Why can’t China make a ballpoint pen? There is what’s regarded in China as a “classic” question of manufacturing. The manufacturing powerhouse of the world finds it difficult to make this, despite making 80% of the world’s pens. As it turns out, the ballpoint of the ballpoint pen—a tiny metal ball bearing that “mimics the …
I am a lead pencil—the ordinary wooden pencil familiar to all boys and girls and adults who can read and write. Writing is both my vocation and my avocation; that’s all I do. You may wonder why I should write a genealogy. Well, to begin with, my story is interesting. And, next, I am a …
What role does choice play in our lives? I read a book somewhere that spoke about parallel realities. Every time we are faced with a choice, we make one and our lives go forward from that point on. But there is a possibility that the other choice is also made, and reality splits there so …
Narayana and Nara are supposed to have taken form as Sri Krishna and Arjuna. They were almost like twins, working together living together, eating together, one being in two bodies. The association of Sri Krishna with Arjuna, so inseparable, is an illustration of the inseparable relation between God and man. यत्र योगेश्वर: कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धर: ।तत्र श्रीर्विजयो …
श्याम पिया मोरी रंग दे चुनरिया । ऐसी रंग दे, के रंग नहीं छुटे ।धोभिया धोये चाहे सारी उमरिया ॥ लाल ना रंगाऊं मैं, हरी ना रंगाऊ ।अपने ही रंग में रंग दे चुनरिया ॥ बिना रंगाये मैं तो घर नाही जाउंगी ।बीत ही जाए चाहे सारी उमरिया ॥ मीरा के प्रभु गिरिधर नागर ।प्रभु …
होली है!! Holi hai! Holi is a popular festival in Sanatana Dharma, originating from India. It is celebrated predominantly in India, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian “festival of spring”, the “festival of colours”, or …
A small business is anything but small. What it lacks in size, it makes up in impact. If you think of it, prior to the Industrial Revolution, a majority of the businesses, if not all, were small businesses. Traders, livestock, armorers, home smiths, potters…that sort of thing. Guilds were the next stage of evolution, where …
I usually begin my Saturdays at Hariprasad, my favorite neighborhood (nearly) Kannadiga food joint here, I usually also think about the origins of the dish that I order. One is a clear favorite. The masala dosa. Legend has it that a Brahmin adiga (cook) was the creator of this popular breakfast item. Brahmins were not …
There is so much to do nowadays that I am living between Ekādashis. Days are passing very fast – I manage to keep track only of fortnights. Just realized that we are already two months into the year, with the third one-thirds done already! Anyways, Ekādashi is a reminder that one has to pause a …
In other news, we won again:) A few months back, I read a bit about the origins of some common phrases. Was very interesting! They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. …
