Refraction

Somewhere in dreamland...  In the heart of the United Kingdom nestled the grand "Harmony Hall," an open amphitheater of renowned repute. This architectural marvel wasn't just famed for its impeccable acoustics; it was adorned with a trio of majestic grand pianos, each endowed with a story. One piano was a gift from an Indian artist, another from a Pakistani virtuoso, and the third from a British composer. These pianos, each with its own distinct timbre and resonance, stood side by side like old comrades in the center of the hall. The Indian piano, its keys caressed with a touch of nostalgia, whispered melodies of a bygone era. The Pakistani counterpart reverberated with the unwavering rhythms of resilience, embodying the spirit of a nation that had risen against adversity. The British piano, ever harmonious, seemed to weave the threads of shared history into every note it played. Years flowed like a river of music, and the pianos sang their individual stories with grace. ...

 दूर अपनों से, बीते हैं सपनों के लिए यह रातें, एक अजनबी शहर में, रहे हैं हम बिखरे बिखरे। सपनों की खातिर छोड़ी है जो आँगन वाली बातें, मर भी जाऊं तो, होंगी यादें, न होंगे अधूरे सपने। अपनों की याद, अपनों का प्यार, सही बहुत हैं महंगे, पर मरना चाहता हूँ यादों के साथ, न कि अधूरे सपनों के संगे। बस एक विश्वास है, कि सपने पूरे होंगे अपने, तब तक जीवन का हर पल, बस यादों के साथ ही जीने। यही विचार है जो मेरा, कि सपने अधूरे न रहें, मरूँ तो सिर्फ यादों के साथ, न कि अधूरे सपनों के लिए।

Every year, when the hot summer turns into the soothing rainy season, the city of Pune becomes vibrant and lively. It's a time when people's faith and traditions come together, and the whole city reconnects with its spiritual roots. This is when the annual Palkhi processions take place, and I have been witnessing them since I was very young. The rhythmic beats of the drums and the chanting of holy songs remind me of my dear grandma, whom we affectionately called Aaji . Aaji was a strong-willed and devout woman, as determined as the mountains surrounding our city. She actively participated in the Palkhi processions and inspired many people in our small community with her unwavering faith and resilience. I still remember how her eyes would light up with excitement when the first signs of the Palkhi appeared. Her enthusiasm was infectious and made my young heart warm. The Palkhi processions were very important to Aaji . The tradition of the varkaris resonated deeply within her. A...

 The Intelligent Investor is a classic book written by Benjamin Graham, widely considered as the father of value investing. First published in 1949, the book is a comprehensive guide to investing in stocks and bonds and is still relevant today. The book advocates a value investing approach, which involves analyzing a company's financials, assessing its intrinsic value, and investing in companies that are undervalued compared to their fair value. This approach is opposed to the speculative approach of buying high-growth stocks in the hopes of quick profits. One of the key lessons from The Intelligent Investor is the importance of having a long-term perspective in investing. Graham emphasizes the need for investors to resist the temptation to follow market trends and instead focus on building a well-diversified portfolio of undervalued stocks. He also stresses the importance of understanding the fundamental value of a company, rather than just relying on market sentiment. The book al...

India's population has recently crossed China's, making it the world's most populous country. While this is can't be a significant achievement and it poses significant challenges for India. The high population growth rate will create a high demand for resources, putting a strain on the economy and environment, and leading to social inequality.  The rising population will undoubtedly put a strain on India's already struggling economy. The high population growth rate will create an enormous demand for resources, including food, water, and energy. This demand will drive up prices, leading to inflation, and ultimately, it could affect the country's economic growth. Furthermore, the high population growth rate will lead to environmental degradation. With the increasing demand for resources, there will be an increase in deforestation, pollution, and carbon emissions, leading to climate change. This situation will cause further harm to the already-fragile ecosystems an...

 "Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race" is a book written by Walter Isaacson that tells the story of Jennifer Doudna, a biochemist who played a crucial role in the development of CRISPR, a revolutionary gene editing tool that has the potential to cure genetic diseases and reshape the course of evolution. In the early 2000s, Doudna and her team made a groundbreaking discovery: they found a way to use CRISPR, a natural defense mechanism discovered in bacteria, to precisely cut and edit DNA in any organism. This discovery opened up a world of possibilities for scientists, who saw the potential for CRISPR to be used to cure genetic diseases, improve crops, and even create designer babies. As the potential uses for CRISPR expanded, so did the ethical questions surrounding it. Should we be playing God by altering the course of evolution? How do we ensure that CRISPR is used ethically and responsibly? These are just a few of the questions tha...

Education is a fundamental right for all children, and it plays a crucial role in their overall development and success in life. However, in India, the education system has long been plagued by exploitation, leading to a lower quality of education and limited access to education for disadvantaged students. There are several factors that contribute to the exploitation of the education system in India. One major cause is the lack of government funding for education. The government does not allocate enough funds for the education sector, leading to a lack of resources and infrastructure in schools. This can result in a lower quality of education and limited access to education for disadvantaged students. Private schools also play a role in the exploitation of the education system in India. Private schools often have better resources and infrastructure compared to government schools, leading to a situation where parents are willing to pay high fees to send their children to private schools...