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One of the most mesmerizing and serene spots to enjoy the majesty and beauty of the Narmada is from the parapet of the courtyard of the Circuit House at Hoshangabad (now Narmadapuram). There are places where time seems to have stood still since eternity. So little has changed, and what has, has changed ever soContinue reading “The Narmada at Hoshangabad – A Slice of Beauty Frozen in Time”

There was a time, not too far in the past, when completing seventy years of life was hailed as a milestone. No longer – many deem seventy years neither ripe nor old. With the average life expectancy in India over 70 years, it does not cause much excitement; it merits only a qualified acknowledgement, ifContinue reading “On Turning 70”

Why then I am called False Ashok Part II My only known de-merit is that I was not born in India. Unlike my namesake whose many claims to fame include its Indian origin celebrated and eulogized in various literary works, I don’t boast of a regal parentage. Should it make me worry? Certainly not! BecauseContinue reading “I Take Away Sorrow too.”

Part I They call me the false Ashok. I cannot find it complimentary.  I am as tall and beautiful and graceful as any tree in the world and no less attractive or opulent than my namesake. And yet they call me a fake. How cruel! It pains and hurts. What’s in a Name? I stand tallContinue reading “I Take Away Sorrow Too!So why am I the False Ashok?”

Part III Regulation Can Stand Between Anarchy and Order The clamour for regulation surprisingly is led not by consumers so much as it is by the tech companies who are the creators and purveyors of these chatbots.  When the Senator Blumenthal opened the hearing of Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, he began by playing an audio clipContinue reading “Why AI Driven Chatbots Must be Regulated?”

Part II Technological Marvel Leading to Job Loss and  Changing Human Behaviour,  Within six months of the launch of ChatGPT, the concerns about the pernicious and destructive aspects of this new technology erupted overwhelming many of us. Only this week, over 350 leaders from the field of Artificial Intelligence themselves warned that the technology they wereContinue reading “Why AI driven Chatbots must be regulated?”

Artificial Intelligence- Genie Unbottled Part I The world today is seized with a concern and debate that surrounds the evolution and unprecedented acceptance of Artificial Intelligence driven applications and chatbots. This monumental disruption has evoked a debate rarely witnessed in recent history. Some call it a Printing Press moment, other decry it as an AtomContinue reading “A Printing Press or An Atom Bomb Moment?”

(Do we live our lives to their full potential? Do we ever reflect about the purpose for which we were born? In our own way, we, in varying measures, try to be successful, possibly purposeful. Following our instincts and inspirations, we seek our ambitions and choose to become selfish or altruistic, live upto our potentialContinue reading “Living to My Potential”

Emerging Frontiers But Mahua is emerging out of shadows. Its intrinsic and extrinsic qualities have begun to merit enquiry and interest. Increasing Recognition It has, however, been both a challenge and a formidable barrier to draw out Mahua from  the status of country liquor.  “We introduced Mahua in Goa, made under the IML (Indian-Made Liquor) category, aContinue reading “Magical Mahua-Part VII”

Traditional Distilling: Universal Taste Mahua enjoys a hoary tradition. It has been an essential part of the cultural and social life of many communities in India and its neighbourhood for centuries. Its mention in ancient and contemporary literature is a telling testament. Wine prepared from Madhūka flowers (Madhuca longifolia) finds mention in several Hindu, Jain and Buddhist literatureContinue reading “Magical Mahua-Part VI”