“Move over Monroe, it’s now the “Donroe Doctrine” that’s taking control over a “rules-based World Order”!

Commenting on the above Op-Ed and headline subject, this morning I had a lively exchange of views on WhatsApp with a very respected friend of mine in Bangalore who is also a retired IAS officer having served with distinction in an erstwhile PMO (Prime Minister’s Office). He wrote : “No country is safe if RICContinue reading ““Move over Monroe, it’s now the “Donroe Doctrine” that’s taking control over a “rules-based World Order”!”

“Is there a case for Religion?”: Well… no, not to India and not in the Western sense

https://open.substack.com/pub/jimpalmerauthor/p/is-there-a-case-for-religion?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email I read the Op-Ed above with amused interest… interest because matters of Religion always have stoked my curiosity; and amused because I’m reminded of two old sayings — “The more things change, the more they remain the same” and “What goes round always comes around”. Religion went out of fashion and favour for theContinue reading ““Is there a case for Religion?”: Well… no, not to India and not in the Western sense”

“Access to American Technology” is not such a big deal… India shouldn’t get spooked by a pinprick wound.

Ever since Trump slammed the punitive “left-right punch” tariffs of 25%+25% tariff on India weeks ago, there’s been an ongoing debate in the public square on why our Government’s response has been so pusillanimous if not craven so far. The economic pundits and journalistic commentariat are busy writing copious, dense op-Eds in the nationwide pressContinue reading ““Access to American Technology” is not such a big deal… India shouldn’t get spooked by a pinprick wound.”

Why is the Zomato Company’s delivery-man more valuable than the giant ONGC’s expert engineer?

Take a look at this news item below : An engineer friend of mine this morning forwarded it to me and exclaimed in confounded astonishment! “This is very difficult to comprehend! A food delivery company which went public only a year ago is valued more than ONGC!!” It astonished me too but I was notContinue reading “Why is the Zomato Company’s delivery-man more valuable than the giant ONGC’s expert engineer?”

Peter Turchin, “Manu-Smriti” and the “distress” of “Elite Overproduction” looming over India – (Part 3 of 3) CONCLUDED

Let it not be misunderstood that today in the Democratic Republic of India, any body — not even an obscure, even maybe obscurantist writer like me — would be foolhardy enough to argue for the Manu Smriti to replace the Constitution of India. That would be sheer political sacrilege today in India… No, none ofContinue reading “Peter Turchin, “Manu-Smriti” and the “distress” of “Elite Overproduction” looming over India – (Part 3 of 3) CONCLUDED”

Peter Turchin, “Manu-Smriti” and the “distress” of “Elite Overproduction” looming over India – (Part 1 of 3)

In June 2023 — around the time that the terrifying storm of havoc caused by the Corona Virus abated, Peter Turchin, an American social-scientist published a book with a title as terrifying as the great Pandemic itself. The book “End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration” https://a.co/d/6tKhBYZ very soon attracted the attentionContinue reading “Peter Turchin, “Manu-Smriti” and the “distress” of “Elite Overproduction” looming over India – (Part 1 of 3)”

The most lethal weapon Trump can deploy to instantly end Ukraine war is not Tariffs or Sanctions …

The most lethal and effective weapon Donald Trump can deploy to instantly end Ukraine war is not Tariffs or Sanctions …  It’s weaponising American tech-giant companies . Or, even threatening to deploy it .  How is that possible ? Here is a plausible explanation  :  Trump can commandeer all the undersea fibre-optic cable networks aroundContinue reading “The most lethal weapon Trump can deploy to instantly end Ukraine war is not Tariffs or Sanctions …”

Utterly perplexed by the Trump Tariff War, I interviewed “Perplexity”to understand the mayhem!

1. In what conceptual ways are the trump tariffs expected to start bringing in revenues to America ? Perplexity: The Trump tariffs are conceptually expected to bring in revenue to America primarily by imposing taxes on imported goods—importers pay these tariffs at the U.S. border, and the collected funds go into the federal government’s generalContinue reading “Utterly perplexed by the Trump Tariff War, I interviewed “Perplexity”to understand the mayhem!”

Modi-ji, Please don’t let the current Trump-tariff crisis of India go waste!

Below ⬇️ is a jingoistic “forwarded message” that’s going viral on the Whatapp University circuit. Why is Trump angry with India? Is it only because India is buying oil from Russia, or is that just an excuse? And why is it that we are not able to sign even a mini Trade deal, leave aloneContinue reading “Modi-ji, Please don’t let the current Trump-tariff crisis of India go waste!”

India: “no country for intellectuals”?

https://open.substack.com/pub/thedigitalmeadow/p/the-death-of-the-public-intellectual?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web The above article is an excellent commentary on the subject of the waning vigour of the traditions of intellectualism in public debate within the general life of societies right across the globe. Why is the modern public intellectual a dying species? The above essay traces the cause to many reasons in America. But afterContinue reading “India: “no country for intellectuals”?”