David Deutsch (b. 1953), a British physicist at the University of Oxford, is among the world’s foremost philosopher-scientists alive. He has worked on fundamental issues in physics, particularly quantum computing, quantum information and constructor theory. I learned about him through his books…

I am a mechanical engineer who worked for 15 years at the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad. There, I developed the Trishul and Akash missile airframes and Titanium Airbottles…

Myths often reflect the creativity and storytelling traditions of cultures. They can be seen as symbolic narratives that explain natural phenomena, human behaviour and societal values. These stories often incorporate fantastical elements and characters…

I exist. My family, friends, and people I wouldn’t say I like all exist. I face situations both comfortably and disquietly. I feel happy and sad, relaxed and anxious. Like a flowing river, the stream of thought in my mind sometimes flows smoothly…

I visited Mr Radhakrishna Chandramouli, a long-standing friend and successful banker who spent two decades in Africa and is a devout Brahmin. My son Amol accompanied me. Now retired, Mr Chandramouli lives in his palatial house in upscale Banjara Hills in Hyderabad with his wife…

Last fortnight was the Pitra Paksha, an annual 15-day period in Hindu tradition observed to honour and pay homage to ancestors. During this period, Hindus perform various rituals such as Tarpan (offering water), Shradh (ceremonial offerings of food), and other acts…

When I took admission to G.B. Pant University in 1971 to pursue graduation in mechanical engineering, I experienced a cultural shock. I had never seen such a lush green campus with trees lining both sides of the roads, the backdrop of the Kumayun Hills on the northern horizon, and neatly constructed buildings with elegant facades …

In the Katha Upanishad, a parable of the “chariot” elucidates the intricate relationship between the body, the senses, the mind and the self (Atman). The chariot, a metaphor for the body, is akin to a vehicle that ferries the true self through life…

Certain concepts are embedded in ancient wisdom, guiding generations, and the idea of the multitude is one such concept. In the national anthem of India, written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the multitude is hailed as the absolute sovereign…

Had India and China been friends, the 21st century would already have been Asian. With peace within itself, being vastly more developed, and flourishing regional trade, what is not there on this planet that is not here?…