Author Archives: udaykumarvarma9834

Gifted for creating such exceptionally arresting and perceptive observations as, “Some pains are physical, and some pains are mental, but the one that’s both is dental.”, “Oh, what a tangled web do parents weave when they think that their children are naive.”, or one of the most famous ones “The cow is of the bovineContinue reading “Idiocies of Humanity- Weird Verses of Ogden Nash”

The mighty slap of Wills Smith on the mirthful cheeks of Chris Rock, may still be reverberating in the Hollywood and the world of cinema round the globe, but the majesty of silent movies in the first ever Oscars held 93 years ago, continues to be the most graceful and eloquent image of this glamorousContinue reading “The First Oscars- Silence Wins Gold”

The one inconvenience currently affecting everyone is the unprecedented heat prevailing over the whole of north India this summer season. The mercury has been hovering around 45 degrees. The oppressive heat has deranged life as never before.Media-print and electronic- and above all the social media, are flooded with information and misinformation about this unusually hotContinue reading “Global Warming and the Human Greed- The Environmental Blind-spot of Prevalent Development Paradigm”

Political assassinations are not uncommon. It is inescapable part of a certain style of statecraft. Whether ‘Vishkanyas’ (recall Chanakya) are employed for this purpose or professionals are hired, whether they happen as a well contrived conspiracy or personal revenge, leaders and politicians, Presidents and Prime Ministers, Monarchs and Regents, in history, have fallen to aContinue reading “Assassination of a Prime Minister”

In 1872, the gifted French novelist, poet and playwright Jules Verne wrote a book of adventure, ‘Around The World in 80 Days’. The book created a sensation. Its protagonist, an English gentleman by the name of Phileas Fogg and his valet took on a bet that they could circumnavigate the globe in no more thanContinue reading “Around the world, Jules Verne, and Nellie Bly”

“The mind in its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven.”― John MiltonJohn Milton, the poet, essayist, pamphleteer, political philosopher, civil servant and activist occupies a place of rare distinction in English literature. Some call him as the greatest epic poet in English literature and his standingContinue reading “Milton, Paradise Lost, and His Travails of Life”

Robinson Crusoe, is one of the most popular novels in English language that has captivated the young and the old alike, though for different reasons. It is at once, simple and complex, and the events and experiences described in the book, contains and conveys diverse meanings as diverse as the readership. But that is ifContinue reading “Daniel DefoeThe Author of First English Novel”

William Wordsworth died this day the April 23, in 1850 having lived a full and glorious life of over 80 years. He was one of the most celebrated English poets, who together with fellow poet Samuel Coleridge, led the romantic movement in English poetry. Together they wrote ‘Lyrical Ballads’ in 1798 which is even todayContinue reading “A Poet whose lines linger and last”

The world’s largest Church and arguably the most consecrated, beautiful and ornate is St. Peter’s Basilica located in Vatican City. It symbolizes the grandeur, the tradition and the following of the most populous faith in the world – Christianity.On this date, the 18th April, 516 years ago, the corner stone was laid of this opulent,Continue reading “St. Peter’s Basilica, Lucrezia Borgia; and Leonardo da Vinci”

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest geniuses the world has ever produced was born today the 15 April 1452. Born out of wedlock and without any formal education, he started late in his life. Among other odd things about him was that he was a vegetarian and was left handed. That he was aContinue reading “The Renaissance ManA Polymath Extra- Ordinaire”