How Can We Matter

In a move that echoes the very sentiments of the Bard himself, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has decreed that the familiar Jebel Ali Metro Station will be renamed as  National Paints , for the next decade. One can almost hear the RTA 's whispered ode to Shakespeare ! Copyright: Khaleej Times "What's in a name?" Juliet once mused in the moonlit tragedy of Romeo and Juliet , contending that a mere label cannot define the soul's true essence. "That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet," she famously declared, dismissing the power of a word. But is a name truly just a label, a fleeting whisper with no intrinsic power? When we dare to plumb the depths of this seemingly simple question, we unearth a profound truth: names—be they for people, objects, or hallowed places—are often burdened with an astonishing weight, brimming with hidden significance. Names of People  For individuals, a name is intrinsically linked to pe...

We're all familiar with the MRP ( Maximum Retail Price ) printed on packaged goods in supermarkets and other stores.  MRP  ( Maximum Retail Price ) Well, I've often felt it should really stand for Misleading Retail Price ( MRP )! While shopping, it's a huge point of irritation for many of us, as this seemingly deliberate overpricing by manufacturers feels like nothing short of a " legal scam ", one that many suspect has the quiet approval of the Finance Ministry.  The lack of clear guidelines for setting MRP allows many manufacturers to intentionally inflate it. This practice enables retailers to offer discounts, typically ranging from 10-30% normally and a hefty 70-90% during "flash sales." Despite these seemingly large reductions from the MRP, I am sure that shopkeepers still manage to turn a profit.  E-Commerce MRP and Discount The level of discounting also varies by product category. For instance, electronics, fashion apparel, sanitary-plumbing-hardw...

I've yet to encounter a foreigner who has grasped India's legacy, culture, principles, character, and identity with such profound depth – truly, far more insightfully than many Indians who live here and are immersed in "Indianness" around the clock. Oprah Winfrey's Insightful Revelation Many people know Oprah Winfrey as an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor, who is best known for 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'.  Image Credit: Internet Listen to her remarkably powerful speech titled:  Why is America openly supporting Pakistan against India?   What made it so striking was that she used the terms "America" and "Pakistan" just once to frame the subject; the rest of her talk was a deep focus on India, the nation, rather than its leadership. Oprah's understanding of India surpasses that offered by any contemporary Indian , even leaders like PM Modi - who crafted its vision, EAM Jaishankar - who e...

My acquaintance with law is that of an ordinary resident in just respecting the laws and consequently I don't understand the complexities of the laws, except what I glean from news reports of famous legal cases and their judgements. And as a casual observer of the judicial system I also came to realize that there are mainly two types of lawyers namely "Civil Lawyers" and "Criminal Lawyers". I've also heard the term "Constitutional Lawyers," as sometimes certain major cases are argued before the Supreme Court's constitutional benches. Categories of Lawyers I Googled to find out what other categories of lawyers exist and I was just flabbergasted by the sheer number of lawyer categories I received in answer!   Here is a list of them by just names, without the description and further sub-categories under each: Criminal Lawyer, Civil Lawyer, Family Lawyer, Corporate Lawyer, Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyer, Employment Lawyer, Labor Lawyer, Immigrat...

Wow, what a beautiful milestone! Fifty years ago, a remarkable woman, now celebrating her 70th year, said "yes" to a journey of a lifetime with me. Today, I honor her grace, wisdom, and the enduring love that began five decades ago. This tribute celebrates not just a moment in time, but the countless moments of joy, challenge, growth, and unwavering companionship we've shared.  Fifty years of love, Fifty years of marriage, and Fifty years of treasured memories.  My dearest Vasanth, today we celebrate our golden anniversary, a beautiful chapter within your remarkable 70 years on this planet. Half A Century Together  As I look at you today, my heart swells with a love that has only deepened and grown richer with each passing year. It feels like just yesterday we set sail on this incredible voyage, full of dreams and hopeful anticipation. The ocean of life has presented us with calm waters and thrilling adventures, and yes, a few storms that tested our strength. But through ...

India's opposition parties are questioning the Government as to why it allowed Trump to mediate between India and Pakistan and reach a ceasefire agreement. Many western countries also strongly believe, as per Trump's tweet, that it was USA which enabled a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. India's Strategic Plan The grim reality of the war is that the  Western countries and arms dealers, along with suppliers like Turkey and China , were, in fact, eagerly looking forward to a protracted war to analyze how Pakistan would deploy their provided weaponry against India and to assess the real-world capabilities of their aircraft, missiles, and drones . India's BrahMos Cruise Missile   Fully intact, undetonated Chinese PL-15 missile found in Punjab's Hoshiarpur All the dreams of this  coterie of countries,  were shattered when India, with military brilliance , carried out completely unexpected tactical moves, in a matter of hours, by: precision striking and dam...

As war rages with our northwestern neighbor, Pakistan, we in the south of India, are completely oblivious to the disruptions to daily life that ordinary people are experiencing in various cities and towns in the northwest. The states, districts, cities, and towns that are affected by the ongoing war include the following:  Jammu & Kashmir : Srinagar, Avantipora, Udhampur, Jammu, Baramulla, Nagrota, Poonch, Kupwara, Uri, Mendhar, Rajouri. Punjab : Amritsar, Pathankot, Firozpur, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Mohali, Barnala, Patiala, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Gurdaspur. Rajasthan : Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, Lakhi Nala, Samba. Haryana : Sirsa, Panchkula, Ambala. Gujarat : Bhuj, Kutch. Mock Drill and Preparedness Currently, Civil Defense Mock drills are being conducted in different parts of India, to enhance the preparedness for war-like situations and disasters. Such mock drills are crucial for those residing in southern India, where the daily realities of warfa...