From Spices to Silicon and Steel

Once, ships brimming with cinnamon and cardamom sailed toward empires hungry for flavour and trade. Today, drones and satellites dominate the skies, pursuing data and asserting control. The spice route has become a relic of the past, overshadowed by fibre-optic cables and arms deals that bind developing nations to digital dependencies and defence pacts. Silicon … Continue reading From Spices to Silicon and Steel

Book Summary – Elixir by Shinjini Sengupta

The protagonist of this novel, “Elixir” finds a magic potion which takes her to a dream world where she leads a parallel life. An actuary in real life, she is a sculptor there with a partner who respects her, unlike her husband. She quits her job to be in that somnambulistic state, and the diagnosis … Continue reading Book Summary – Elixir by Shinjini Sengupta

Choice or Compulsion?

Adulting is not a choice for most people —it’s a compulsion, a reality we all face. Society's expectations and the demands of various systems leave us with little room for negotiation. The moment we’re deemed “old enough,” the safety net of support begins to vanish. We’re nudged into independence, sometimes before we’re emotionally or financially … Continue reading Choice or Compulsion?

Scattered let it be

Can I write a story in one sentence? When I raise a doubt, it writes one story; when I start writing, it becomes another. The need here is to disentangle entwined stories to make sense of them and condense the wisdom into a single sentence. However, life and writing prompts demand more, so I invent … Continue reading Scattered let it be

Associations

My father-in-law had a large cupboard filled with trophies and plaques won by him. He would scoff at any suggestion of eliminating outdated stuff. The family has retained it so far, after his death, because the house is locked. I'm not sure if the trophies will survive a renovation or sale of the property. I … Continue reading Associations

Getting the show on the road

AI gives me some statistics on what U.S. consumers spend on celebrations of various Days. Major Holiday Spending Valentine's Day In 2024, U.S. consumers spent $25.8 billion on Valentine's Day, with the average person spending $185.81 capitaloneshoppingnrf. Major spending categories included jewelry ($6.5 billion), evenings out ($5.4 billion), and flowers ($2.9 billion) Americans expect to … Continue reading Getting the show on the road

Longevity needs Health and Wealth

Living longer has become humanity's shared aspiration, with global life expectancy steadily rising over the past century. However, longevity without quality represents a hollow victory—one that transforms what should be life's golden years into decades of struggle and limitation. Health forms the cornerstone of meaningful longevity. Without physical vitality and cognitive sharpness, additional years become … Continue reading Longevity needs Health and Wealth

Humanity – Divided by Purpose

Imagine a playground full of children. Each child has a goal: one wants to build the tallest sandcastle, another wants to swing the highest, and a third wants to play tag. Initially, the playground is a buzzing hive of activity. Each child is driven by their unique goal, providing them with a sense of direction … Continue reading Humanity – Divided by Purpose

Writing

I’m scared. I’m also in awe of myself, though it sounds immodest. Where do these words come from? They scar the screen like lava flowing out of a volcano. They wash all that has been inscribed for ages, like a tsunami from the depths of the ocean. They burn down all scripts and uproot the … Continue reading Writing

Carpet-Bombing

The sun turned on its heat to the maximum, but hearts did not melt. Restless clouds changed shape several times, but could not clothe the instincts of power-seekers. The moon disappeared for several nights, as it refused to shine in borrowed light, and it felt the sun was lending heat to weaponry. The stars were … Continue reading Carpet-Bombing