with one language, one national language, is not new, it has been there from pre-independence days. Let’s consider some facts. As per 2001 & 2011 census, India has 122 major