The Past of the Present is in the Future of the Now

The PM has made his stand clear. To wipe out terror, it's supporters and territory used for terror attacks.  Let's explore our options.  1. Size of Defence Forces India possesses the world’s second-largest military in terms of active personnel, with over 1.4 million active troops and an equally robust reserve force. The Indian Army’s extensive deployment in Jammu & Kashmir (Northern Command) ensures 7rapid response capability in mountainous terrain. The Air Force and Navy provide strategic depth, but logistics and high-altitude warfare remain crucial. However, extended engagements strain resources. India must leverage its numerical strength with superior command, terrain familiarity, and integrated theatre commands for effective force application. 2. Economic Disparity India’s GDP is over $3.7 trillion, significantly higher than Pakistan’s ($370 billion), offering greater fiscal headroom for sustained military operations, technological acquisitions, and wartime...

In the race of exams, careers, and achievements, many young minds often lock themselves away — literally and figuratively. A child, determined to succeed, may sit in a closed room, cutting off not just distractions but also the very flow of blessings, ideas, and wisdom that could uplift him. With doors shut tight and windows bolted, he believes he is focusing. In truth, he might be unknowingly shutting out the very help he needs — from loved ones, well-wishers, and even from the divine. Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Growth never happens in a vacuum. When a student (or any seeker) closes off all outside voices, fearing they might "disturb" him, he also blocks: > Fresh ideas that could spark understanding > Suggestions that could prevent mistakes > Encouragement that could lift a weary spirit > Blessings and divine grace flowing unseen through loved ones' prayers. The mind, much like a room, needs  windows.  An open window lets in : Fre...

Long before it became a disputed headline, Kashmir was a dreamscape of divine serenity — a sacred cradle of learning, wisdom, and spiritual ascent. Ancient legends recount that it was the great Sage Kashyap Rishi who first made this lush valley habitable, draining its primordial waters and establishing it as a land where seekers and saints could thrive. It is from his name that Kashmir — Kashyap-mir — is believed to have derived its soul and spirit. In its early days, Kashmir was nothing short of a living Veda. The valley echoed with the chants of mantras; the banks of its rivers saw dialogues on philosophy, Ayurveda, astronomy, and art. It was the home of towering sages — Abhinavagupta, the genius of Kashmir Shaivism; Vasugupta, who unearthed the mystical Shiva Sutras; Utpaladeva, the philosopher-poet; and countless anonymous saints who wove wisdom into the very winds of the valley. Ancient universities and temples bore witness to an int...

It was a crisp, bright morning, the kind that makes birds chirp cheerily and humans contemplate existential questions. I had landed — quite literally — in the confines of the stately Base Hospital , a military establishment that takes the phrase “on your back” rather too literally. My L4, L5, and L5-S1 discs had decided to play musical chairs with my nerves, resulting in what medical professionals call PIVD and what I call PAIN IN VERY DAMAGING-PLACES . In other words, I was horizontal. Flat out. Immobile. Reduced to the noble state of a beached whale, with all the grace and elegance of a potato in a tuxedo. Now, let me clarify — this fall wasn’t a result of any valourous military endeavour, or a duel over honour, or even a particularly slippery banana peel. No, it was far more inglorious — a mundane tumble with all the drama of a fall interrupted by gravity at 9.8 / m sq. I kept neglecting my condition for a month and landed up here in Base Hospital.  ...

Every so often, the Earth speaks to us —not in thunder or flame, but in whispers. In the hush of a forest, the song of the wind brushing against leaves. In the quiet persistence of a flower blooming through a crack in the pavement. In the steady rhythm of waves kissing the shore. In the stillness of a night under the stars. Today, on Earth Day, let us listen . Let us pause our scrolls and schedules. Let us look up from our screens and look down to where life begins—with soil, seed, and silence. We are not separate from nature; we are its most complex expression . Yet somewhere along the way, we began to believe we were its master, not its child. We poured concrete over meadows. We swapped birdcalls for ringtones. We mined the mountains, silenced the rivers, and mistook convenience for progress. But Earth is patient . And like any mother, she waits for her children to remember their roots. No...

In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed an unsettling face-off in the United States — not between political parties or ideologies, but between the US administration and some of the most respected universities in the country , both Big Ivy and Little Ivy . Universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Yale — historically celebrated as bastions of critical thinking and liberal thought — now find themselves under siege . Accusations range from fostering antisemitism to allowing unchecked campus protests. Federal funding is being questioned. Administrators are resigning. Police are marching onto campuses. Students are being arrested. And the classroom — once a sanctuary of dialogue — is fast becoming a battleground. This is not the first time in history that seats of learning have been targeted for their ideologies, for their daring to question, to think independently. Nalanda and the Long History of Silencing Thought Centuries ago, in the 12th century, Nalanda University — the anc...

Salar Jung, specifically Salar Jung III (Mir Yousuf Ali Khan), is best known for amassing the extraordinary collection seen today in the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad. Here's how he came to possess such immense wealth and a world-class art collection 1. Inherited Nobility and Wealth The Salar Jung family were powerful nobles in the Hyderabad State under the Nizams. Starting with Salar Jung I (Mir Turab Ali Khan), who served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad in the mid-19th century, the family held enormous influence, wealth and prestige. Salar Jung I initiated major administrative and economic reforms and was rewarded generously. This wealth and status were passed down. 2. Prime Ministerial Status Salar Jung III, though he never officially held office as Prime Minister, belonged to a lineage that had ruled behind the scenes for decades. Their proximity to the Ni...

Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller... I have been a great fan of Bayern Munich since childhood. This club has given more stars to German National Team than any other.  I have been listening/watching Football World Cups since 1974. Tuning into a Murphy Radio, way back in 74, was exciting. Today, German Football is about to retire another of its great player -  Thomas Müller. He is no ordinary man. He is a wizard of space and timing.  In an era dominated by flashy dribblers, speed demons and ruthless goal - scorers, Thomas Müller stands out as an anomaly. He doesn’t fit into the traditional mould of a football superstar— he isn’t the fastest, strongest or most technically gifted player on the field.  Yet, when the final whistle blows, his impact is often undeniable. Müller is football’s great enigma, a genius who operates in the shadows, thriving in spaces that only he seems to see. The Raumdeuter: Master of Space ...